Tamil journalist receives death threat

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 May 2003, 00:02 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) has brought to the notice of several world media organizations the death threat issued by an anonymous caller to a former president of SLMTA and senior journalist, Mr.V.Manikavasagam, and appealed for help in ensuring his safety, media sources said.

In an urgent letter to the Committee to Protect of Journalist (CPJ), Reporters of San Frontiers (RSF) and International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the SLTMA said a senior journalist Mr.Manickavasagam residing in Vavuniya received a death threat through a telephone call on 7th May.

A complaint has been made at the Vavuniya Police in this regard by Mr.Manickavasagam, according to the letter of the SLTMA, sources said.

“Mr.Manickavasagam is a former president of the SLTMA and works as the Vavuniya provincial correspondent for BBC and a Tamil daily Virakesari. We vehemently condemn those who are behind the death threat to a senior journalist. Please take suitable action to safeguard the life of Mr.Manickavasagam and other journalists, “ said the letter.

The SLMTA has already brought this matter to the notice of the Sri Lanka Prime Minister, the Defence Minister, Media Minister, the Free Media Movement and the Centre for Policy Alternatives for necessary action, media sources said.