(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a joint press release by FMM, SLWJA, FMEATU and SLMMF: Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions (FMEATU) Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum ( SLMMF) Free Media Movement (FMM) Four journalist’s organisations condemn the warning by a group identifying itself as the “Ravana Battalion”, calling […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a joint press release by FMM, SLWJA, FMEATU and SLMMF:
Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA)
Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions (FMEATU)
Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum ( SLMMF)
Free Media Movement (FMM)
Four journalist’s organisations condemn the warning by a group identifying itself as the “Ravana Battalion”, calling upon Tamil journalists serving in state-controlled media to resign.
The threatening statement was first posted on two Tamil language websites (“Sankathi” and “Pidau”) on World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2006. It was re-posted on the same sites on 7 May. The Nidarshanam website carried the warning on 6 May.
The Ravana Battalion is an unknown organization that has not been heard from before.
According to the warning, this demand and action is a response to attacks on Tamil media sympathetic to the struggle for Tamil home land.
In a conflict situation, demanding the resignation of journalists from state-controlled media, or even killing them, will serve to further restrict freedom of expression and hinder the public’s right to information. This could be the beginning of a vicious circle that will further jeopardize Tamil language media in Sri Lanka.
If, in further retaliation, some other group warns all Tamil journalists working in independent media to resign, an even more harmful situation will be created.
At this moment, we would like to emphasize the need for a campaign to transform state-controlled media into truly independent and public service media, as was promised by all ruling parties over the last decade, and call on all parties to refrain from threatening Tamil journalists working in those institutions.
We urge the Ravana Battalion not to carry out any action to harm Tamil journalists working in state-controlled media.
Sanath Balasooriya, SLWJA
Darmasiri Lanka Peli, FMEATU
Tha M,Musamil, SLMMF
Seetha Ranjanee, FMM
