(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: A hand grenade was lobbed into the provincial office of the Tamil-language newspaper Thinakkural, in Batticloa, on 8 December 2004 at approximately 6:00 p.m. (local time). Three journalists were working in the office at the time of the attack. The grenade exploded, causing damage to the […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release:
A hand grenade was lobbed into the provincial office of the Tamil-language newspaper Thinakkural, in Batticloa, on 8 December 2004 at approximately 6:00 p.m. (local time). Three journalists were working in the office at the time of the attack. The grenade exploded, causing damage to the rear of the office.
The Free Media Movement (FMM) condemns this incident and sees it as yet another attack on freedom of expression in Sri Lanka. Just three days ago, the Jaffna provincial transmission station of MTV/MBC network was also attacked. Both these attacks took place in war-torn areas where paramilitary groups engage in hide and seek attacks against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which have also been accused of killing members of paramilitary groups and undercover military operatives.
FMM suspects that both these attacks could be part of a bigger plan to threaten and silence the private media in war-torn areas.
FMM urges all groups operating in the North and East of Sri Lanka to refrain from harming journalists, regardless of their political affiliations, and to respect the right to free expression of all groups and institutions.
At the same time FMM urges the government to initiate an impartial and speedy inquiry into these incidents and to ensure the safety of journalists and media institutions in government-controlled areas of the North and East.
Sunanda Deshapriya
Spokesperson, FMM
