Protest against curbs on media to be held Tuesday

[TamilNet, Friday, 19 January 2007, 12:57 GMT]
Several Media associations are jointly to hold a public protest in front of the Fort Railway station on Tuesday from 12:30 p.m as part of a campaign for media freedom and safety of journalists in Sri Lanka, a leaflet issued by the joint group said Friday.

The call for public protest issued by Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, Sri Lanka Tamil Journalists Alliance and Free Media Movement, said the rally is to protest against and campaign for proper investigations on:

• Assault on Saranga Derana TV journalist at Dehiwala,
• Harassment to Mawbima by initiating tax investigations and taking files of advertisees,
• Death threats against editors and senior journalists in Colombo,
• Assault on two journalists, Ajith and Kotthigoda by political thugs at Nugegoda
• Not allowing news print for Jaffna news papers
• Assault on Sunday Leader journalist Asoka by Police at Maharagama,
• Detaining Mawbima Journalist Parameswaree for 2 months without any charges,
• Questioning three Observer, Silumina Journalists, Ranga, Yodasingha and Prasanna under new regulations inquiring their sources,
• Circulation bans imposed on Tamil Dailies and weeklies by armed groups,
• Unofficial censorship on media and journalists in Jaffna, and
• Killing of journalist Samapth Lakmal , Sugeetharajan, and 4 media workers in Jaffna.

Meanwhile, the case against Armugam Sriskandarajah alias Peter for committing the murder of TamilNet senior editor Dharmaretnam Sivaram on 28th April 2005 in Colombo is still languishing in Sri Lanka courts.

The inquiry is fixed for May 14.

Chronology:


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