COLOMBO: Given its abysmal human rights record, Sri Lanka has failed to secure a slot in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The decision, announced last Wednesday, coincided with the kidnap of a respected journalist.Keith Noyhar, associate editor of the Nation newspaper, was abducted while he was driving home in his car. His car was later found abandoned outside his residence.

The journalist was blindfolded, handcuffed and taken to an undisclosed location in a white van, now synonymous with disappearances, torture and death. Then in what turned out to be a seven hours nightmare. Noyhar was beaten with clubs, kicked and trampled upon.

It is not difficult to imagine the fate of Noyhar if editors, free media activists and even clergy members had not take extreme pains to contact the President and every other authority to see that the night did not end in yet another murder of a media person.

A senior defence analyst of the Sunday Times, Iqbal Athas wrote in his column last Sunday: “What some of them learnt from those in authority was chilling. One from a law enforcing agency said “don’t worry. He will return with a severe reprimand. That appears to be the pattern.”

Iqbal adds: “Not that the official was aware of what had gone on. Rather, he was talking of his experience in such situations”.

Some seven hours later, when Keith limped home after his abductors dropped him outside his gate he was bleeding profusely. His lips were swollen, his ear had been torn off and there were bruised bumps on his head. He could not walk as he was beaten with an object on the soles of his feat. Iqbal in his column said it was clear that Noyhar’s refusal to answer questions on sources meant more and more lethal blows. However, although Noyhar had stood his ground in the face of brutal assault and refused to divulge who gave him which information his mobile phone had been retained by his captors. This savage attack on the Associate Editor of the Nation newspaper came five days after the weekly column on military matters written by Noyhar under the pseudonym Senpathi. Titled ‘The Army is not its commander’s private fiefdom’, the column took a critical look at the promotion criteria adopted by the Army. Meanwhile, police said on Wednesday they had still not found any clue regarding the abduction and brutal assault.

According to police officials, a short statement had been recorded from Keith Noyhar on Saturday while he was hospitalised at the National Hospital in Colombo. However, officials point out that the journalist had not given a full statement while media colleagues of Noyhar say this is due to fears of reprisal. “Obviously he is under threat. His wife and two school going children are terrified and it is understandable that he does not want to reveal the identity of his captors,” a co journalist said.

A report on the investigations so far have been handed over to President Mahinda Rajapakse, senior police officials said. President Rajapakse in his usual reaction to such acts of violence told the media that he will make sure that a ‘full investigation’ is carried out regarding the assault.

On Wednesday The Island newspaper said newspaper editors had brought to the notice of President Mahinda Rajapakse that suspicious looking vehicles were sited near the Nation Newspaper head office in Colombo. The Island said the vehicles were suspected to belong to the Military Intelligence. Meanwhile, in the face of the present situation local human rights activists who express jubilation that Sri Lanka lost its seat in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) say the attack on Keith Noyhar is a blatant show that the government has no worries continuing with its savage ways despite being ousted by the UNHRC. “The incident regarding Keith Noyhar is a clear message to the world that the Sri Lankan government does not care how ostracized it becomes globally concerning its human rights track record.