Amidst the alarming increase in attacks against the media in the country, Parliament was told last week that nine journalists have been killed, 27 assaulted and another five abducted since January 1, 2006.
Of the five abducted journalists, four were found while one was still missing, Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena said in response to a question raised by UNP parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayaka.
Mr. Gunawardena said vital information with regard to the killing of journalists have been gathered by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and the Criminal Investigations Division (CID).
The revelation came in the aftermath of the killing of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge and three days before the assault on Rivira Editor Upali Tennakoon.
In recent days, more than five journalists have also left the country for fear of their lives. Among them is MTV/MBC’s Channel One head Chevaan Daniel. The journalist was criticized by Defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a TV interview following his interview to the CNN, though he was not named. The major attacks on the media began this year with the attack on the MTV/MBC network premises in Depanama on January 6. On January 8, Mr. Wickrematunge was killed. On January 23, Mr. Tennakoon was attacked. Police say investigations into all these cases are continuing but no major breakthorough has been reported in any of the cases.
Media activists say the attacks on media institutions and journalists continued despite assurances form President Mahinda Rajapaksa regarding their safety.
There has been increasing criticism from several media watchdog groups and human rights organizations over the lack of freedom for the media to operate without fear of reprisal in the country.
One leading group, the Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF), called on the government to get back those journalists who had fled the country by ensuring their freedom and security. It said a country without journalists was not a democracy.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) also condemned the "culture of impunity” prevalent in the county and official “indifference" to the killings and attacks on journalists in Sri Lanka. |
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