(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: FMM urges government to conduct special investigation into the destruction of the Navamani newspaper office FMM condemns the destruction of the Navamani newspaper office on the night of 1 December 2002 by an unidentified group. Navamani is a Tamil-language newspaper catering especially to the Muslim community […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release:
FMM urges government to conduct special investigation into the destruction of the Navamani newspaper office
FMM condemns the destruction of the Navamani newspaper office on the night of 1 December 2002 by an unidentified group. Navamani is a Tamil-language newspaper catering especially to the Muslim community in Sri Lanka.
Another Tamil-language newspaper, Thinakadir, published in the east, was attacked and ransacked on 8 August 2002. It has yet to resume publishing. Furthermore, the Thinamurusu, a Tamil-language newspaper published by a Tamil political party, is banned in many parts of northern and eastern Sri Lanka. Now another Tamil-language newspaper has come under physical attack. This indicates that the Tamil-language press in Sri Lanka is facing grave difficulties in carrying out their duties. The FMM considers this a very unhealthy development, although it does not have any evidence to say that these incidents are in any way connected to each other.
The FMM strongly believes that it is the responsibility of the Government to investigate and punish those responsible for these undemocratic acts. Unfortunately, the Government has failed in its duty and those responsible have not been brought to book.
The FMM urges the government to look into events relating to the destruction of the Navamani newspaper office. It also wishes to impress upon the Government the necessity to conduct a special investigation in tandem with ongoing police investigations. FMM expects the Government to guarantee freedom of expression during the peace process as an inviolable tenet of the democratic right of not only journalists, but all people in Sri Lanka.
Sunanda Deshapriya
Convenor, FMM
Sunil Jayasekara
Assistant Secretary, FMM
