SRI LANKA Nine recommendations for improving the state of press freedom

July 2004 Reporters Without Borders International Secretariat Asia - Pacifi c Desk 5, rue Geoffroy Marie 75009 Paris-France Tel. (33) 1 44 83 84 70 Fax (33) 1 45 23 11 51 E-mail : [email protected] Web : www.rsf.org Nine recommendations for improving the state of press freedom Aiyathurai Nadesan, killedon31May2004 President , the ple’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), headedby Since last April’s victoryoftheUnited Peo- press freedom. lead tonew andvery seriousviolationsof into war. Suchafailurewould undoubtedly rent tensionsmay plungethecountryback Reporters withoutBordersfearsthatcur- ments. to gobackontheirpeaceprocesscommit- lusion betweenKaruna’s menandthearmy ver, thelatterhave beenexploiting thiscol- of Tamil Eeelam(LTTE) movement. Moreo- which secededfromtheLiberation Tigers Lanka army hadaidedtheKarunagroup, nowledged thatsomemembersoftheSri ter MangalaSamaraweera recentlyack- committed thismurder. The mediaminis- men closeto Tamil rebelleaderKaruna list’s colleaguesandrelatives suspectthat gned attheendof2001. Infact, the journa- and couldthreatenthefragileceasefi killed sinceOctober2000—aretroubling fi Nadesan—the of Aiyathurai The circumstancessurroundingthemurder journalists inSriLanka. to how diffi prisals inthefi is releasedfromColombo, wemay facere- Tamil Tigers. And whenalocalnews article tion withboththesecurityforcesand is very hardforustocheckourinforma- «We arealways caughtinthecrossfi 2000, hadtoldReporterswithoutBorders: ved theprizefor “Best Tamil Journalist” in island) forseveral Tamil media, whorecei- dent inBatticaloa(theeasternpartofthe 2004, A few monthsbeforehismurderon31May Aiyathurai Nadesan cult working conditionsarefor eld.» Hisstatementsattest , acorrespon- rst journalist rst resi- re.It the riskofstirringuphatred. country’s ethnicalandpoliticaltensionsat newspapers whosometimesexploit the a recommendationtocertainSriLankan Lastly, theorganisationwould liketomake and freely. Tamil-language presscanwork moresafely toward themedia, sothatmembersofthe dom. The LTTE mustalsoadjustitsattitude ensuring thejournalists’safetyandfree- ment—to becomemoreactively involved in pliance withthecurrentceasefi vernment, responsibleformonitoringcom- community—notably theNorwegiango- thout Bordersalsourgestheinternational dents basedintheprovinces. Reporterswi- journalists, particularlythoseofcorrespon- pes torelay theexpectations ofSriLankan in SriLanka. The organisationthereby ho- nably improve thestateofpressfreedom recommendations thatmay helptosustai- Chandrika Kumaratunga withaseriesof Minister MahindaRajapakseandPresident decided itwas necessarytopresentPrime was formed, ReporterswithoutBordershas Nearly 100days afterthenew government country. assert thatpressfreedomisagiven inthe has becomemuchtoovolatile forthemto frustrations indealingwithasituationthat jority expressed theirapprehensionsand interviewed dozens ofjournalists. The ma- early thisyear, ReporterswithoutBorders During afact-fi Tamil Tigers movement canbemaintained. whether ornottheceasefi period. Somedoubtshave beenraisedasto country hasbeengoingthroughadelicate take action. It hasbecomeurgentforthe government to tedly condemnedthisclimate ofimpunity. tice. Reporterswithout Bordershasrepea- red them—have never beenbroughttojus- over thelast fouryears—and thosewhohi- Anthony Mariyanayagam Nimalarajan committed themurdersof forts onbehalfofpressfreedom. Those who government’s credibilityintermsofitsef- of journalistshasvastly underminedthe or trialfollowing thekillingsorassaults The absenceofany in-depthinvestigation 1. FIGHTINGIMPUNITY na Kumara , Nadarajah Atputharajah , Aiyathurai Nadesan nding missioninSriLanka re signedwiththe whichoccurred Myilvaganam r agree- re , Roha- 2 and SRI LANKA Nine recommendations for improving the state of press freedom Nimalarajan’s murderin2000 Journalists demonstratingafter andthe respondent forthe Tamil-language daily In thecaseof Aiyathurai Nadesan—acor- thurai Nadesan’s deathmay have very gra- impunity enjoyed by those involved in Aiya- Reporters withoutBorders fearsthatthe Sri Lankaarmy. ble becauseofprotection provided by the Aiyathurai Nadesan, may have beenpossi- Karuna’s opponents, particularlythatof journalist organisation—themurdersof Media Movement (FMM) —aSriLankan In theopinionofanoffi the securityforces.» them becausethekillersareworking with ticaloa. Butnoonecameforward toidentify desan’s murderersinbroaddaylight inBat- net.com On 26June, thenews website, into aperiodofcalamityanddestruction.» are boundtoleadthepeopleofthisisland people isabominable(…). These actions lectuals, journalistsandfriends ofthe Tamil cently announcedthat«thekillingofintel- the easternsideofisland. The LTTE re- as thekillingsofotherpersonalitiesfrom actively rallyingaroundthiscrime, aswell Tamil movements—notably theLTTE—are police inthiscase. Ontheotherhand, the does notaugurwellfortheattitudeof condemned thejournalist’s murder. That pointed outthatnoministerhaspublicly on trial. SomeSriLankannewspapers have to identifytheperpetratorsandputthem regime isnotenlistingsuffi Reporters withoutBordersfearsthatthe , claimedthatthe«People saw Na- IBC Tamil cial oftheFree cientresources radioservice— www.Tamil- dom Day—some police offi On 3May ofthisyear—World PressFree- cumbent UnitedPeople’s Alliance party. (JVP)—which isnow amemberofthein- notably theJanatha Vimukthi Peramuna or militantsofthecampaigningparties— some journalistswereupbraidedby leaders timidations. Duringtheelectioncampaign, a signifi 2003, Reporterswithout Bordershasnoted ceded by directdeaththreats. Since early journalists have almostalways beenpre- In SriLanka, cases involving murdersof 2. PUTTING AN END TO THREATS larajan, a rounding thekillingofMyilvaganam Nima- denounced thepersistentimpunitysur- On multipleoccasions, theorganisationhas ve repercussions onthecountry’s future. unpunished—can besolved. that thesemurders—all ofwhich have gone torney General’s Offi tion Department (CID), thearmy andtheAt- organisation urges theCriminalInvestiga- vided by theinternationalcommunity. The Unit couldbesupportedby somefundspro- inquiries intocrimesagainstjournalists. The gation Unitwithjudicialpowers toreopen creation ofanindependent SpecialInvesti- Reporters withoutBorders iscallingforthe well asinotherattacksonjournalists. murder committedinSeptember1999, as curity Division(PSD)areimplicatedinthis or individualscloseto, thePresidentialSe- remains convinced thatsomemembersof, were, inturn, eliminated. The organisation offi ordered thecrime—obviously high-ranking shed onthecaseandtoprotectthosewho ces inordertoprevent any lightfrombeing ment hadcommittedagreatdealofresour- report publishedlastMarchthatthegovern- le”), ReporterswithoutBordersshowed ina Sinhalese-language weekly In thecaseof investigation andgatherphysical evidence. either unable, orunwilling, toconductan is nolongerany doubtthatthepoliceare carried itout, have never beentried. There police, thosewhoorderedthecrime, and magistrate, andthe occasionaleffortsofthe pite therepeatedeffortsofexamining Tamil mediacorrespondentinJaffna. Des- cials. Certainwitnessesandsuspects cant increaseinthenumberofin- BBC World Service BBC World Rohana Kumara ce tofullyco-operate so cers, underdu- Satana Sinhalaand , editorofthe (“Batt- 3 SRI LANKA Nine recommendations for improving the state of press freedom the areatogo intohidinginColombo. Both out. Two correspondents inBatticaloafl that anew wave ofviolencewould break tern SriLankanjournalists wereafraid In theaftermathofNadesan’s murder, eas- 2004. paper, of theColombo-basedoffi Wickramatunga the targetofamurderattempt, after beingthreatenedseveral timesand them, impunitystill prevails. For example, 29 news professionalassaultcases. In 22of In 2000, theauthoritiesadmittedtoatleast Kumaratunga took power speaks foritself. of journalistsassaultedsinceChandrika ting andoutspokencriticisms. The number media known fortheirinvestigative repor- harassment practicesagainstjournalistsor The authoritiesseemtohave resumedtheir group ledby Karuna. elections andtherecentsecessionof taliate for Borders thatarmedgroupsplannedtore- Some journaliststoldReporterswithout must doitsjobandensureoursafety.» from paramilitarygroups. The government news butIam afraidofpossiblereprisals tion ofabandoningmy jobofreportingthe during thatsameperiod: «Ihave nointen- maintains thathereceived several threats the Tamil serviceofthe varam, whoisalsoaregularcontributorto plosives inthejournalist’s residence. D. Si- forces. The policeclaimtohave foundex- exposing abusescommittedby thesecurity line news service the homeof bious circumstances, conductedasearchin Tamilnet.com D. Sivaram the newswebsite, .com Sivaram «Taraki,» whocreated witnessedapolicesearch Tamilnet.com BBC World Service BBC World ’s coverage ofthe , editoroftheon- ces of hisnews- , on28March , known for Lasantha ed , dent forthe Ramasamy Thurairatnam newspaper gam Thavarajah Tamilnet.com dcasting group Renor Silva bo—a grenadewas thrown onthehomeof Then, on28March—thistimeinColom- you don’t listentous…» tening hislife. Written inredink, itread: «If nadu received ananonymous letterthrea- journalist ofthe Tamil-language dailyEela- do whatwelikewithyou.” Earlythisyear, a now thePresidentisinchargeandwecan freedom undertheRanilgovernment…but him, saying: “People likeyou hadtoomuch fore releasinghim, theoffi questioning by asecretserviceoffi guage daily lupillai Thavachelvam northern SriLanka. LastNovember, Intimidations have alsobeenoccurringin under army protection. supporters, who claimsthatshehadbeen conference heldby oneofKaruna’s former hiding. Hepublishedareportonthepress daily correspondent withthe Tamil-language Since 25June, Sri Lankaduetofearofreprisals. ports fromtheircorrespondentsineastern lese serviceshave stoppedbroadcastingre- deep concern. The BBC’s Tamil andSinha- journalist associationshave expressed their fi squads whosejobistoeliminateLTTE of- na’s supportershave formedgenuinedeath are indangerbecause Tamil warlord Karu- league Nadesan. They claimthattheirlives ganise funeralarrangementsfortheircol- Despite thesethreats, they hadhelpedor- that avicewas tighteningaroundthem. nous visitsintheirhomesandcouldsense cials andthosewhosupportthem. Local Thinakural Thinakural Lakehouse , generalmanager ofthebroa- news website, and Virakesari Thanthiyan Vedanayagam broke away fromtheLTTEbroke away Karuna, Tamil rebelleaderwho Asian Broadcasting Corpo- inBatticaloa, hasbeenin , whoworks forthedaily pressgroupandthe , hadreceived omi- , was takeninfor ofthe Tamil-lan- cr threatened cer , acorrespon- Shanmu- cer.Be- 4 ©AFP Ve- , SRI LANKA Nine recommendations for improving the state of press freedom this agreement. However, theNorwegian in termsoftheparties’ compliance with press hasassumedtherole ofanobserver and theLTTE signedthe ceasefi Since February 2002, whenthegovernment mission becausewedistrustthepolice.” sion. Butnothing happened. We wenttothe matter totheNorwegianMonitoringMis- So themanagementdecidedtosubmit ceived deaththreatswritteninSinhalese. vehicle thathadcausedanaccident. We re- power: «We publishedphotosofanarmy ration newspaper per Uma Rani with humanrightsviolations,» explained sion hasnomandatewhatsoever todeal as aneutralforce. ButthisMonitoringMis- ring Mission(SLMM), whichisrecognised their complaintstotheSriLankaMonito- forces. They arefullypreparedtopresent lists—do nottrusttheSriLankansecurity «The peopleofJaffna—especially journa- POWERS AUTHORITY NEEDSGREATER MONITORING CEASEFIRE 3. THE nalists inBatticaloa. be taken inorder toensure thesafetyofjour- organisation wouldlike specifi thern andeasternpartsofthecountry. The attacks onjournalistscommittedinthenor- kan MinisterofDefencetoinquire intothe mittee created attheinitiativeofSriLan- emergency sessionoftheInvestigativeCom- Reporters withoutBorders iscallingforan forgotten thatthisCommitteeeven exists. the currentgovernment appearstohave journalists’ working conditions. Sincethen, Sri Lanka, forthepurposeofimproving the on pressfreedomineasternandnorthern Committee chargedwithpreparingareport incumbent regimetoformanInvestigative In July 2003, thesetensionshadinducedthe cancelled. to operateatelevision channelhadbeen defending hisfi midate thegeneralmanager, whohasbeen attack. Itspurposehadlikelybeentointi- several vehicles damagedduringthatnight had informed Kadirgamar. LastFebruary, theMinistry hostility ofthenMediaMinisterLakshman Valampuri ( ABC ofthe Tamil-language newspa- ). A guardwas wounded and ABC . S. Radayan ve FMstationsagainstthe thatthestation’s licence confi rmed thislackof , theeditorof c measures to r, the re, organisations. man RightsandtheSriLankanhumanrights United NationsHighCommissionerforHu- a taskbecarriedoutinco-operation withthe rity. The organisation recommends thatsuch ring thestateofhumanrightsasitstopprio- ka MonitoringMissiontoconsidermonito- Reporters withoutBorders urges theSriLan- ral civilianpopulation. effectively protectjournalistsandthegene- monitor humanrightsviolationsandmore vised insuchaway astoallow the SLMMto urging thattheceasefi terviewed by ReporterswithoutBordersare The majorityofSri Lankanjournalistsin- and insustainingaclimateoffear. also involved invarious crimes, abductions LTTE’sthe positions. The Tamilare Tigers to have losthislifebecauseofsupport this instance, Aiyathurai Nadesanisthought peace processandthejournalists’work. In Tamil groupsareseriouslyjeopardisingthe loa.» These violentactsperpetratedby rival were committedinthedistrictofBattica- the last60days, 20crimesand35murders the fi Nadesan haddeploredthemultiplecease- Shortly beforehewas murdered, Aiyathurai cess. the ceasefi the localmediamustbekeptinformedof lation mustgive risetoaninquiryandthat tablishing theSLMMspecifi disputing parties, even thoughthetext es- the attacksonjournalistsby eitherofthe authorities have never publiclycondemned impression when hepubliclystated, on 15 Samaraweera madeastaggeringinitial Newly appointedMediaMinisterMangala THE STATE-OWNED MEDIA 4. ENSURING THE AUTONOMY OF re violations. Inthe30May 2004issue of Norwegian diplomatsindiscussionswiththeLTTE Sunday Virakesari r cmlac-oioig pro- compliance-monitoring re , hehadwritten: «In re agreementbere- es thatany vio- 5 SRI LANKA Nine recommendations for improving the state of press freedom led media. statement abouttherole of thestate-control- like theMediaMinisterto recant hisrecent political authorities. The organisation would groups thatwilloperate independently ofthe short-term plantoestablishstatemedia Reporters withoutBorders iscalling fora drika Kumaratunga. Alliance headedby Chan- its electioncoverage tothe levision haddevoted 68%of that SriLankanstatete- report, theEUrevealed 29 March2004. Inarecent te television andradioon took over thecountry’s sta- Electoral Commissioneven media, theIndependent this abusive useofthestate tical allies. To putanendto party andthoseofherpoli- conveyed theideasofher ber 2003, have extensively maratunga sinceNovem- President ChandrikaKu- have beencontrolledby fair. The statemedia, which gn by thestateandprivate mediawas un- News coverage ofthelastelectioncampai- the actionsofrulingparty. gement andpartylineexplicitly endorsing cessive regimehasimposedanew mana- political purposes. For decades, eachsuc- which areknown tobevastly exploited for dence ofSriLanka’s state-owned media, government’s attitudetoward theindepen- These statementsdonotaugurwellforthe into apublicservicesgroup. swiftly totransform thestate-owned media called fortheColombogovernment toact Meanwhile, theEuropeanUnion(EU), regard toanindependentstatemedia.» and standardsinthedemocraticworld with ”These words violateallacceptedtraditions The FMM, ajournalistassociation, stated: 2001. Publicreactionswereimmediate. already held the sameoffi tunga’s closesupporters, theMinisterhad sition party. As oneofChandrikaKumara- media was toattackthestate’s mainoppo- June 2004, thatthemaintaskofstate ce from1994to free press,” used todefendthepeople, therewillbeno pointed atthepopulationandarenotbeing «As longastheoccupying army’s rifl FORCES COMMITTED BY THE SECURITY 5. PREVENTING THE VIOLATIONS the consequences ofany actionstakenby rounded by ahostilecrowd should “assume by anoffi army,» asserted The LTTE suspected usofsupportingthe would accuseusofsupportingthe Tigers. rity forcesand Tamil paramilitarygroups diffi the cityofJaffna. «Duringthewar, itwas freedom violationsasthey passedthrough and theLTTE hadalsocommittedpress la in1996. Priortothearmy, Indian troops Lanka army recapturedtheJaffna Peninsu- and thesecurityforcesever sincetheSri violence andtensionsbetweenthepress Borders. There have beenconstantactsof mil daily reporters—including outrage over theassault by policeoffour When they cameforward toexpress their of incidentstheattentionthey deserved. 2003, army offi lists’ Association, reportedthatinOctober chelvam offi stressed thattensionsareoftenrelatedto attitude hasobviously improved, butsome Most ofthejournalistsadmitthatarmy’s daily cr’ personalities. cers’ cult togatherandpublishnews. Secu- A soldieronpatrolinthestreetsofJaffna Valampuri , ’s mostpopulardaily. , Presidentofthe Jaffna Journa- cer thatjournalistswhoaresur- Eelanadu S. Radhayan cers failedtogive aseries — representatives weretold K. Mailnadan , toldReporterswithout K. Ithayapavan Velupillai Thava- , directorofthe Ta- , founderof esare ofthe 6 SRI LANKA Nine recommendations for improving the state of press freedom Sinhalese. mil journalists, very few ofwhomcanread Tamil, thereby facilitatingthework of Ta- to offertranslationofitspress releasesinto On theotherhand, thearmy recently began rector ofthe anyone,” explained are afraidofreprisalsifthey weretotell rare civilianswholive there, andeven they pening inthemilitaryzonecomesfrom information wecanobtainonwhatishap- zone, suchasthecancerhospital. «The only access topublicfacilitieslocatedwithinthis casions, membersofthepressweredenied shoot fi of theHSZsinformthatsoldierswill of theregion. Warning signs attheentrance Zone (HSZ)whichcovers almostone-third journalists—concerning theHigh-Security tic restrictionsoncivilians—particularly army continuestoimposethesamedras- information. IntheJaffna Peninsula, the king journalists’inabilitytoaccessmilitary This distrustisalsoevident in Tamil-spea- still unknown. circumstances surroundingthisassaultare a policemaninNelliady (nearJaffna). The in December2003by agrenadethrown by Thavachelvam hadalready beenwounded nalists fromfi fi kill you.» The army explained thattheof- tened hislife: «Ifyou comeany closer, I’ll journalists, MajorD. M. Dissanayaka threa- kesari under nosuchrestriction. When colleagues travelling withthemonkswere the religiousdignitary. Yet theirSinhalese meras orcellphonestocover thearrival of jority ofthecity’s journalists—touseca- Tamil journalists—whoconstitutedthema- city ofJaffna. The securityforcesforbade Buddhist leadersofSriLanka, visitedthe Buddharakkhitha Thero, oneofthesenior gues. InJanuary 2004, Ven. UdagamaSri ted differentlythantheirSinhalesecollea- Many Tamil journalistsobjecttobeingtrea- police andparamilitarypersonnel. the hostilityshown tothemby themilitary, plained toReporterswithoutBordersabout from easternandnorthernSriLankacom- security forces. Several news photographers not allowed to photographmembersofthe reasserted thatmembersofthepresswere the police.» At thesamemeeting, theoffi Thavachelvam cer hadmerelytriedtoprevent thejour- attemptedtofollow theSinhalese rst andquestionlater. Onseveral oc- Uthayan lming theevent. Velupillai ofthenewspaper Saravanabhavan , aJaffna -baseddaily. Velupillai Vira- , di- cer A meetingbetweenjournalists andLTTE offi facilities intheHSZs. in progress andtoprovide accesstocivilian regularly inform thepress ofanyoperations The organisation wouldalsolike thearmy to lists whilethey are simplydoingtheirjobs. bring inforquestioning, orassaultjourna- ver members ofthesecurityforcesthreaten, tigations andtake disciplinaryactionwhene- ka army andpolicetoconductinternalinves- Reporters withoutBorders urged theSriLan- ment, informationhascirculated more Since thesigningof ceasefi mits.» to askany questionsaslongtimeper- information was inaccurate: “They arefree formed ReporterswithoutBordersthatthis LTTE offi agenda whenforeigndelegationsvisitwith to askquestionsonlyabouttopicsonthe Tamilselvam isexpecting Tamil journalists practices. According toourinformation, SP often hasanoutdatednotionofjournalistic the threatisnolessreal. LTTE’s leadership Lankan territoriescontrolledby theLTTE, that «pressfreedomwas respected»inSri selvam, toldReporterswithoutBorders though itspoliticalwingleader, SP Tamil- opponents, includingsomejournalists. Al- group thathaseliminateddozensof Tamil nonetheless remainsanintolerantarmed side thecountryaswellabroad, theLTTE state. Popular withthe Tamil communityin- for greaterautonomy withintheSriLankan been takingasofterlineandcampaigning mil population. Since2002, theLTTE has create aseparatestateforSriLanka’s Ta- organisation, isinitiallytooktoarms in 1976. The LTTE, apoliticalandmilitary Eelam (LTTE) movement sinceitscreation has headedtheLiberation Tigers of Tamil The highlysecretive CRITICISM LISM AND 6. THE LTTE MUST ACCEPT PLURA- cials inthe Vanni. Tamilselvam in- r agree- re cials 7 SRI LANKA Nine recommendations for improving the state of press freedom the ceasefi Prabhakaran, LTTE’s leader, signs tacking the Tamil-language weekly However, theLTTE hasbeenregularlyat- zones undergovernment control. without any majorimpedimentwithinthe LTTE’s publicationsarebeingdistributed pers arecirculatingmoreorlessfreely, and of thecountry. Tamil-language newspa- freely intheeasternandnorthernparts Borders asked himtoelaborateonthis in- mil journalists. When Reporterswithout (in easternSriLanka), whileallowing Ta- entering oneoftheircamps nearSampur ted SinhaleseandMuslim journalistsfrom Navamani ter withtheMuslimcommunitynewspaper space totheminournewspaper.» A repor- the LTTE. To survive, wehave todevote some we cannotwriteanything openlycriticalof business forjournalistsintheprovinces. So cover the Tamil Tigers’ activities isarisky party line. According to taken by anyone openlycriticalofLTTE’s Some Muslimjournalistsconfi LTTE’s position. this matter, butfailedtosustainablymodify The Norwegianmediatorsintervened in lence. Those whodon’t obey areharassed.» news mediatosay nothingaboutitsvio- dence, becausetheLTTE expects all Tamil (…) We mustpay thepriceofourindepen- ge papertoreporthumanrightsviolations his newspaper was “the only Tamil-langua- Reporters withoutBordersatthetimethat ran tions—committed by theLTTE. T lations—especially executions andabduc- press, regularlyexposes humanrightsvio- largest circulationsofthe Tamil-language . The weekly, whichhasoneofthe copies oftheweeklyineasternpart members oftheLTTE burnedthousandsof tic Party, theEPDP. In August 2003, armed armed group, theEelamPeople’s Democra- murasu , re agreement Thinamurasu , whichhasclosetieswithanother claimedthattheLTTE preven- ’s editor, hadinformed M. P. M. Azar rmed therisk . Baska- Thina- , «To dia criticalofLTTE’s actions. to thethreats andharassment targeting me- lists. The organisation isdemandinganend control andtobemore accessibletojourna- cise ofpress freedom inthezonesunderits political leaders tofullyguarantee theexer- Reporters withoutBorders isurging LTTE’s the stationtoacquiretwo new transmitters. sula. The government inColomboallowed radio stationinthenorthernJaffna Penin- LTTE obtainedalicencetooperateFM sence ontheisland. InJanuary 2003, the mil Tigers toconsolidatetheirmediapre- The ceasefi as theLTTE isconcerned. nalists mustpracticeself-censorshipasfar gers, Nadesanexplained thatall Tamil jour- Thought tohave closetimestothe Tamil Ti- keep silentinmattersinvolving theLTTE.” thout Bordersthat«sometimeswemust Nadesan hadexplained toReporterswi- lations committedby theLTTE.» Likewise, media don’t mentionthehumanrightsvio- fear andthat’s why themajorityof Tamil karan. A largenumberofthemdoitout that somejournalistsarepraisingPrabha- porters withoutBorders: «Itisn’t by choice Recently, a Tamil journalistconfi Tigers aredoing.” Tamil readerswant toknow whatthe Tamil activities. Butthat’s normal, becauseour the LTTE wants themediatocover their address any particularsubject. Sometimes leaders. They never insistedthatweshould several exclusive interviews withLTTE’s daily Vidyadharan sort ofstrangleholdon Tamil journalists. without BordersdeniedthatLTTE hadany Some journalistsinterviewed by Reporters going tocheckintothisinformation. cident, SP Tamilselvam repliedthathewas nalists toformulate moreradicaldemands. Muslim communitieshave persuadedjour- strained relationsbetween the Tamil and Borders. The recentincidents revealing the explained toReporterswithout not Tamil media,»aMuslim journalistfrom gnition. «We want Tamil-language media, king in Tamil, aredemandinggreaterreco- Journalists oftheMuslimpersuasion, spea- FREEDOM PRESS MUSLIMS TO 7. PROTECTING THE RIGHTOF Uthayan re alsopaved theway forthe Ta- , formerdirectoroftheJaffna , explained: «We conducted ded to Re- 8 N. N. SRI LANKA Nine recommendations for improving the state of press freedom Muslim minority. media capableofadequately representing the ditions which willfoster thedevelopment of and internationalcommunity tocreate con- Lankan government, the Tamil mediaowners Reporters withoutBorders isasking theSri in Batticaloaby LTTE militants. his newspaper vendors hadbeenassaulted to ReporterswithoutBordersthatsomeof gress. and aleaderoftheSriLankaMuslimCon- agreement betweentheheadofLTTE dent, reactingto an editorialcriticising about ourleader?” quotedthecorrespon- are goingtokillyou. How canyou say that received anonymous deaththreats: «We A few weekslater, theeditorialstaff also that year andwentintohidinginColombo. talam districtreceived adeaththreatlate Muslim Kural lim journalistsbecamemoreinsistent. The As of2003, thethreatsagainstsomeMus- hamed Fowzer. against the Tamil media,»contendedMo- about this. We areengagedinamediawar Our newspaper wants todosomething pers areoblivioustoMuslimexpectations. terests. «The Tamil andSinhalesenewspa- also claimstobeadefenderofMuslimin- the Tamil-languagepress, In 1996, afterhaving worked fortyyears for ned. particular,” oneMuslimjournalistmaintai- will berestricted—freedomofspeechin by theLTTE in November 2003. «Ourrights to theplanforself-determinationproposed The Muslimcommunitypressisopposed marginalising andeven oppressingthem. They areopenlyblamingtheLTTE for per Mohamed Fowzer fi was burned. The policehave notyet identi- with chemicalsandmostoftheequipment ber 2003, themagazineoffi contend withviolentreactions. InDecem- the Tamil-language magazinehashadto a distributionofseveral thousandcopies, lists todefendthisright,” heasserted. With agreement. ItisthedutyofMuslimjourna- rights arenotyet recognisedintheceasefi Lanka. «We arestillsuffering, becauseour for theMuslimcommunityofeasternSri launched theweeklypublication ed the perpetrators. Muslim Kural Muslim Kural ’ correspondentinthePut- (“The Voice ofMuslims”), , directorofthenewspa- ’s directoralsoreported ces weredoused M. P . M. Azar Navamani re

to formtrade unions. other mediaworkers’ righttoassociateand media owners torespect journalists’ and without Borders alsoasksstateandprivate part oftheceasefi these journalists, whose work isessentialas a training programme beimplemented for Lanka. The organisation isrequesting that vinces, especiallyinnorthernandeasternSri support tocorrespondents basedinthepro- ternational communitytoactivelylendtheir kan government, press owners andthein- Reporters withoutBorders urges theSriLan- daily papersinSinhaleseand Tamil. the LTTE, eachpublishversions oftheir The governmental group the samepublicationinallthreelanguages. Very few pressgroupsofferaneditionof languages: Sinhalese, Tamil andEnglish. deed, theSriLankamediapublishinthree one publicationlanguagetoanother. In- lity posedby thedifferencesincontent from dangers topeaceandprofessionalcredibi- Reporters withoutBorders’attentionthe The journalistsinterviewed also broughtto dent witha Tamil newspaper inthecapital. lity, butoursafety,» clarifi thereby jeopardisingnotonlyourcredibi- staff inColombo. «Ourstoriesarerectifi line, hadfi blished intheirnewspaper undertheirby- which they hadwritten, andwhichwas pu- threats madeagainstthemafteranarticle notifi Several correspondentsintheprovinces tax department. san, forexample, was alsoanoffi the correspondents’independence. Nade- ted tothissituation, whichisjeopardising Association. Mediaowners have beenaler- tary oftheEasternSriLankanJournalists’ plained the salarypaidby thenationalmedia,” ex- because itisvirtuallyimpossibletolive on of thecountry—needtowork attwo jobs, provinces—particularly intheeasternpart «The majorityofjournalistsbasedinthe CORRESPONDENTS DEPENDENCE OFPROVINCE-BASED 8. ENSURING THE SAFETY AND IN- ed ReporterswithoutBordersofthe Shan Thavarajah rst beenmodifi re agreement. Reporters ed one correspon- ed by theeditorial , GeneralSecre- Lakehouse cer inthe , and 9 ed, SRI LANKA Nine recommendations for improving the state of press freedom nity newspaper, the correspondentofMuslimcommu- Furthermore, LTTE membersthreatened having orchestratedtheseactsofviolence. Muslim organisation—OusamaGroup—of ten exacerbate existing communalandeth- and innate(…) The mediainSriLankaof- per staffsperceive ethnicityasimmutable Policy Alternatives wrote: «Many newspa- 2003, SanjanaHattotuwa oftheCentrefor a grimnecessity. Inareportpublished in nic componentoftheSriLankanpressas has beenexperiencing thestrongeth- Unfortunately, thejournalisticcommunity additional reprisals. his familyhave beeninhiding, for fearof Muttur. Sincethatdate, thejournalistand sion betweentheMuslimsand Tamils in language after hepresentedareportonthe Tamil- raided by agroupofunidentifi year, P. Sathsivanamdam’s homewas again professional equipment. On23June ofthis police intervention, thejournalistlosthis mils hadrapedaMuslimwoman. Despite rumour hadbeenspreadingthatsome Ta- Virakesari, andthreatenedtokillhim. A correspondent ofthe Tamil newspaper, ked theresidenceof website riots. The Tamil media, notablytheInternet claimed thattheLTTE hadinstigatedthe munities apart. The Muslimnewspapers district ofMutturhadsplitthetwo com- In June 2002, communal riotsintheeastern ned relationsbetweenMuslimsand Tamils. quently occurinpresscoverage ofthestrai- Stereotypes andmanipulationalsofre- Muslims. racist slursagainstboththe Tamils andthe ning, despitethefactthatthey contained vaina dailies—thusappearedwithoutwar- those featuredinthe Jathika HelaUrumaya (JHU)—particularly held by theextremist Buddhistclergyparty, campaign, certainaccountsofmeetings lese newspapers. Duringthelastelection hate-mongering statementsinsomeSinha- The organisationnotedthepublicationof tred betweenthevarious communities. media have beenfosteringadialogueofha- that someprivately owned andstate-owned Reporters withoutBordersdeeplyregrets GERING IN THE MEDIA 9. PUTTING A STOP TO HATE-MON- Tamilnet.com BBC World Service BBC World Navamani , accusedanunknown P. Sathsivanandam . A crowd attac- abouttheten- ed vandals ed andDi- , rejecting anyincitement toviolence. consensus ofalljournalists’ organisations, draw upanationalcodeofethicswiththe ternational journalismcodeofethicsandto editors-in-chief tooperate according toin- The organisation isaskingpublishers and against mediawhich transmit hatemessages. tive andpunitivepowers thatcanbeapplied bruary 2003, tobeendowed withinvestiga- Press Complaints Commission, setupinFe- Reporters withoutBorders iscallingforthe and religiousemotionsofthepeople.» nic tensionsby playing onthenationalist 10