(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 letter to Sri Lankan Justice Minister John Senaviratne: Dear Mr. Senaviratne, ARTICLE 19, Global Campaign for Free Expression, is concerned about recent threats targeting journalists and civil society groups, and we call on the Sri Lankan authorities to take effective measures to counter these threats, which […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 letter to Sri Lankan Justice Minister John Senaviratne:
Dear Mr. Senaviratne,
ARTICLE 19, Global Campaign for Free Expression, is concerned about recent threats targeting journalists and civil society groups, and we call on the Sri Lankan authorities to take effective measures to counter these threats, which have a chilling effect on freedom of expression.
On 10 May 2005, senior staff members of our local partner organization in Sri Lanka, the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), along with a number of journalists and others, received a letter containing alarming threats to their personal safety from a group calling itself “Therapuththabhaya Balakaya”, signed by the group’s commander, Mayadunne. The letter generally condemns scholars, intellectuals and journalists as traitors, suggesting that they are aligned with the “Tigers”, and contains direct threats against their safety. The letter also claims responsibility, on behalf of the group, for the recent murder of Sivaram Dharmeratnam, a Tamil journalist, branding him a “traitor” and “Tiger”.
The Sri Lankan authorities are under an obligation, in particular pursuant to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to put in place effective measures to prevent, investigate and punish acts which violate the rights of others, including acts targeting the exercise of the right to freedom of expression, even when those acts are committed by non-State actors. The State must act as an effective guarantor of rights and must act with due diligence to protect rights.
The letter in question appears credible and is very threatening. ARTICLE 19 calls upon you to ensure that effective measures are taken to identify those responsible and to bring them to justice. We also urge you to ensure that reasonable measures are immediately put in place to protect the threatened journalists and civil society actors.
Yours sincerely,
Toby Mendel
Law Programme Director
