(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM statement: The Free Media Movement is gravely concerned by the concentrated attack of government-owned media on a group of journalists who attended a media workshop in the eastern batticaloe district, accusing them of being linked to the Tamil separatist movement, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM statement:
The Free Media Movement is gravely concerned by the concentrated attack of government-owned media on a group of journalists who attended a media workshop in the eastern batticaloe district, accusing them of being linked to the Tamil separatist movement, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The concerned journalists have complained to the FMM that they and their family members have been threatened by people after government-owned media made these accusations.
The workshop was organised by the Tamil Media Organisation and sponsored by the National Peace Council. Representatives from the government-appointed National Press Council and the European Union also attended this workshop. The news director of the state television network was a member of the organising committee.
Quoting a previously unknown organisation which calls itself the Patriotic Media Movement, the government-owned electronic and print media accused P. Sivaram, a columnist with the Daily Mirror newspaper, P. Seevagan, a reporter for the Tamil service of the BBC, Roy Dinesh, the defence correspondent of the Sunday Leader newspaper, and the editor of the Irida Peramuna Saman Wagaarachchi of being linked to the LTTE, because they attended the workshop.
The statement issued by the Patriotic Media Movement was signed by a person named G. Ariyadasa. He is not a journalist and the FMM is aware that he led a team of people who published scurrilous news sheets to abuse and slander perceived opponents of the government during presidential elections in December 1999. The FMM takes this incident seriously as this team worked directly under Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera.
The state media gave extensive publicity to this statement. The FMM believes that the government is attempting to endanger the lives of journalists it “disapproves” of, by labelling them LTTE members, in a highly charged atmosphere where there is a witch hunt against what the government has called “LTTE sympathisers in the south”.
The FMM not only condemns this action in the strongest possible terms but will also hold the government fully responsible should any harm befall these journalists or members of their families.
Secretary FMM Convenor FMM
