lkdood
04-10-2008, 05:30 PM
http://www.srilanka-botschaft.de/images/additional/mahinda_pm_01.jpg
A host of media rights groups from around the world have written to Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse urging him to 'stop the war on journalists' and probe a spate of recent attacks on the island's media.
"The international press freedom and human rights community is extremely concerned that journalists and media workers in Sri Lanka are daily confronting grave threats to the safety of themselves and their families," the organisations said in the joint letter. "As a result of our concerns and common interest in defending the rights of journalists and others across the world and in Sri Lanka, we have joined forces in an international campaign to Stop the War on Journalists in Sri Lanka."
The letter, released to the media, said that the failure of Sri Lanka’s security personnel to act to prevent threats and attacks on journalists and to bring those responsible to account indicates that "the state has relinquished its role as keeper of the peace."
They asked Rajapakse to "take urgent action" to remedy what they called "this appalling situation" and direct the government and police to abide by Sri Lanka’s commitments to uphold the human rights of journalists in accordance with international law.
The media groups also asked the government to fulfill its obligations as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to uphold and respect the right to freedom of expression and to refrain from deliberate attacks that endanger journalists’ lives.
The letter was signed by 46 media groups including the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, International Federation of Journalists, National Union of Journalists, India, National Union of Journalists, United Kingdom , and the Washington-based Freedom House.
They also urged the government to enforce the United Nations Security Council Resolution to Protect Journalists Reporting in War Zones and Crisis Areas, adopted by the Security Council in 2006.
"You will be aware that Sri Lanka has the unenviable reputation as one of the most dangerous places for journalists in Asia-Pacific," the letter to Rajapakse said.
"Six journalists and media workers were killed in 2007 and very many others were - and continue to be - threatened and assaulted."
The letter said 25 journalists from northern Jaffna, where Tamil Tigers are fighting security forces, have been forced to flee the country.
"Others are in hiding due to threats on their lives and the failure of the government and authorities to assure them of protection and to investigate their tormentors," the letter said.
The media groups also said they were "extremely disturbed" that senior members of Sri Lanka’s government and security personnel have made inflammatory comments condemning journalists as traitors, implicitly allowing for the incitement of violence against them.
They also mentioned junior labour minister Mervyn Silva's alleged links to continuing threats and attacks against people who witnessed or reported on an incident at the office of the state-TV broadcaster Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) in late December.
The letter noted a long list of attacks or threats or arrests of journalists since January.
"In not one case of attack or threat have the police taken action to bring offenders to account, in accordance with due legal process," the media groups told Rajapakse.
"We respectfully request that the government take urgent action to end the culture of impunity confronting journalists and media workers in Sri Lanka."
LBO (http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1482820167)
A host of media rights groups from around the world have written to Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse urging him to 'stop the war on journalists' and probe a spate of recent attacks on the island's media.
"The international press freedom and human rights community is extremely concerned that journalists and media workers in Sri Lanka are daily confronting grave threats to the safety of themselves and their families," the organisations said in the joint letter. "As a result of our concerns and common interest in defending the rights of journalists and others across the world and in Sri Lanka, we have joined forces in an international campaign to Stop the War on Journalists in Sri Lanka."
The letter, released to the media, said that the failure of Sri Lanka’s security personnel to act to prevent threats and attacks on journalists and to bring those responsible to account indicates that "the state has relinquished its role as keeper of the peace."
They asked Rajapakse to "take urgent action" to remedy what they called "this appalling situation" and direct the government and police to abide by Sri Lanka’s commitments to uphold the human rights of journalists in accordance with international law.
The media groups also asked the government to fulfill its obligations as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to uphold and respect the right to freedom of expression and to refrain from deliberate attacks that endanger journalists’ lives.
The letter was signed by 46 media groups including the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, International Federation of Journalists, National Union of Journalists, India, National Union of Journalists, United Kingdom , and the Washington-based Freedom House.
They also urged the government to enforce the United Nations Security Council Resolution to Protect Journalists Reporting in War Zones and Crisis Areas, adopted by the Security Council in 2006.
"You will be aware that Sri Lanka has the unenviable reputation as one of the most dangerous places for journalists in Asia-Pacific," the letter to Rajapakse said.
"Six journalists and media workers were killed in 2007 and very many others were - and continue to be - threatened and assaulted."
The letter said 25 journalists from northern Jaffna, where Tamil Tigers are fighting security forces, have been forced to flee the country.
"Others are in hiding due to threats on their lives and the failure of the government and authorities to assure them of protection and to investigate their tormentors," the letter said.
The media groups also said they were "extremely disturbed" that senior members of Sri Lanka’s government and security personnel have made inflammatory comments condemning journalists as traitors, implicitly allowing for the incitement of violence against them.
They also mentioned junior labour minister Mervyn Silva's alleged links to continuing threats and attacks against people who witnessed or reported on an incident at the office of the state-TV broadcaster Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) in late December.
The letter noted a long list of attacks or threats or arrests of journalists since January.
"In not one case of attack or threat have the police taken action to bring offenders to account, in accordance with due legal process," the media groups told Rajapakse.
"We respectfully request that the government take urgent action to end the culture of impunity confronting journalists and media workers in Sri Lanka."
LBO (http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1482820167)