Death threats to Jaffna Uthayan daily continue

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 July 2009, 17:24 GMT]
Reporters, employees and agents of Uthayan Tamil daily published in Jaffna continue to be issued with death threats by post despite President Rajapakse’s recent assurance that he will not permit anyone to violate the freedom of the press, sources in Jaffna said. A group calling itself ‘Tamil Front Protecting the Country’ allegedly linked to a paramilitary group operating with Colombo had issued on 27 June a notice titled ‘Final Warning’ to Uthayan Tamil daily office in Jaffna warning that Uthayan staffers will be killed if they do not officially relinquish their posts with effect from 30 June 2009.

During the past few days the above group has sent letters of death threat by post particularly to Uthayan reporters and agents in Thenmaraadchi, Vadamaraadchi and Valikaamam, the sources said.

Complaints have been lodged by the reporters and agents to their local police stations and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) high officials.

However, Uthayan daily continues to be published despite the death threats issued continually to its employees, reporters and agents.