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Protect journalists’ rights: Newspaper Society
The Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka, the association of the country's publishers, has called upon President Mahinda Rajapakse to ensure that his government in general and the police in particular take meaningful steps to ensure the respect and dignity they are entitled to.

In a statement following the recent arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention of a senior journalist from the Tamil daily Thinakkural, P. Parthipan by the Kirulapone police, the Society says that the new government must not give the impression that these arrests are committed on ethnic grounds.

The statement further states that this is not the first time journalists have been harassed, attacked or murdered. This past year, correspondents were killed in the North and East, as well as in Colombo by still to be identified assailants.

"Last week, senior journalist, Mr. P. Parthipan, was taken into custody by the Kirullapone police despite the fact there was no dispute about his identification. Not only was he detained, but also fingerprinted and videotaped as would be the case in the arrest of a criminal, and strangely enough he was not permitted the basic right of contacting his family or employer.

"There has not been an acceptable explanation, reply, or apology for the unlawful detention. The new government has consistently claimed it would promote democratic ideals, and this President has specifically espoused justice and equality. Yet such acts upon the very members of society who serve to protect and promote democracy do not lend itself to the government’s pledge.
“This action, especially in view of the ongoing violence, could very well be construed as an attack on ethnic grounds. The new President must take cognizance of such unacceptable police action and ensure that journalists are given the respect and dignity they are entitled to,” the statement adds.

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