Press release/09.01.2006 The FMM is disturbed to receive reports that an unruly mob of hundreds of persons who invaded the open stage at Nugegoda, Colombo, around 2.30 pm on 9th January 2007 to disrupt the first public rally of United Peoples Movement assaulted two journalists present at this meeting. United Peoples Movement is an anti-war collation of main opposition parties, rallying around the slogan Against War, Hunger and Oppression. Two journalists assaulted were Ajith Senavirathan of Lanka E-News and Gananasiri Kottigoda of Haraya monthly and BBC Sinhala Service. The mob has attacked another freelance cameraman who was taking photographs there and confiscated his camera too. All three persons told the FMM that a deputy minister of the government was responsible for the mob attack against them. FMM condemns this attack and registers its vehement opposition to attacks against journalists covering public events and urgently requests the government to hold an inquiry into the incident. We are concerned about the lack of police presence at the time of the attack, even though the police had informed the organizers about the possibility of an attack. Noting this incident, the FMM is extremely fearful about the emergence of a dangerous trend of intolerance and forceful suppression of anti-war and pro-peace sentiment in Sri Lanka. We are mindful that the previous months witnessed an increasing number of attacks against public initiatives similar to the rally in Nugegoda. No one, to date, has been indicted for these attacks. We remind those who wish to oppress democratic dissent that the freedom of association and the freedom of expression are unalienable human rights in a healthy democracy. We are at a tipping point for democracy in Sri Lanka. If the allegations on reports that a deputy minister in the incumbent government led the mob attack are proved to be accurate, it would be a severe blow to democracy in Sri Lanka. The possibility of mob rule overcoming democratic governance in Sri Lanka is disturbing, leading to urgent concerns about the safety and security of journalists and civil society activists in support of a negotiated settlement to the ethnic conflict. In this context FMM urges the government to condemn this attack in the strongest terms and to ensure that steps are taken to prevent further acts of this nature in the future in order to safeguard and strengthen democratic governance and media freedom in Sri Lanka. Free Media Movement -For more information -Sunanda Deshapriya – (+ 94)777 312457 |