Sri Lanka: Media Groups Accuse Govt. of State Terrorism

By Nabeela Hussain

Media organizations yesterday alleged that responsibility for attacks on the media in the recent past lay with the government because it had failed to bring the culprits to justice.

Holding a demonstration in front of the Fort railway station yesterday to protest the government’s failure to bring the culprits to justice, media organizations accused the government of indulging in state terrorism. Organizations pointed out that culprits would not be brought to justice only if they had the blessing of the government or if the government indirectly supported their actions.

“The government speaks of freedom of expression for journalists but when they freely express their ideas they disappear in the middle of the night or are murdered in broad day light,” said Leader of the New Left Front, Dr. Wickramabahu Karunarathne who was also present at the protest campaign.

Dr. Karunarathne stated that though the Rajapaksa government spoke of free media there was no such thing in the country. “The only reason they have not caught Lasantha’s murderer, or those who are responsible for the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda and fire at Sirasa is because they are being protected by the government,” he said.

“If there have been so many attacks on the media within two years then it means that there is no democracy in the country,” Free Media Movement Secretary, Sunil Jayasekara said.

Source: Daily Mirror – 19.01.2011