(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 15 July 1999 Free Media Movement press release and list of media personnel attacked during an opposition rally: FREE MEDIA MOVEMENT PRESS STATEMENT The Free Media Movement vehemently condemns the attack on members of the media, who covered the opposition protest rally today (15th July). Media personnel were assaulted, […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 15 July 1999 Free Media Movement press
release and list of media personnel attacked during an opposition rally:
FREE MEDIA MOVEMENT PRESS STATEMENT
The Free Media Movement vehemently condemns the attack on members of the
media, who covered the opposition protest rally today (15th July). Media
personnel were assaulted, their cameras and equipment were snatched, and
some were arrested by a group of persons dressed in police uniforms and
civil attire.
All information available shows that this was not a spontaneous act but a
premeditated action. It is clear that the very same police personnel who
moved to disperse the opposition protesters using tear gas and shooting
attacked the media personnel who were reporting these incidents. Journalists
have identified several persons dressed in civil attire, among those who
attacked them, to be from the Presidential Security Division. This is the
worst attack on the media in recent history.
The Free Media Movement also considers the attack on the opposition protest
rally to be an infringement on the fundamental right to freedom of
expression. We see this as the beginning of another era of oppression
against journalists.
We have no option but to consider the provocative statement issued by the
minister for media yesterday (14th July), regarding Media Mafia, as a
prelude to putting this plan into action.
The Free Media Movement vehemently condemns this, the worst attack on the
media by a government that came into power promising to safeguard democracy
and media freedom.
Waruna Karunatilake
Hiranthi Fernando
Convenor
Asst. Secretary
List of injured photographers/cameramen (media affiliation, name, status)
– Sunday Times, M.A. Pushpakumara, photographer, fractured arm, two months
rest needed
– Sunday Times, Sanjeeva Chinthaka, photographer, injured, Rs. 45,000/-
damage to camera
– Sunday Times, Athula Devapriya, photographer, detained for nearly three
hours
– Lakbima, Buddhika Weerasinghe, photographer, injured
– Yukthiya, Janapriya Samaradiwakara, photographer, injured
– Sithijaya, H.A.N. Fernando, photographer, injured, camera missing
– Dinamina, Saman Mendis, photographer, injured
– Rupavahini, Suba Dissanayake, injured, TV camera taken away
– Sunday Leader, Ashoka Fernando, photographer, camera worth Rs.80,000/
missing, beaten up, head injury
– Sunday Leader, Lakmal Spencer, camera worth Rs. 125,000/ missing, shot by
rubber bullet, knee badly injured
– Ravaya, Ajith Seneviratne, badly assaulted
– Lankadeepa, Lakruwan Wanniarachchi, hit by tear gas cannister deliberately
aimed at him by a policeman
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
their professional duties
Appeals To
Hon. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga,
President of Sri Lanka
Minister for Defence
Fax: +94 1 333703
E-mail: for_min@sri.lanka.net (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)Hon. Mangala Samaraweera
Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and the Media
West Tower, World Trade Centre, Echelon Square, Colombo 1
Fax: +94 1 440488Gen. Anurudha Ratwatte,
Minister for Irrigation and Power, Deputy Minister for Defence
15/5, Baladaksha Mawatha, Colombo 3
Fax: +94 1 430590
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
