The groups urged President Rajapaksa to invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, to Sri Lanka, while expressing deep concern for journalists who continue to be subjected to threats, harassment and assaults with alarming regularity.
(CPJ/IFJ/RSF/WiPC/IFEX) – 1 June 2011 – Free expression advocates from around the world gathered this week in Beirut, Lebanon, at the 16th IFEX General Meeting. Groups signed on to the following letter urging President Rajapaksa to invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, to Sri Lanka:
H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa
President
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo 1
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 11 243 0590
priu@presidentsoffice.lk
Dear Mr President,
We, the undersigned members and partners of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), are writing with respect to a request that, as the President of Sri Lanka, you invite to Sri Lanka the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue.
In Mr La Rue’s 2011 report to the UN Human Rights Council, he identifies for the second consecutive year that a request is pending for him to conduct a mission to Sri Lanka in his official capacity (1).
For Mr La Rue to make an official visit to Sri Lanka, he requires an invitation from your Government.
As you are aware, the international community of press freedom organisations has repeatedly expressed concerns about the state of media freedom and journalists’ safety in Sri Lanka.
As we gather together for IFEX’s bi-annual conference in Beirut, Lebanon, we are pleased to note that no journalist was confirmed as killed in Sri Lanka in 2010.
However, we remain deeply worried for our colleagues who continue to be subjected to threats, harassment, arson and assaults with alarming regularity.
We, the undersigned, believe that Sri Lanka’s reputation in the international community would be greatly enhanced if the Government were to officially invite Mr La Rue to visit your country.
Such an invitation would indicate your Government’s good faith and transparent commitment to the rule of law and the principle of universal human rights.
We also hope that in anticipation of a visit by the Special Rapporteur that the Government of Sri Lanka will be able to make significant progress in investigating the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda, who has been missing since he disappeared in Sri Lanka on January 24, 2010.
We are concerned also for the welfare of Prageeth’s colleagues at Lanka-e-News, who have been subject to a series of attacks over the past year, including assault, arson and politically instigated harassment by the police and courts.
Similarly, we would welcome the opportunity for you to advise Mr La Rue on progress in the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the murder of Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunge on January 8, 2009.
We respectfully request that the Government of Sri Lanka commit every reasonable effort to accommodate the requests for a visit by Mr La Rue, and assist with requests from any other international agency in investigating the status of press freedom in your country.
Yours respectfully,
International Media Support (IMS)
