(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a FMM press release: The Free Media Movement vehemently condemns the murder of the editor of Satana newspaper, Mr. Rohana Kumara, on the night of 7 September 1999. He was shot dead by unknown gunmen whilst on his way home from work. The murder of Mr. Kumara on International Journalists […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a FMM press release:
The Free Media Movement vehemently condemns the murder of the editor of
Satana newspaper, Mr. Rohana Kumara, on the night of 7 September 1999. He
was shot dead by unknown gunmen whilst on his way home from work.
The murder of Mr. Kumara on International Journalists Day shows the extent
to which the forces that want to repress media freedom are willing to go to
achieve their aims.
Mr. Rohana Kumara had to face considerable harassment from successive
governments because of the critical attitude taken by his newspaper towards
leading politicians and powerful officials in the government. The FMM does
not approve of Mr. Kumara’s style of journalism. His newspaper sometimes
used hate speech and disregarded journalistic norms. However, in no way can
this justify his murder.
The Free Media Movement feels that his murder must be seen in the context of
the growing campaign against the independent media by the Government. This
is another step in the campaign to terrorise independent journalists and
media organisations.
The Free Media Movement appeals to all media personnel and democratic groups
to join forces in a campaign to overcome the dangerous situation that has
developed.
The FMM appeals to the government to identify his killers and to prosecute
them without delay. The FMM believes this is the only course of action
available to the government to demonstrate that it was not responsible.
Waruna Karunatilake Sunanda Deshapriya
Convenor – FMM Secretary, FMM
Background Information
Rohana Kumara, the editor of Satana (Battle) newspaper, has been a
controversial journalist. He was shot dead by gunmen who were waiting for
him on the road leading to his residence. Earlier, possibly the same group
went to his house and threatened his wife, demanding that she hand her
husband over to them. At the same time, three people who looked like
policemen in civilian clothes were seen outside his office. What we can
gather is that this group outside his office informed a group waiting near
his residence on a walkie talkie that Mr. Kumara was on his way home in a
three wheeler taxi. It looks very much like a government backed
assassination, possibly carried out by the presidential security division.
Personnel of this division led the attack on journalists covering an
anti-government demonstration on July 15th of this year.
Mr. Kumara’s newspaper has always been highly controversial. His style of
journalism resembles that of the American supermarket tabloids. His
newspaper freely makes derogatory statements concerning political leaders,
including the president. His newspaper is currently financed by the main
opposition United National Party (UNP). It was also financed by the
governing People’s Alliance when it was in opposition, especially in the
early 1990s.
The immediate reason for his murder is possibly because his paper has openly
accused the president and her media advisor of taking bribes in a bribery
scandal that is rocking the government. The scandal was exposed two months
ago by a mainstream newspaper -The Sunday Leader – and has been picked up by
all other newspapers in the country. However, Mr. Kumara’s newspaper not
only directly accused the president but also exposed the personal
relationship between the president and her media advisor, which is well
known in the country but not reported by mainstream newspapers. Mr. Kumara
also put out an audio tape for sale containing a conversation between the
president’s media advisor and the board of directors of a TV company, which
is the basis for the bribery scandal. Mr. Kumara was also responsible for a
poster campaign in the capital on the same issue.
