Articles by Free Media Movement
Journalists covering opposition rally attacked, injured
(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 statement for World Press Freedom Day
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a Free Media Movement press release: Press Release from the Free Media Movement May 3, 1999 International Press Freedom Day Free Media movement is pleased to join hands with other media organisations and journalists all over the world to mark International Press Freedom Day. Several journalists are still languishing in […]
Sri Lankan FMM files fundamental rights case
(FMM/IFEX) – On 09 September (local date), the 1998 FREE MEDIA MOVEMENT (FMM) of Sri Lanka filed a Fundamental Rights case in the Supreme Court against the postponement of Provincial Council Elections by declaring an emergency situation all over the country four weeks before. Elections were due on 28 August 1998. Its secretary, Sunanda Deshapriya, […]
Tamil journalist arrested
(FMM/IFEX) – FMM expresses its grave concern about the 26 August 1998 arrest and detention of Mr. Thadshanamurthy Mathusoothanan, a well-known Tamil journalist and literary figure. He has been a regular columnist for “Saranihar”, the Tamil newspaper published by the Movement for Inter-racial Justice and Equality, and he is also editor of the Tamil bulletin […]
Newspapers harassed by Criminal Investigations Department
(FMM/IFEX) – According to FMM, on 14 August 1998, officers of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) visited two English-language weeklies, “Sunday Times” and “Sunday Leader”, demanding to know the source of stories related to two government ministers. FMM has consistently opposed visits by the CID to newspaper editorial offices to demand information about the sources […]
Government institutes censorship of military news
(FMM/IFEX) – The Free Media Movement vehemently condemns the imposition of Emergency (Prohibition on Publication and Transmission of Sensitive Military Information) Regulation No.1 of 1998 which was promulgated on 5 June 1998, as a grave violation of the basic democratic rights of the people of Sri Lanka. It is a flagrant violation of the commitment […]
Officer taken off duty for alleged beating of journalist
(FMM/IFEX) – According to FMM, the officer-in-charge of the Aranayake Police Station, Sub-Inspector W. Dharmaratne, who is alleged to have assaulted journalist Pradeep Kumara Dharmaratne, has been removed from duty, pending further inquiry. W. Dharmaratne was removed after a preliminary inquiry held by the Deputy Inspector General of Police of the Province, on the orders […]
Protest over threats made to journalist
(FMM/IFEX) – On 18 February 1998, FMM, together with Prajathanthra – The Foundation for Freedom of Expression, carried out a protest in Colombo’s busy Lipton Circus, demanding an immediate investigation into the recent threats made to journalist Iqbal Aththas, the defense correspondent for “The Sunday Times.” The protest, made up of over 300 journalists and […]