(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Bomb attack on Sudaroli printing press, injuring one seriously Around 6:00 pm today (29th August 2005), two persons entered the premises of the Sudaroli printing press and hurled two grenades towards the door. D. Selvarathnam, a security guard who was at the door, was seriously injured […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release:
Bomb attack on Sudaroli printing press, injuring one seriously
Around 6:00 pm today (29th August 2005), two persons entered the premises of the Sudaroli printing press and hurled two grenades towards the door. D. Selvarathnam, a security guard who was at the door, was seriously injured and admitted to the general hospital in Colombo. Another person received minor injuries.
Free Media Movement (FMM) condemns this attack as an attack on press freedom and media diversity. As a newspaper, Sudaroli has been reporting the Tamil nationalist viewpoint on the ongoing ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, thereby bringing diversity to Colombo’s media landscape.
During the last few months some Sinhala nationalist groups has been accusing Sudaroli newspaper of being pro Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the militant group that has been waging a separatist war in Sri Lanka. On 18th August 2005, in a speech full of hate and incitement, the propaganda secretary of the Peoples Liberation Front (JVP) accused Sudaroli of being a newspaper with close relations with “Tiger terrorists.” In his speech, he labeled and attacked several other media institutions as terrorists and lackeys of foreign imperialists.
FMM earnestly urges all political parties and armed movements to respect freedom of expression and tolerate other points of view, and not to label other opinions as terrorist or racist. Diversity and tolerance are necessary ingredients for any functioning democracy and vibrant media culture.
At the same time, FMM requests that the government act fast to apprehend all those who are responsible for killings, bombings and harassment against journalists and media. The government’s inability to apprehend any culprits and the impunity enjoyed by them has made things worse for journalism and journalists in this country.
Sunanda Deshapriya
Spokesperson, FMM
