I am not a LTTE activist in an anywhere in the world – Rights to Reply

"I have only ever met with members of the LTTE on two (2) occasions in my life. The first time was during a trip to Sri Lanka alongside a MEP and MP for UK in 2002. The second incidence was during the Peace Talks in Europe, (Norway, Germany, Japan) where I was working as a reporter for media organisations and some other NGOs." [Image: Nadarajah Sethurupana standing at front of F-16jet at Norwegian Air Force base recently.]

by Sethurupan Nadarajah

(October 22, New Delhi , Sri Lanka Guardian) I am writing you with regards to a malicious article about me. I am requesting you to publish my side of the story with the same exposure you had published the malicious and totally fabricated story as reported by your News. The above-mentioned story has caused great distress to my family members and me. It has also brought my integrity as a journalist into question and resulted in severe loss of earnings that could be correlated with the dates on which the respective articles were published.

The article published in your media alleges that the Tamil language website www.nitharsanam.com is administered and/or edited by me, Nadaraja Sethurupan. I can categorically state here that I have no connection what so ever with the said website, its administrators, editors or reporters.

Tamil Broadcasting Co-operation (TBC) London has often accused me of operating the above mentioned website because we have some personal Money Problem. Further, the radio station has also on a number of occasions made indecent comments about my family and me. I had taken the opportunity of a visit to London to clear my name with the said radio station. I travelled to the station to give a live interview and clear any doubts the broadcasters may have with regards to my none-involvement in the nitharsanam.com website. The claim in the newspapers article that I had issued death threats is an absolute fabrication and could not be further from the truth. This yet again in a malicious fabrication, aimed at tarnishing my professional integrity. The reporter had clearly failed to confirm the allegation with the Norwegian police.

The article sated that the nitharsanam.com website belonged to the LTTE and that I was operating it on their behalf. First and foremost as I have stated earlier, there is absolutely no connection between myself and the website, its administrators, editors and reporters. As a Sri Lankan I am sure that you would be fully aware of the dangers in which such unfounded allegations may put my family and I.

I hereby request them though you to publish my side of the story with the same exposure that them though you had given to the initial allegations pressed against me. Once again I would like to remind them though that the publications of the fabricated articles without confirming reliability of information with persons or organisations involved has not only breached the code of journalistic ethics, but has also served me and my family with great distress and has also brought my professional integrity into question and resulted in loss of earnings.

I am not a LTTE activist in Norway or UK or Srilanka or anywhere in the world. I feel this is a big threaten to my family members and myself.

I have only ever met with members of the LTTE on two (2) occasions in my life. The first time was during a trip to Sri Lanka alongside a MEP and MP for UK in 2002. The second incidence was during the Peace Talks in Europe, (Norway, Germany, Japan) where I was working as a reporter for media organisations and some other NGOs.

Other than the above mentioned two occasions, I have never ever met with members of the LTTE. I have never visited Vanni or any other LTTE administered areas in Sri Lanka. Neither have I ever supported the LTTE in any way what so ever. I don't have any direct or indirect contact with LTTE in Norway or Srilanka , As I had been in the forefront of exposing All Tamil Group members who were participating in illegal activities in Europe, they have gone to the extent of labelling me as a member of the LTTE. I would like to further add that, I am not the administrator or editor of any other website than norwaynews.

I am Mr.Nadarajah Sethurupan note with concern that your media has published a libelous and a highly defamatory and slanderous news item ( News , press News) against me in your media.
I am demanding that this news item be immediately removed from all websites. Mr. Nadarajah has no involvement in any terrorist activities as alleged by yourselves in that articles. This has been confirmed by the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK during the course of the trial. I am require you to provide information as to the source of this content.
- Sri Lanka Guardian