Maga.Tamizh Prabhagaran

Tamil Prabhakaran is an Indian Tamil journalist and documentary film maker.

Career

Early career

He went to War zones of Sri Lanka in 2012. During this time, he was investigated by a group of Sri Lankan Army officials in Elephant pass. After he returned to India, he wrote a series articles titled as 'Pulithadam Thedi'(A Journey of 25 days in bloodstain Lanka) in Junior Vikatan, a leading Tamil magazine.^[1]

Book

The series which published on Junior Vikatan, later published as a book. It is a unique first-hand account on post-war situations of Sri Lanka.^[2]

Interview of Irom Sharmila

In November 2013, he took a case against the Manipur government regarding the arbitrary restrictions to meet Irom Sharmila, who had been on a hunger strike, protesting against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for about 13 years. After twenty days of legal battle, he finally met Sharmila. The Manipur High Court passed an order directing the authorities concerned to grant him permission to meet Sharmila, according to Assam Jail Manual which is also applicable to Manipur.^[3]

Arrest in Sri Lanka

In December 2013, he went to Sri Lanka second time. On his fifth day of visit (25 December 2013), he was arrested by Sri Lankan Army. After he was detained for three days in Colombo by Terrorist Investigation Department. During his arrest, Tamil Nadu was shock, and gave voice for his release. New York based Journalist group 'Committee to Protect Journalists' also condemned his arrest. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Kalaignar Karunanidhi, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Vaiko, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol.Thirumavalavan, PMK leader Ramadoss, May17 movement Thirumuruan Gandhi and various Tamil Media associations also demand his immediate release from Sri Lankan Army custody. On 28 December 2013, he was released and deported to India.,^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]}

Works

He directed a documentary film, This Land Belongs to the Army. This film also exposes the Sri Lankan government's policy of Sinhalisation and system land grabbing of Sri Lankan forces.

It also features new testimonies from Tamil genocide victims and an exclusive interview with a Sri Lankan Army officer, who confesses to the indiscriminate use of chemical and heavy weapons against the Tamils in 2009.^[10][11]

References

1. "Ramblings in Search of Tigers' Foot Prints- Part 1". Sri Lanka Guardian. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
2. "இடிந்தகரையில் புலித்தடம் தேடி... புத்தக வெளியீடு". Tamizl. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
3. "Tamil scribe meets Sharmila after Court's intervention". Hueiyen News Service. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
4. Indian journalist arrested in Sri Lanka (27 December 2013). "Indian journalist arrested in Sri Lanka – Committee to Protect Journalists". Cpj.org. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
5. "Sri Lanka deports Indian reporter covering ex-warzone – Australia Network News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. 29 December 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
6. "Tamil Nadu journalist held in Sri Lanka for 'video-taping' army camp – The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 27 December 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
7. "NewsX: Tamil reporter Prabhakaran arrested by Sri Lankan army. Vaiko appeals to PM". YouTube. 27 December 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
8. PTI (27 December 2013). "Parties, journalist associations seek arrested Indian's release". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
9. . nation.lk. Archived from the original on 16 May 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
10. "'Land grabs part of structural genocide' – interview with Tamil Nadu journalist Maga Tamizh Prabhagaran". Tamilguardian.com. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
11. "Indian journalist Tamil Prabhakaran deported | DailyFT – Be Empowered". Ft.lk. 30 December 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2014.