(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Free Media Movement condemns the arson attack which took place last night on the printing press of the Sunday Leader and Irudina weeklies. This attack threatens not only press freedom but also a free and fair election environment in the country. FMM, as a co-convener of […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release:
Free Media Movement condemns the arson attack which took place last night on the printing press of the Sunday Leader and Irudina weeklies. This attack threatens not only press freedom but also a free and fair election environment in the country. FMM, as a co-convener of the Centre Monitoring Election Violence, is very much concerned that violence against the media should not be allowed to continue in the context of upcoming presidential elections on 17 November.
A group of seven or eight persons armed with clubs and knives entered the premises of the printing press at Rthamalana, Colombo, around 8.00 pm on 16 October 2005, threatening the manager with dire consequences if he continued to print the newspapers and setting fire to bundles of returned newspapers. The workers were able to extinguish the fire and save the printing press, according to the management.
The Sunday Leader and Irudina newspapers are very critical towards the government and exponents of opposition political views. As a press freedom organisation that stands for media freedom as well as plurality and diversity of the media, FMM defends the rights of privately- and publicly-owned media outlets, emphasising the need for ethical journalism at all times.
The Sunday Leader newspaper and its editor, Mr. Lasantha Wikramatunga, have been harassed and threatened many times during the last few years. FMM views this attack as a continuation of this trend and requests that the authorities initiate an impartial inquiry in order to bring the suspects to book. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that media freedom prevails during the period running up to presidential election on 17 November.
Sunanda Deshapriya
Spokesperson
Free Media Movement
