(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Two journalists assaulted in a series of attacks against Sudaroli newspaper Two parliamentary reporters from Sudaroli newspaper were assaulted on 30th August 2005 when they were waiting for a bus after a day’s work. The two journalists assaulted were V. Puththirasigamani and Arumugam Varatharajah. Both received […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release:
Two journalists assaulted in a series of attacks against Sudaroli newspaper
Two parliamentary reporters from Sudaroli newspaper were assaulted on 30th August 2005 when they were waiting for a bus after a day’s work. The two journalists assaulted were V. Puththirasigamani and Arumugam Varatharajah. Both received minor injuries. Sudaroli is a Tamil-language newspaper published in Colombo, which has come under a series of attacks during the last two weeks.
On 21st August, a grenade was thrown at Sudaroli’s advertising office located at Wellawatta, Colombo 05. In the wake of this attack, Mr. Vidyadaran, editor of Sudaroli, complained of threatening telephone calls.
On 23rd August, Sudaroli photojournalist Yadarshan Selvarajah, who went to cover a People’s Liberation Front (JVP) rally in front of Fort Railway station, Colombo 02, was assaulted and handed over to police.
On 28th August, JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa, speaking at a public rally in Hambabntota, accused Sudaroli of being a pro- “Tiger terrorist” (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) newspaper and justified handing him over to police. Mr. Wimal Weerawansa also accused other media institutions of abetting terrorism in the country.
On 29th August, two grenades were hurled at Sudaroli’s printing press located at Grandpass, Colombo 14, killing D. Selverajah (security guard) and injuring Iliya Abdulla (journalist), Kamalanathan (proof-reader) and a visitor. On the night of the 29th, unknown persons visited Mr. Saravanbavan’s residence in Wellawatta, Colombo 05, asking him to open the door to give some information.
The Free Media Movement views this as a dangerous trend of intimidation of all Tamil-language media and journalists in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital. The safety of journalists is a press-freedom issue and this situation calls for journalists’ solidarity in support of the freedom of expression rights of Tamil journalists in Sri Lanka.
Condemning all the verbal and physical attacks on Sudaroli newspaper, FMM urges the authorities to take immediate steps to safeguard journalists’ rights in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, media workers have strongly condemned recent attacks on the newspaper.
The Working Journalists Association of Sri Lanka (WJASL) has expressed concern that the authorities have yet to find suspects in the earlier attacks on Sudaroli.
“It is unfortunate that the relevant authorities could not provide adequate security to the Sudaroli newspaper institution, while it was obvious to everybody that the said institution was facing a greater security threat,” the statement added. It urged the authorities to act immediately to bring an end to violence against the media and civil society.
Sunanda Deshapriya
Spokesperson, FMM
