14 July 2004

RSF REPORT DECRIES IMPUNITY


Attacks on journalists in eastern Sri Lanka have reached alarming levels in recent weeks, with a reporter murdered and a dozen others facing death threats, says Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

In a report released on 13 July 2004, RSF has called on the Sri Lankan government to ensure the safety of journalists as the country negotiates a fragile peace process. Underlying the attacks on journalists is the impunity which pervades the country, placing press freedom and the peace process in jeopardy, says RSF. In the past four years, five journalists have been killed. No one has been brought to justice for the murders.

RSF conducted a fact-finding mission to Sri Lanka earlier this year, where it interviewed dozens of journalists. Most of the journalists told RSF that the unsafe conditions left them fearful.

RSF also investigated the case of Aiyathurai Nadesan, a journalist murdered in May 2004 in the eastern city of Batticaloa (see: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/59230/). Colleagues and relatives of the slain journalist told RSF that they believed the killers were closely linked to Colonel Karuna, a rebel leader who recently split from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) group. The Sri Lankan government has admitted that members of the Sri Lankan army have supported Karuna.

RSF says the government has done little to pursue the killers and put them on trial. It has released a set of nine recommendations for improving press freedom in the country, including ending impunity, ensuring the safety of journalists and ending "hate-mongering" in the media.

RSF has also urged the Norwegian government to become more actively involved in protecting journalists and press freedom. Norway oversees international monitoring of the current ceasefire agreement between the Sri Lankan government and LTTE.

Read RSF's full report: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=10956

Visit these links:

- Free Media Movement's 2004 Report on Sri Lanka: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/59774/
- International Press Institute: http://www.freemedia.at/wpfr/Asia/srilanka.htm
- Human Rights Watch: http://hrw.org/backgrounder/asia/srilanka080603.htm
- Committee to Protect Journalists: http://www.cpj.org/attacks03/asia03/sri.html


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Also from the Communiqué, 14 July 2004

BURUNDI: RADIO STATION WORKS FOR RECONCILIATION 14 July 2004 RUSSIA: FORBES EDITOR MURDERED 14 July 2004 CHINA: CHINA MOVES TO MONITOR TEXT MESSAGING 14 July 2004 CUBA: WiPC TO LAUNCH LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN 14 July 2004 INTERNATIONAL: ALGERIA: THREE JOURNALISTS HANDED JAIL SENTENCES 14 July 2004 INTERNATIONAL: INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COLLOQUIUM 14 July 2004 INTERNATIONAL: ORBICOM, MOROCCO TO HOST INFORMATION SOCIETY CONFERENCE 14 July 2004 ANGOLA: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SPOTLIGHTS FREE EXPRESSION IN ANGOLA 14 July 2004 INDIA: Indian Grassroots Movement Fights for Right to Information 14 July 2004 INTERNATIONAL: CIVICUS PROVIDES TOOLS FOR CAPACITY BUILDING 14 July 2004 INTERNATIONAL: INTERNATIONAL ACTIVIST AWARD 14 July 2004

Sri Lanka

IFJ disappointed by Supreme Court decision on Internet restrictions 17 May 2012 Hearings into disappearance of opposition journalist continue 25 April 2012 Eknelygoda's wife latest victim of intolerance 27 March 2012 Alarming increase in hostile rhetoric, threats of reprisals against journalists 26 March 2012 Government calls journalists "traitors" 22 March 2012 See all alerts: Sri Lanka


Asia and Pacific

INDIA: Charges against video journalist must be dropped 25 May 2012 CAMBODIA: Lake activists sentenced, monk detained after taking part in protest 25 May 2012 PHILIPPINES: Radio commentator threatened on Facebook 25 May 2012 PAKISTAN: Moves to squelch media, again 25 May 2012 CHINA: Anti-foreign attitudes bode ill for China correspondents 24 May 2012


 
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