(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an 8 September 2005 FMM press release: FMM condemns assaults on journalists The Free Media Movement (FMM) condemns the physical assaults and severe verbal abuse directed against two journalists of the Sirasa TV channel by supporters of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, on 6 September 2005, as they were proceeding […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an 8 September 2005 FMM press release:
FMM condemns assaults on journalists
The Free Media Movement (FMM) condemns the physical assaults and severe verbal abuse directed against two journalists of the Sirasa TV channel by supporters of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, on 6 September 2005, as they were proceeding to the venue to cover the party’s 54th Anniversary rally at Colombo.
The two journalists assaulted were Sudath Veherawatta and Kasun Sapumal Bandara. The incident occurred at Bauddaloka Mawatha, in proximity to the location of the party’s anniversary rally. The party supporters responsible for these attacks appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and had arrived at the scene in buses belonging to the public transport service of Galle district. The assaulted journalists have filed a complaint at the Borella police station.
FMM notes that during the past several months, politicians associated with the government and the political left have used hostile and provocative language to threaten the Sirasa media organization and other private media organizations. FMM believes that such threatening language has been employed for the purposes of intimidating the private media for political purposes.
These kinds of assaults and abuse of journalists and media organizations directly affects media freedom and free expression. FMM requests that all politicians, political parties and party supporters desist from this kind of unacceptable behaviour against journalists carrying out their functions, and thereby facilitate free expression in Sri Lanka at this time.
Sunanda Deshapriya
Spokesperson, FMM
