(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Armed group threatened Udayan newspaper in Jaffna Around 7:45 pm on 7th September 2006, six armed persons entered the Udayan newspaper office in Jaffna, threatened the staff and handed over a statement to be published in the newspaper, the managing director of the newspaper group told […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release:
Armed group threatened Udayan newspaper in Jaffna
Around 7:45 pm on 7th September 2006, six armed persons entered the Udayan newspaper office in Jaffna, threatened the staff and handed over a statement to be published in the newspaper, the managing director of the newspaper group told FMM. They warned the editorial staff of dire consequences if the statement is not published immediately.
Managing Director Mr. E. Saravanapavan told FMM that his editorial staff is fear stricken after the incident. The armed group arrived on motorbikes, he said. This incident took place during the curfew hours in heavily militarised Jaffna.
Udayan’s chief editor, Mr. M.V. Kamylnathan, told FMM that he is forced to carry the statement in the next edition of Udayan.
This incident marks another assault on freedom of expression in the war-torn Jaffna peninsula. Udayan has been subjected to various acts of intimidation and disruption in the recent past.
Any person, group or community has the right to get their side of the story published, but attempts to enforce this right by force will lead to suppression of freedom of expression. No group has the right to force any media institution to carry what they want. It is the right of the editorial staff to decide on those matters keeping in mind basic principles of journalism, including accuracy, balance and impartiality.
