SLTMA urges action on journalist killing

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 January 2006, 11:03 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) in an urgent letter to the Media Minister Mr.Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has asked him to reveal his proposed actions to prevent future killings and harassing of Tamil media journalists following the murder of Tamil journalist on Tuesday in Trincomalee.

SLTMA condemned the murder of Sudar Oli Trincomalee journalist Mr.Suhiratharajan on Tuesday about two weeks after the Media Minister guaranteed the safety and security of Tamil media journalists.

Excerpts from the letter follow:

We bring to your urgent attention that another Tamil journalist Mr.Subramaniam Suhirtharajan was shot dead in government controlled area in Trincomalee. This crime had taken place after you guaranteed the security and safety of Tamil media journalists at a special discussion you had with Tamil media editors two weeks ago.

Mr.S.S.Rajan, Sudar Oli journalist was shot dead in Trincomalee as a part of the continuing violence and intimidation against Tamil media persons targeted by the State armed forces. Tamil media journalists are highly perturbed over the latest killing despite minister's assurance.

SLTMA considers the killing of Mr.S.S.Rajan as a challenge and intimidation for the Tamil media journalists to carry forward their duties without fear.

Several Tamil journalists were also murdered in past. But no proper inquiries were held into these murders. Culprits were not apprehended and produced in courts but they are freely roaming. This has led to the increase of murders, assaults and intimidation against Tamil media journalists.

Hence the SLMTA appeals to you take speedy action to arrest the culprits involved in the killing of Sudar Oli journalist Mr.S.S.Rajan and to bring them before justice without delay. The SLTMA wants to know from the Minister what action he has proposed to take against the violence against Tamil media journalists.

Meanwhile, President of Foreign Correspondent's Association of Sri Lanka, Simon Gardner, in a press release issued Tuesday, said:

"The Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Sri Lanka condemns the killing of yet another journalist simply trying to do his job by a land wrecked by a civil conflict that shows no sign of abating.

The FCA of Sri Lanka appeals to all sides to stop the killing which creates a climate of fear for practicing journalists and society at large.

The FCA of Sri Lanka demands an immediate and comprehensive investigation that delivers results. This is the second time the FCA of Sri Lanka has appealed for this in recent times. We have still received no adequate information about the murder of D. Sivaram. The killings must stop."