(FMM/IFEX) – Journalist Claude Gurubavila and lawyer Manoj Thilanga, who presented a weekly political review called “Deshapalana Sathiya” on Sawarnavahini TV were threatened around midnight (local time) of 24 February 2006. Two armed persons emerged from a black van at a stop light, aiming a pistol at them and mentioning the program they presented. Both […]
(FMM/IFEX) – Journalist Claude Gurubavila and lawyer Manoj Thilanga, who presented a weekly political review called “Deshapalana Sathiya” on Sawarnavahini TV were threatened around midnight (local time) of 24 February 2006. Two armed persons emerged from a black van at a stop light, aiming a pistol at them and mentioning the program they presented.
Both victims lodged a complaint to Boralla police and reported the incident to FMM. The popular “Deshapalana Sathiya” program was stopped by the station two weeks ago.
Meanwhile in the eastern town of Tricomalee, two Tamil-speaking provincial journalists, Shashi Kumar of Surian FM and Sali Mohamed of “Sudaroli” newspaper have been receiving death threats for nearly a month. It was only a month ago that journalist Sugirdharajan of “Sudaroli” newspaper was shot dead in the same town. Both journalists told FMM that their personal security is in danger because of this on-going situation.
FMM views both these incidents as undemocratic attempts to suppress critical opinions and other points of view in violation of freedom of expression rights. FMM condemns both of these incidents.
The context of recent killings, assaults and intimidation targeting journalists, threatens not only the journalists who are direct victims but also the journalistic community as a whole. FMM urges all democratic forces in the country to condemn these instances of intimidation.
