IATJ raises concerns for Tamil Journalists' safety

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 May 2006, 11:08 GMT]
The International Association of Tamil Journalists (IATJ), based in London, called upon the International Community, Media and Human Rights Organisations of the world to focus their attention to the fast deteriorating safety of the Tamil journalists in Sri Lanka and to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to adopt internationally accepted standards in the treatment of the media and its journalists in Sri Lanka.

The IATJ, based in London, blamed the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) involvement in the assassinations of two Tamil journalists of Uthayan, a Jaffna daily and the destruction caused to its office on Tuesday, by paramilitary gunmen operating with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), in its press release Wednesday, marking the International Press Day observed across the world.

The press release of the International Association of Tamil Journalists:

The International Community should take measures against the continuing violence against Tamil journalists

As the International Press Day is observed by Media journalists of the world today, we too on behalf of our association, proclaim it as a day to demand our basic rights for freedom and security.

We strongly condemn the escalating, preplanned assassinations of media journalists and the destruction of the press institutions. We call the attention of the world to the genocide the Government of Sri Lanka has let loose on the Tamils.

We strongly condemn the assassination of Uthayan journalists and the destruction of the daily's office and assert that the Government of Sri Lanka is involved in this violence.

We raise our voice in support of the international media journalists, media institutions and Human Rights Organizations in protesting against the annihilation of Tamil media journalists and their institutions by the Government of Sri Lanka and the forces collaborating with it, calling upon the international community to take constructive measures to stop this violence against the press and its journalists.

We too join hands with the International media journalists in their demand for freedom of expression and security at a time when these very basic rights of Tamil media journalists in Sri Lanka are being infringed upon by its state itself.


President:

Anandhi Suriyaprakasam
International Association of Tamil Journalists


Secretary:

Kugathasan Thambipillai
International Association of Tamil Journalists

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