(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 9 September 2004 FMM press release: Editor removed on political grounds FMM condemns the removal of Mr. Nelson S. Perera, the acting editor of the state-owned, Sinhala-language weekly Silumina, on political grounds. Silumina is published by the state-owned Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL). On 8 September 2004, Mr. […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 9 September 2004 FMM press release:
Editor removed on political grounds
FMM condemns the removal of Mr. Nelson S. Perera, the acting editor of the state-owned, Sinhala-language weekly Silumina, on political grounds. Silumina is published by the state-owned Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL). On 8 September 2004, Mr. Perera was transferred to a religious newspaper published by the institution.
Mr. Nelson S. Perera has been a journalist for Silumina newspaper for over six years. He was previously removed from Silumina and interdicted by the former government, but was reinstated by the new government. He was appointed to the post of deputy editor after the new government came to power in April of this year. To appoint Mr. Perera and a new editor, the government sacked longstanding editors of the newspaper without giving any valid reasons.
According to reliable sources, Mr. Perera has been removed from his position because he refused to publish a speech made by a senior minister in the last issue of Silumina. The minister had sent another speech he made in the parliament the previous week and it was duly published. Mr. Perera refused to publish the second speech on the grounds that he is not obliged to publish everything send by government politicians.
FMM considers Mr. Perera’s removal a flagrant violation of editorial independence and basic freedom of expression rights. The government is obliged to defend the editorial independence of all state media.
FMM understands that the editorial staff, in a joint letter to the ANCL chairman, has protested against this undemocratic action and asked the authorities to reinstate Mr. Perera and safeguard the limited media freedom they have been enjoying.
FMM urges the government to safeguard the rights of journalists working for ANCL and to stop victimizing journalists and editors on political grounds.
Sunanda Deshapriya
Spokesperson
Free Media Movement
