FMM express it serious concern at the continuing violence directed against journalists and media in the country. This trend if not curtailed will make media freedom restricted and peoples right to information diminished. The acid attack on K.P. Mohan, defence reporter of Tamil language daily Thnakkural is the most recent in a series of attacks on journalists that has taken place recently. Unknown gang threw acid at him around 3.00pm on 15th Aug while he was on his way home form the national hospital in Colombo. He was immediately admitted to the ward 72 of the same hospital for treatment. In late June he was assaulted twice on consecutive days (29th & 30th) by Airmen on an argument about media accreditation card. He was hospitalised as a result and spent a week as a result of assault too. The police inquiry in to his complain on the assault is still on going. This acid attack on Mohan is not only a threat to him but will make all journalists think twice before any critical reporting. On 16th Aug it was reported that police protection given to Iqbal Athas, defence correspondent and associate editor of The Sunday Times has been removed form 15th Aug 2007. He was given police protection after he was repeatedly threatened by members of security forces angered by his exposures of arms deals. Recently he exposed a huge corruption in buying Mig 27 fighter jets. The case is now under the investigation of Barbary commission of Sri Lanka. Government leaders accused Mr. Athas of creating a national security threat by the exposing the deal. FMM has reason to think that his security was removed as a revenge for his coverage of this arms deal. The signals sent by this action could be very dangerous. In another incident on 16th Aug police mishandled and forcibly removed journalists covering agitation in Mayuarapura, Hambantota and police baton charging the unarmed innocent peasants. Sahampathi Manage of Sirasa TV, Kulasingha Chaminda of ABC radio and Sanjeewa Mathaweea of Swarnawahini were the journalists were obstructed by the police. Although all three journalists have complained to the relevant police authorities, no action has been taken up to now. This is a clear violation of people's right to information. On 10th August deputy Minster K.A. Faiz scolded journalist Jafrall Askhant of Tamil daily Werakesari on a story with his by line and threatened to kidnap and finish him off. Minister claimed that the story was wrong. FMM reliably understand minister used uncivilised language in his argument with Askhant and actually threatened him with abduction. Threatening journalists with abusive language over allegedly incorrect news items violates not only media freedom but journalists self respect too. It is very unfortunate that Minister Faiz use his office to threaten journalists with abduction. In FMM opinion these are not isolated incidents of angry individuals but expressions of government's anti media behaviour. It is apparent that one sided reporting, suppression of other opinion and news by slander and force and accuse critics of malice intent and use of hate language against them has become the government policy by practice. It is very important that the government look at all these incidents as a chain of incidents. FMM earnestly requests that government initiate independent and open inquires into these incidents and in order to bring the culprits to the book. Free Media Movement -For more information -Sunanda Deshapriya – (+ 94)777 312457 |