Two members of the Free Media Movement (FMM), an independent group of editors and leading journalists committed to freedom of expression and opinion, have received death threats from a group calling itself “Theraputtabhaya force”.
According to information provided to the International Press Institute (IPI), FMM convenor and editor-in-chief of the Ravaya newspaper, Victor Ivan, and FMM spokesperson and former journalist and editor, Sunanda Deshapriya, were threatened in a letter signed by a Commander Mayadunne. Other leading members of civil society organisations in Sri Lanka were also sent similar threatening letters.
As well as issuing threats, the letter to Ivan and Deshapriya, who is due to speak at the upcoming IPI World Congress in Kenya (21-24 May), also claimed responsibility for the 28 April abduction and murder of journalist Sivaram Dharmeratnam. The letter apparently said all traitors should be ready to become “fertilisers of the motherland” if they continue to betray the country.
It is believed that the comments are related to a protest rally organised by the Patriotic National Movement (PNM), and held on the same day as the arrival of the letters, that attacked “the betrayal of the country to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam.”
The PNM is an apparent hard-line movement with links to the People’s Liberation Front that supports the coalition of President Kumaratunga. In the past, the Sinhalese group have accused President Kumaratunga of being soft on the Tamil Tigers.
Speaking about the threats, IPI Director Johann P. Fritz said, “There is a long history of groups and individuals in Sri Lanka trying to promote hatred against the media. It cannot be ignored in Sri Lanka because, on so many other occasions, such threats have led to self-censorship, physical assaults and even murder.”
“I call on the Sri Lankan government to investigate this case and to ensure that journalists and other members of civil society have the ability to freely express their opinions without fear of harassment or intimidation.”
