Amnesty makes appeal on behalf of media

To mark Press Freedom Day 2008, Amnesty International has called on the Sri Lanka Government to protect media workers and their right to life, liberty and security of person, in compliance with Sri Lanka’s obligations under international law.

The organisation urges the Government to respect media workers and says that killings, threats and other attacks would not be tolerated.AI has also urged the Government to initiate a prompt investigation of all cases of attacks on media workers and journalists, as well as disappearances and killings of media workers, in an independent, impartial and effective manner, regardless of the identity of those behind criminal acts against media persons.

“All parties to the conflict must stop targeting journalists”, the AI said. “In all, at least 10 media workers have been unlawfully killed in Sri Lanka since the beginning of 2006. Others have been arbitrarily detained, tortured and have allegedly disappeared while in the custody of security forces.”

AI has also said the detention of journalist Jayaprakash Sittampalam Tissainayagam, arrested on March 7 this year, was arbitrary. Tissainayagam is being held on suspicion of involvement with the LTTE, but so far has not been charged with any wrong-doing.

Meanwhile, the LTTE has also issued instructions to all its members to cease all killings, threats and other attacks on media workers.