(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an English translation of an FMM letter to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Indra de Silva regarding the second search of journalist Dharmaratnam Sivaram’s residence: Inspector General of Police Mr. Indra de Silva Police Head Quarters Colombo 01 Dear Inspector General, The Free Media Movement (FMM) wishes to inform you […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an English translation of an FMM letter to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Indra de Silva regarding the second search of journalist Dharmaratnam Sivaram’s residence:
Inspector General of Police
Mr. Indra de Silva
Police Head Quarters
Colombo 01
Dear Inspector General,
The Free Media Movement (FMM) wishes to inform you that it is deeply concerned about a police search of journalist Dharmaratnam Sivaram’s residence for the second time in a short period of time. Mr. Sivaram is an editorial member of the Tamil Net website.
At midnight on 3 May 2004, Mr. Sivaram’s residence was searched by police, who were unable to find any items or evidence of activities contrary to the law of the land. The FMM deems this second search as an attempt by police to intimidate Mr. Sivaram.
Mr. Sivaram contributes to mainstream newspapers in Sri Lanka and is an internationally recognised journalist. His feature articles, as well as stories posted on the Tamil Net website, which are critical of the government and portray social and political developments in Tamil society, are invaluable in securing diversity in the Sri Lankan Media.
In this context, attempts to intimidate Mr. Sivaram should be considered a threat to freedom of expression. The FMM asks you to halt the tactics of intimidation adopted by police against Mr. Sivaram and to allow the rule of law to take its due course.
Furthermore, FMM is deeply concerned about the statement made by Mr. Thilak Ranaviraja, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and Law and Order, that Mr. Sivaram will be interrogated about a news item posted on the Tamil Net website regarding the mass killing of Tamil militants in Colombo on the morning of 25 July. Tamil Net was the first news organisation to break the news on what appeared to be a clash between two Tamil militant factions.
The police do not have the right to ask journalists to reveal their sources. It is a basic right of journalists to not disclose news sources. FMM urges the IGP to refrain from ordering police officers to uncover journalists’ sources.
Please note that FMM will be issuing this letter to the media in Sri Lanka and abroad.
Sunanda Deshapriya
Spokesperson
FMM
