(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an 8 February 2007 FMM press release: Media and Terrorism The Free Media Movement is relieved by the public acknowledgement of the arrest and detention of the three trade unionists associated with the AKUNA bi-monthly newspaper. On February 6, we had noted our concern regarding the apparent abduction and disappearance […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an 8 February 2007 FMM press release:
Media and Terrorism
The Free Media Movement is relieved by the public acknowledgement of the arrest and detention of the three trade unionists associated with the AKUNA bi-monthly newspaper. On February 6, we had noted our concern regarding the apparent abduction and disappearance of these three individuals, based on reports of the manner of their abduction and also on reports from family members and trade union colleagues that they had not been able to get any information regarding these three persons from the police or any other competent authority.
Media reports in the newspapers today focus on the confessions allegedly made by the persons arrested, pointing to their collusion with the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). As noted in a Daily Mirror frontpage report, the journalists “allegedly confessed to having had links with the LTTE and were planning attacks on selected locations in and around Colombo.”
While we do not in any way wish to prejudice or impede any legitimate investigations that are carried out in order to ensure the safety and security of the country, we do reaffirm the point that we had made in our earlier statement of February 6: that due process must be followed at all times by arresting authorities and that, for instance, family members should be informed of the arrest and the place of detention of their relative. These are universally recognized principles of human rights and democracy that our government is committed to uphold as a member of the international community.
As a media organization committed to the protection of media persons and of media freedom, we must also express our regret regarding the comment of Defense Affairs spokesperson, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, as reported in the Daily Mirror article today, that “the Government was able to silence those who voiced their opposition to the arrests”. We strongly uphold the right of any organization and individual to voice their opposition to what may be perceived as a violation of human rights, as much as we uphold the right of the government to clarify to the protesters their own perspective of the situation. Silencing opposition is not an acceptable democratic practice as far as we are concerned.
The manner in which the information regarding the “terrorist” linkages of the three journalists was made public also raises some concerns regarding the potential for stifling all opposition and media freedom in the interests of national security.
Throughout the past years, we have consistently condemned the assassination of media persons, the harassment of media persons and of media institutions and the undermining of the right to the freedom of expression of all citizens of this country. In keeping with our principles, we will continue to voice our opposition against abductions and other undemocratic actions carried out under the draconian anti-terrorism and emergency regulations in operation in Sri Lanka, since we are of the opinion that these laws and regulations grossly undermine democratic governance.
In our public agitation against the threats to media personnel and free media in 23rd January 2007 in front of the Fort Railway Station, we condemned the lack of any active investigations into the deaths of eight journalists in the past two years, as well as the culture of impunity and the threat to freedom of expression posed by armed groups who intimidate journalists. These are inescapable realities facing us as professional journalists and as activists for human rights and media freedom in Sri Lanka and we stand committed to oppose, condemn and challenge them within whatever democratic frameworks are available to us.
Unequivocally supporting due process and the rule of law, the FMM strongly urges the Government to undertake quick and transparent investigations into the alleged crimes of the journalists arrested, so that charges may be framed against them without delay.
We also call on the Government to impress upon all those entrusted with the task of maintaining law and order and security to abstain from extra-legal measures such as abductions, and to ensure that all pending investigations related to threats and violence against media and press freedom are completed without any further delay.
The FMM also appeals to all local and international democratic actors to urgently and at every level support the strengthening of fundamental rights, and a return to democratic governance in Sri Lanka.
