(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 16 May 2006 FMM press release: Discussion with S.P. Tamilselvam, head of the Liberation Tigers for Tamil Eelam (LTTE), on warning to Tamil journalists in the state-controlled media Today a group of journalists representing Free Media Movement, the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, the Federation of Media Employees trade […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 16 May 2006 FMM press release:
Discussion with S.P. Tamilselvam, head of the Liberation Tigers for Tamil Eelam (LTTE), on warning to Tamil journalists in the state-controlled media
Today a group of journalists representing Free Media Movement, the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, the Federation of Media Employees trade Unions, the Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance, the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum and the International Federation of Journalists, met Mr. S.P. Tamilselvem and expressed their disappointment and protest over the warning letter published by Ravana battalion calling for Tamil journalists working in state-controlled media to resign.
Mr. Tamilselvam categorically denied any association with the above mentioned warning letter. He said that the LTTE condemn the warning and asked the journalists’ organizations to convey this message to their fellow journalists. He said that the LTTE accept Tamil journalists’ right to work in any media organization they choose. Mr. Tamilselvam assured [those attending] that LTTE will uphold media freedom and [is not associated with] any of those threats.
The five media organisations express their gratitude to LTTE for providing this opportunity to make things clear so that Tamil language journalists in state-controlled media will be able to work without fear.
At the same time, Mr. Tamilselvem expressed their sorrowful protest on the harassment and even death faced by Tamil journalists in recent times. In his opinion, these killings have deprived the south of Sri Lanka [of] first-hand information on the grave situation faced by Tamil people today.
The five organizations and IFJ representatives noted that the correct approach would be to campaign for the transformation of state-controlled media into truly independent public services media and not to engage in tit-for-tat attacks on media and journalists.
Sincerely yours,
Santh Balasooriya (president), Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association
Darmasiri lankaPeli (General Secretary), Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions,
Raj Kumar (president), Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance
Tha. M. Musamil (General Secretary), Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum
Seetha Ranjanee (Convenor), The Free Media Movement
