Dear friends and colleagues,

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and journalists’ organisations in Sri Lanka are launching an international advocacy campaign, Stop the War on Journalists, in an effort to encourage international actions and bring pressure on Sri Lanka’s authorities to comply with their responsibilities to end the culture of impunity in Sri Lanka.

The IFJ seeks the cooperation of all organisations dedicated to defending press freedom and human rights, and invites your organisation to join us in a joint action to support journalists and media workers in Sri Lanka.

As you are aware, the situation for journalists and press freedom in Sri Lanka has been worsening by the day, and our friends and colleagues in Sri Lanka confront extreme threats to the safety of themselves and their families. They desperately need support and positive action.

The Sri Lankan State has relinquished its role as keeper of the peace. Senior security personnel have made inflammatory comments condemning journalists as traitors, with the potential to incite violence against journalists and media institutions. Labour Minister Mervyn Silva’s role in a brawl at the offices of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) in late December is linked to ongoing threats and attacks against people who witnessed or reported on the incident.

Sri Lanka has long been one of the most dangerous places for journalists in Asia-Pacific. Five journalists and media workers were killed in 2007, and numerous attacks and threats have been reported this year, many in relation to SLRC. In March, seven journalists associated with www.outreachsl.com were taken in for questioning by the Terrorist Investigations Department, and editor J.S. Tissainayagam and N. Jasiharan, of E-Kwality Printers, remain in custody.

In Jaffna, journalism has been reduced more or less to office work. The situation is too dangerous for reporters to work in the field. While the editor and news editor of the Tamil language Uthayan have been living at the newspaper’s office for more than a year in fear of their lives, another 25 Tamil journalists have fled the country after receiving death threats.

The Government and security personnel are failing, if not outright refusing, to safeguard the rights of journalists and media workers to conduct their work without fear of violent retribution. While we demand that other groups in Sri Lanka, including paramilitary groups and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), also desist from committing or inciting violence against journalists, the primary responsibility for security lies with State authorities.

Meanwhile, the Government is proceeding with plans to introduce a media policy despite objections raised by journalists, editors, owners’ associations, civil society organisations and international press freedom organisations about the policy’s likely negative impact on media independence.

In initiating the Stop the War on Journalists campaign, the IFJ seeks the support of your organisation for joint action. The formal campaign will launch on March 27, 2008. Our intention is that the campaign’s initial phase will end on Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2008.

Proposed Actions:

1. A Joint Letter to be signed and issued by press freedom and human rights organisations, addressed to: