Book launched to commemorate life of assassinated Tamil journalist

Tamil press clubs in the North-East launched a book in Batticaloa and Jaffna to mark the 18th anniversary of Tamil journalist Aiyathurai Nadesan's assassination. 

The book is a collection of essays by Nadesan's family, colleagues and friends, compiled to remember Nadesan and his work. The book was scheduled to be released last year on the 17th anniversary of Nadesan's murder, however it was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The commemoration event in Batticaloa was organised by the Eastern Journalists' Union, who also co-published the book alongside the Sivaram Memorial Forum based in Switzerland. The Jaffna Press Club also held a memorial event for Nadesan in Jaffna, which was attended by his colleagues and activists. 

Flowers were laid and lamps were lit to pay tribute to Nadesan, a profile journalist and a columist for local Tamil dailies and international news agencies, who was shot dead by a paramilitary group on his way to work on May 31 2004. 

In the months leading up to his killing, Nadesan had been threatened and harassed by military personnel. On June 7 2001, he was summoned by the army for an inquiry where he was warned to cease reporting on human rights abuses.

The commemoration event was organised by the Eastern Journalists' Union, who also co-published the book alongside the Sivaram Memorial Forum based in Switzerland. 

See photographs from Batticaloa and Jaffna below: 

Batticaloa 

 

 

Jaffna