Ominous similarities — Déjà Vu

The death threat to Lasantha three weeks before he was killed bears startling similarities to the death threats received last week

This week we produce a professional opinion secured by us from graphologist P.H. Manatunge, in which he states that the Sinhala writing on the piece of newspaper sent to Lasantha Wickrematunge in December 2008, three weeks before he was killed, shows some similarities with the Sinhala writings of the death threats sent to Frederica Jansz and Munza Mushtaq on October 22.
Manatunge asserts that this indicates that the person who sent the death threat to Lasantha in December last year and the person who wrote the two death threats to Frederica and Munza could be one and the same person. (See box)

That journalists continue to receive death threats in Sri Lanka is indeed a damning indictment of this government.  This is not to say that such threats emanate from the state, but the fact of the matter is that they continue to happen under the watch of this regime.

Since President Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected to office in 2006 eleven journalists have been killed in this country, including the Founder and Editor-in–Chief of this newspaper, Lasantha Wickrematunge, on January 8.
In addition, over 30 media workers have been assaulted during the last two years. All these incidents took place under the watch of the President.

At the time he fought his way to the SLFP presidential nomination in 2005, Rajapaksa was welcomed warmly by this newspaper. So well known was he for his commitments to human rights and liberal values that we ushered him in like a breath of fresh air. Then, through an act of folly, he got himself involved in the Helping Hambantota scandal. It was after a lot of soul-searching that we broke that story, at the time urging him to return the money. He did so. By the time he did, several weeks later, a great blow had been struck to his reputation.

In the wake of murder and continuing threats and harassment to journalists, the President makes all the usual sanctimonious noises and calls upon the police to hold a swift and thorough inquiry. No sooner was he informed of the threats to Frederica Jansz and Munza Mushtaq than he asked the police to carry out a “very thorough investigation” into the death threats.  An investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department immediately commenced. But like all the inquiries he has ordered in the past, nothing will come of this one, too.

The recent investigation ordered by the President into the death threat received by Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Executive Director for the Centre for Policy Alternatives, is one such example.

Even more damning in this context is the police investigation into the murder of Lasantha Wickrematunge.  To date, his murderers remain at large while the police have no clues which would lead them to his killers.  The police, in fact, have been unable to apprehend a single killer of all those 11 journalists murdered in the last two years – nor have they apprehended anyone involved in ruthless attacks on over 30 media workers in the last two years. Every one of these attacks occurred under the watch of the President.
Sadly, for all the dreams the President has espoused for this country in the name of patriotism, he has trampled on human rights, nurtured unbridled corruption and squandered public money like no other president before him.

As a result, this newspaper can reach only one conclusion: that all of these attacks, including the killings, must have state patronage, collusion, or both.   Which is why the murderers and attackers continue to roam free to issue deadly threats and carry out unabated attacks shielded by politicians and bureaucrats drunk with power.  We can only say this. They cannot see it now, but they will come to regret their children having so rich an inheritance of blood. It can only bring tragedy. As for us at The Sunday Leader, it is with a clear conscience that we can go to meet our Maker.

Frederica’s letter to the President….

His Excellency
President Mahinda Rajapaksa
Temple Trees
Colombo 03.

October 28, 2009.

Your Excellency,

Last week, on Thursday, October 22, both myself and my News Editor Munza Mushtaq received two death threats. The letters inside the envelopes addressed to us were written in red ink with identical wording in Sinhala stating, “Thopi Pethi Karanawa Liwoth.” The letters had been posted from Havelock Town on 21.10.2009.

Our former Editor-in-Chief, Lasantha Wickrematunge, received a similar written threat in Sinhala also in red ink stating “Liwoth Maranawa.” Three weeks after he received this letter he was assassinated on January 8, 2009 along Attidiya Road by assassins riding motor-cycles.

On Tuesday, October 27th, we made a complaint at the Mount Lavinia Police Station so that an inquiry is held by the police.  We consider this a serious threat to our lives which warrants a proper investigation. We feel that this death threat has been sent to us which is similar to that of the late Lasantha Wickrematunge.
We also suspect the reason to be some of the articles which were written recently on reports submitted by the European Union and the United States Congress.  These articles were mere reproductions of the report without comment and were official documents released to the media.

I also brought this incident to the notice of SSP Mount Lavinia Hemantha Adhikari on the day we received the written threats through a letter written to him on October 22, 2009.

I have attached to this letter photocopies of the letters received with the envelopes and also a photocopy of the threat issued to the late Lasantha Wickrematunge as productions.

When I met with you two months ago you were kind enough to offer me every assistance in my work asking me to telephone you if and whenever I believed I required your intervention in any matters.   To date I have not taken you up on that offer.

However, I am now writing to you seeking your intervention and requesting a formal investigation into the threats that both Ms. Mushtaq and I received last week.

When I met with you we had a very cordial and frank discussion where you spent an hour with me discussing the future of The Sunday Leader, my functions as its new Editor and even reminisced about the late Lasantha Wickrematunge.  On that occasion, you agreed that the newspaper had taken a very definite and clear shift in terms of editorial policy and that The Sunday Leader was no longer perceived to be biased or partial on any front.
I have tried hard and I believe I have been successful in steering this course.  If and when we do publish reports that appear to be critical of your government it is done with responsibility observing the highest principles of professional journalism.

Despite your assurances to me at the time we met, I have since been defamed on a government website namely, the Media Centre for National Security which in September carried a scurrilous article against me which attributed certain statements I had made in an interview to al Jazeera that were simply not true and taken out of context.  At the time, I informed Mr. Lakshman Hulugalle and to his credit he immediately removed the offending piece from the web page. Strangely however Mr. Hulugalle at the time insisted he had no prior knowledge that the said item had even been posted on the website which comes directly under his purview and that of the Defence Ministry.
The Sunday Leader as you are aware has consistently in the entire 15 years of its existence come under attack. We have been burnt, bombed, sealed, harassed and threatened, culminating in January this year with the brutal killing of Lasantha Wickrematunge.

I can only conclude that these attacks on the newspaper continue because we say it like we see it: whether it be a spade, a thief or a murderer, we call it by that name. We do not hide behind euphemism. The investigative articles we print are supported by documentary evidence. We have exposed scandal after scandal, and never once in these 15 years has anyone proved us wrong or successfully prosecuted us.

From us you learn the state of your nation, and especially its management by the people elected to give our children a better future.
While I make no claim to sharing a personal friendship with you Mr. President, I have for the better part of my journalistic career which spans over 20 years been in touch with you on a number of issues.  And during that time I believed that you stood apart from most politicians in this country – in your fight to ensure that the right to freedom of expression and justice prevails.

It is with this faith in you that I write this letter.   I trust you will in your vow to protect democratic rights and freedoms ensure that The Sunday Leader which by your own admission to me you said was a necessity in this country will be allowed to continue without further harassment, threats or worse — murder.

I sincerely hope you will insist that a full and fair investigation is carried out to find out who sent Ms. Mushtaq and me two death threats.  Nothing justifies a death threat to a journalist in a country espousing democratic freedoms.

Thanking you,
Sincerely,
Frederica Jansz
Editor.

Cc: Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa – Secretary Defence – Public Security Law & Order
Mr. Jayantha Wickremaratne – Inspector General of Police

opinion of the Examiner of Questioned Documents
P. H. Manatunga
B.Sc. (Hons.)(Cey.), LL.B.(Cey )
Attorney-at-Law
Examiner of Questioned Documents

29th October, 2009

My reference no. M9/2009

Report on the examination of the documents forwarded by Mr. Nimal Gunatillkeke, Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Chairman, Guardian Investigations (Private) Limited, 10/7C, Greenlands Lane, Colombo 5 with his letter dated 27th October, 2009

2. I have marked the envelop addressed to Mrs. Fredrica Jansz as P2a and the threatening note contained inside it as P2; the envelope addressed to Mrs. Munza Mushtaq as P3a and the threatening note contained inside it as P3; and the envelope addressed to Late Mr. Lasantha Wickrematunge as P1a and the piece of News Paper contained inside it as P1.

3. Examination and comparison of the writings on the above documents have revealed that the Sinhala writings on P2, P2a, P3 and P3a have been written by one person.

4. The Sinhala writing on the piece of news paper marked P1 shows some similarities with the Sinhala writings on P2, P2a, P3 and P3a indicating that the person who wrote P2, P2a; P3 and P3a could have written the writing on P1. However, a definite opinion is not possible due to the paucity of writing on P1.

5. The writing on the envelop P1a being in English cannot be compared with the Sinhala writing on the rest of the documents.

P.H. Manatunga
Retired Government Examiner of Questioned Documents. http://www.thesundayleader.lk/?p=792

Prof. Hattottuwagama, father of local street drama passes away

Gamini Haththotuwegama

(October 30, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Father of local street drama field Gamini Hattottuwaga passed away today (Oct. 30). Prof. Hattottuwegama, an English lecturer by profession, was also involved in writing and was a renowned film critic. He played a main role in Dharmasiri Bandaranayake’s ‘Thunweni Yamaya.’ Prof. Hattottuwegama also created several talented artistes by producing dramas and conducting workshops and courses.

Prof. Gamini Hattotuwegama’s contribution for the field of street drama has been for more than three decades. He has been the guru of a number of versatile and talented actors today. ‘Veediye Satankaruwa’ (Warrior of the Street) a street drama festival was held at the Sudarshi Hall under the patronage of the Socialists Arts Society to honor Prof. Hattotuwegama.

Specialising in English he got his Bachelors degree from the University of Peradeniya in 1963. His academic career extended over 40 years. Prof. Gamini Hattotuwegama joined the English Department of the University of Kelaniya in 1965 and helped to set up a Department of Fine Arts in 1974. He was the president of the Film Critics and Journalist’s Association, Sri Lanka from its inception to its demise from 1966 to 1974.

Hatta- with his group

Prof. Hattotuwegama founded the Wayside and Street Theatre Movement in 1974. He also introduced a powerful agitprop medium into the practice of professional criticism of social, political, economic and cultural issues in Sri Lanka and the world at large. From 1980s to 2004 he served at the University of Peradeniya. During this time he also served as a visiting lecturer in English, Cinema, Drama and Theatre studies at the Colombo University Post Graduate Institute of Education; at the Colombo University Shripali Campus Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts at Horana; at the National Institute of Education Maharagama and also as a visiting lecturer in drama on a degree programme in English, conducted for a group of Maldivian students. He is also known as a classical play producer and a translator of William Shakespeare, Bertolt Brecht, Samuel Bekett, Jean Anouilh and many others.

Sri Lanka will miss him dearly

Prof. Hattotuwegama was invited to represent Sri Lanka at several international conferences in India, Australia, Norway, Germany and the Philippines. Some of his plays have been rated among the most advanced scenes in Asia. His troop has been featured in UNESCO’s April 1992 issue Art Street and has taken part in an international theatre Olympiad in 1996 in India.
http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2009/10/prof-hattottuwagama-father-of-local.html

I am helpless when elections guidelines are not followed – Polls Chief

Number of JVP election offcies came under attack during the southern provincial election

by Zacki Jabbar

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake said yesterday that he was “helpless”, when his guidelines aimed at ensuring the conduct of free and fair polls were not followed.

“What can I do when my directives are ignored. I am helpless and powerless”, an exasperated Dissanayake, had told an Opposition delegation that met him, at his Rajagiriya office yesterday, to request that future elections are held on a level playing field and not under conditions heavily tilted in favour of the government, informed sources said.

The delegation, headed by UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, included parliamentarians Tissa Attanayake, Ravi Karunanayake, Hassan Ali and Attorney at Law Daya Pelpola. They had put forward a series of proposals to ensure that election laws are not violated.

Referring to the issue of holding Presidential and Parliamentary polls on the same day, the delegation had requested that in the event it happens, adequate measures be taken to ensure that there would not be any irregularities. Dissanayake, had replied that holding two different elections on the same day, would be extremely difficult.

Their proposal to conduct the counting of votes at polling booths itself was accepted in principal by Dissanayake, but he had pointed out that there would be practical difficulties. However, he had agreed to the suggestion that proper security be provided for the transportation of ballot boxes to the counting centers, the sources said.

Government candidates they alleged, had during recent polls abused State resources, including helicopters and vehicles, but in contrast, the UNP paid for all the helicopters and vehicles, they used during the last Presidential Election.

The sources said that the delegation had also asked Dissanayake to ensure that elections laws are strictly followed from the day nominations are handed in and not just on polling day.

They had among other issues raised the non acceptance of Opposition advertisements by the State media and urged that such discriminatory practices be stopped.
http://www.island.lk/2009/10/31/news17.html

ELECTIONS CHIEF TO SEEK FOREIGN MONITORS

Dayananda Dishanayaka - EC

By Yohan Perera

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has informed the opposition that he would seek foreign monitors for the general and presidential elections that are likely to be held in the future.

The Commissioner had given this assurance when he met some opposition members, including the UNP and SLMC leaders, at the polls secretariat yesterday.

UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, who spoke to the journalists after the meeting with the polls chief, said he had assured them that foreign monitors would be sought to ensure a free and fair election. This assurance had been given consequent on a request made by the party leaders.

Mr. Jayasuriya said they had expressed their suspicions over the holding of the presidential and the general elections together. According to Mr. Jayasuriya, the polls chief had said that holding the two elections together would be a difficult and expensive exercise.

Attention has also been focussed on counting the votes at the polling station itself (at the coming elections) and also on providing maximum security for the transportation of ballot boxes to the counting centres in the event that a decision is made to use such centres.

The UNP deputy leader said they had also spoken at length on the media campaigns of the ruling party. “We have complained about the attacks that were unleashed on the opposition by the ruling party using state media during the recent elections, and requested the Elections Commissioner to take some effective steps to prevent them,” he said.

Mr. Jayasuriya said they had requested the Elections Commissioner to see that his orders regarding the media campaigns were observed strictly from nomination day itself. The polls chief had responded positively to this request according to Mr. Jayasuriya.

The UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, the party’s Colombo District Leader Ravi Karunanayake and SLMC General Secretary Hassan Ali participated in the talks which had lasted for more than one hour.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=66456

Comrade Journalist Lokke – obata suba rathiyak

Lokke in the middle- FMM protest in 1992 in front of the supreme court

On 27th October 2009 Lokubanada Wanigasekara, former chief editor of Attha news paper left us for good. He was only 66 years old.

An unassuming personally he was  fondly called as Lokke by many of us.

He was one of the founder members of the Free Media Movement (FMM) in 1991 . He was one of the main speakers of public meetings held by FMM  in many districts during 1991- 1993. His speeches were simple and moving. Most of the times we traveled by public transport for hours to attend the meetings and took late night bus back to Colombo. Always long back seat was out favorite place in buses, where we could have a drink discreetly! At times we sung a song or two.

Lokubanda Wanigasekara became a member of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka at young age and remained committed to his ideals till the last breath. At the time of his death he was a CC member of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka.

Lokke,  obata suba rathiyak.

sd.

Sri Lanka: Journalists Still Under Threat, Even As Conflict Ends

2009-10-29 | 2.10 PM
ARTICLE 19 is concerned that Sri Lankan journalists remain under threat, despite the official ending of the country’s decades-long civil conflict in May this year.  Two editors from the Sri Lankan newspaper The Sunday Leader, Frederica Jansz and Munza Mushataq, are the latest to receive death threats, handwritten in red ink and delivered on 22 October.

The death threats arrived after the paper published a report on video footage allegedly showing Sri Lankan government soldiers executing Tamil prisoners.  The footage, which was broadcast in the UK on Channel Four news, was deemed inauthentic by the
government.  However, The Sunday Leader ran a technical report from the USA stating that it had not been faked.

The Sunday Leader’s previous editor, Lasantha Wickrematunge was assassinated in January this year, three weeks after receiving a similar letter.  After his death, The Sunday Leader published a posthumous editorial by Wickrematunge in which he blamed the Sri Lankan Government for attacks on journalists.  He wrote: “Electronic and print media institutions have been burnt, bombed, sealed and coerced.  Countless journalists have been harassed, threatened and killed.  It has been my honour to belong to all those categories and now especially the last.”

The Sunday Leader’s managing editor Lal Wickrematunge told ARTICLE 19 today that they have lodged an official complaint and written to President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning.

Journalist and former Convener of the Sri Lankan Free Media Movement Uvindu Kurukulasuriya comments: “The Sri Lankan government has failed to investigate the murder of Lasantha and bring his killers to justice and now there are the same death threats against his successors.”

ARTICLE 19 calls on the Sri Lankan government to immediately investigate the death threats against The Sunday Leader editor-in-chief Frederica Jansz and news editor Munza Mushataq, and to ensure the safety of both women.

“It is completely unacceptable to subject journalists and editors to the kind of violence and harassment that has become so commonplace in Sri Lanka,” comments Dr Agnès Callamard, ARTICLE 19 Executive Director.  “The Sri Lankan government must take responsibility for the safety of working journalists and must ensure that the country’s commitment to the rule of international and domestic law is upheld.

http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2009_10_30_001.html

Media can never give the full truth- Prof P N Balji

Friday, October 30, 2009

Exclusive Interview with P N Balji
Associate Professor, at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore

By Nilantha Ilangamuwa

(October 30, Kuala Lumpur, Sri Lanka Guardian) “I empathize with the journalists in your country. It is a difficult terrain they have to walk. “If I have one recommendation to make, it will be this: Focus on the future by tackling the fundamental issues Sri Lanka are likely to face”, Professor P N Balji of Asia Journalism Fellowship at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore exclaimed in an exclusive interview with the Sri Lanka Guardian.

After spending the last 20 years building two of Singapore’s most successful newspaper start-ups, veteran editor P. N. Balji is turning his attention to professional development as the Director of the new Asia Journalism Fellowship at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore.

Balji has been much sought after as a consultant, and as a speaker at press and media seminars overseas. His unique experience as editor of one of the most successful newspapers in the world is his calling card.

He has been a consultant to both The Malay Mail in Malaysia and also an Indian weekly magazine. He was also approached to kickstart a new newspaper in India, and was also offered the post of editor-in-chief by a European publisher wanting a foothold in the region.

Prof. Balji has openly shared his thoughts on the present political developments, role of media, and responsibilities of journalists to make excellent media that can be focused on people that are, with the Sri Lanka Guardian. Here is the full text of the interview;

Q.In many countries some political groups are barred by the government from being able to express their views in newspapers and on the radio and television. In other places, governments impose on news companies to provide avenues for all political groups to express themselves, even fringe or radical groups. Many people, especially in the United States and in Western Europe, oppose both of these systems, feeling that, while any government clampdown on freedom of expression is an act of tyranny, the government would also be acting tyrannically if it dictates how much coverage each point of view is allowed to have by implementing a ‘fairness doctrine,’ as it is called in the United States. What are your views on the role of government in regulating the media?

A. The fundamental question here is whether media should be regulated. And if so, who should do be the regulator? Ideally, newspapers should have staff who see the profession as a calling, not just as another job. They should make sure that their publications stand to the objective scrutiny of newsmakers and readers.

Generally speaking, the media has fewer of such people around. The result is an erosion of standards, which then results in somebody else stepping into the vacuum to control the media,

As a guiding principle, I am against government control of media. But, we don’t live in an ideal world.

Q.Throughout history, the media has often played a key role in the political side of military conflicts and as such, governments have often sought to control content during times of crisis. From the Alien and Sedition Acts in the United States at the end of the 18th Century to the media blackout in Sri Lanka precipitated by the final campaign of the civil war there, how do you feel emergency government censorship has helped or hurt the nations that employ this tactic over the years? Are there any examples where you feel government intervention in the press has been beneficial?

A. A lot depends on whether the Government does it for the good of the nation. The problem is that such intervention usually starts with altruistic intentions. But then the good intentions degenerate into something more sinister and an interventionist govt continues to dominate the media as a way to rule for ever. The taste of such control can give them such a high that they don’t want to let go after that.

Also, the world is so driven by monetary gains and power politics that inhumanities committed are ignored by foreign govts in search of the gravy train. The Sri Lankan example is illuminating. Look at the foreign govts trying to jump on to the train to cash in on business potentials being laid bare in the aftermath of the annihilation of the LTTE.

Q.Many of those who remain in Sri Lanka are harassed and threatened. What advice do you have for Sri Lankan journalists seeking to continue writing despite their hostile environment?

A. I empathise with the journalists in your country. It is a difficult terrain they have to walk. If I have one recommendation to make, it will be this: Focus on the future by tackling the fundamental issues Sri Lanka are likely to face. I suggest two paths: One, learn to live and let live. Nelson Mandela was a target of the repressive apartheid regime. Still, after he became the leader of South Africa he got the entire nation to focus on forgiveness. The winners in Sri Lanka should learn to be magnanimous in victory.

Second, the govt must do some soul searching and realise that the cotninued marginalisation of the Tamil minority can only be the breeding ground for more blood letting in future. Malaysia is realising the hopelessness of its policy of forcing the Malay language down the throats of the minority Chinese and Indian communities. That policy and the discrimination in favour of Malays is exposing that country’s racial and religious faultlines only to be exploited by opportunists and trouble makers. Economic growth and peace are the victims.

Q. It has often been argued that biased media networks and sensationalist journalism can put a nation at risk in a wartime situation. Some even argue that there are groups of journalists who seek to aid and abet the opposing forces their country is fighting because they oppose their own country’s government. In Sri Lanka, it seems that nearly every media company that doesn’t simply accept government press releases at face value is accused of being a front for the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels. More famously, many Americans have blamed activist journalism for deceiving the American people during the Tet Offensive by cherry picking facts and stories to give the appearance that America and South Vietnam were facing a disaster, when in fact they were winning the most decisive military victories of the entire war. This resulting in the failed offensive becoming a political victory for the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong. Can you comment on how accurate you feel these views are and how great is the danger to a nation or government of being destabilized by activists in the media?

A. I recommend objective activism. By that I mean present as many sides as possible. And let the readers decide. Media can never give the truth. It can only give some truths. Make sure you give every shade of opinion on a subject. Don’t rush into print with unconfirmed stories. Check and double check. Make corrections the next day if there are inaccuracies.

Q. Can you share with us your experiences as a journalist, what kind of challenges you faced how you work with deadlines. What is your advice for young journalists and students who want to be journalists?

A. If you don’t have the passion for the profession, please don’t get into it. With the world becoming more complex and major shifts taking place, we need journalists who can slice and dice the issues and say with confidence and some certainty what it all means to your reader.
http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2009/10/media-can-never-give-full-truth-prof-p.html

Media organisations condemn death threats to editors

Press release: 26.10.2009

Five media collective unreservedly condemn the death threats directed at Sunday Leader Editor Federica  Janzs  and news editor Munza Mushtaq by sending two identical threatening letters. The letters were posted in 21^st October and received on 22^nd October. In these circumstances it is the responsibility of the  government and police to ensure the security and safety of these two senior journalists.

It was reported that Sunday Leader founding Editor Lasnatha Wikremathinga too received two such letters just before he was shot to death on 8^th January 2009. In this context these threatening letters cannot be ignored.

At the same time we do not consider these threats as common and isolated occurrences.  In our opinion these threats represent another step in dangerous  trend of continuous intimidations against media and journalists in this country over the past years.

Continuous threats and intimidations aimed at  journalists who espouse dissenting voices and  provide other news and another view points to readers shows that still Sri Lanka do not have right to express opinion freely in a democratic manner. These undemocratic practices of media intimidation hampers peoples expectation of a peaceful and democratic society after the 30 year war came to an end.  We earnestly appeal to the president and government to ensure a free and fair environment for media and journalists to carry out their profession without fear and intimidation.

EU Council conclusions on Sri Lanka – comdemns media suppression

2009-10-28 | 12.05 PM

Summary: 27 October 2009, Luxembourg – Council of the European Union, 2971st EXTERNAL RELATIONS Council meeting, Conclusions on Sri Lanka

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

“1. The EU has continued to keep the situation in Sri Lanka under close attention and, as stated before, wishes to engage with the Government of Sri Lanka in a meaningful dialogue towards a new relationship in which both sides seek to cooperate to resolve progressively the principal
issues of concern. These include ensuring that the internally displaced persons (IDP), of whom there are believed to be more than a quarter of a million detained in closed camps have freedom of movement, are able to return to their homes without delay, that conditions inside the camps should fully comply with international standards, and that the Government of Sri Lanka and all communities in Sri Lanka make concrete efforts to overcome the divisions of the past and to move on to genuine reconciliation. Without such reconciliation, there can be no return to long-term security or prosperity.

2. The EU is particularly concerned by the continuing humanitarian crisis and the unacceptable situation for the IDPs still detained in closed camps. Indiscriminate detention of IDPs in Sri Lanka is a clear violation of international law. There is an urgent need for all IDPs remaining in the camps to be granted freedom of movement as well as full and unimpeded access to them by humanitarian actors, including for registration purposes, in order to provide humanitarian aid and protection. The IDP camps must be transferred to civilian authority. The EU urges the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that conditions in the camps in all respects are in accordance with internationally accepted standards. Overcrowding and lack of possibility to ensure the health and safety of the IDPs continues to be a source of serious concern. The monsoon season lends particular urgency to the situation.

3. The EU stresses the right to voluntary, safe and dignified return for all IDPs. It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure that the human rights and other constitutional rights of the IDPs are fully respected. All IDPs should be able to leave the camps when they wish and it should be possible for those who are able to find refuge with families and friends, or who are able to return to their homes in areas where demining is not required, to do so immediately. It is particularly important to ensure that people, and especially children, in the camps are reunited with their families. It is not acceptable that a proportion of those IDPs who have been able to return have not in fact been allowed to go back to their homes but have been placed in new camps which are also closed. The EU supports the call of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator for the government to present an overall plan for the IDP return process, which should be transparent and coherent, and based on the above fundamental humanitarian principles. The EU welcomes reports of a recent increased rate of return of IDPs and hopes this will continue.

4. The EU welcomes the recent high level visits of the UN to Sri Lanka. It expresses its support for strengthened UN involvement in Sri Lanka, including as regards its coordination, protection and advocacy role.

5. As part of a dialogue, the EU stands ready to support projects for the return of IDPs. However, for such projects to be successful, it is important that they be carried out under certain conditions. These include freedom of movement for returnees, close cooperation with civilian local authorities to ensure that the returnees have sustainable livelihoods, and government support for those organisations who are implementing the projects, including the delivery of visas and unimpeded access. The EU underlines that support for reconstruction and development in the East and the North shall be based on progress in fulfilment of the above.

6. It is essential to put an end to impunity and to all human rights violations. The EU remains seriously concerned with continuing reports of abductions, disappearances and extra-judicial killings. The EU is also gravely concerned about reports on severe harassment of journalists, restrictions on freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Sri Lanka. The EU urges the government to move as soon as possible towards lifting the Emergency Regulations and limiting the special powers conferred by the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Likewise, the EU repeats its call for possible violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law by all actors to be subject to independent and credible inquiry. The EU believes that accountability is integral to the process of reconciliation.

The Council notes that the Commission recently completed its report into whether Sri Lanka has implemented three UN human rights conventions, which is required in the context of GSP+, and concluded that they have not been effectively implemented. The EU will decide what further steps to take in accordance with the GSP+ regulation. In parallel, the EU will maintain a dialogue with Sri Lanka on the steps necessary to address the problems highlighted by the Commission’s investigation, in order to effectively implement the conventions.

7. Genuine reconciliation requires an inclusive political process which addresses the legitimate concerns of all communities in Sri Lanka. In this respect, the EU stands ready to support the Government and all other actors in Sri Lanka in their efforts to move forward with such a process immediately.”
http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2009_10_28_002.html

AI USA appeal on Sunday Leader editors

- From Amnesty International USA

27 October 2009

UA 288/09 – Fear for safety

SRI LANKA
Frederica Jansz (f), journalist
Munza Mushataq (f), journalist

Two female editors at a national newspaper in Sri Lanka, Frederica Jansz and Munza Mushataq, have received death threats. The founder and former Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Lasantha Wickrematunge, was killed in January after receiving a similar death threat.

On 22 October, Frederica Jansz, Editor-in-Chief of the Sunday Leader, and the newspaper’s News Editor, Munza Mushataq, received identical death threats by post, hand-written in red ink. Lasantha Wickrematunge was murdered three weeks after he received a similar death threat, also written in red ink.

The threats relate to the coverage by the Sunday Leader of a video, broadcast on UK TV station Channel Four in August, which allegedly showed Sri Lankan soldiers executing Tamil prisoners. The Sri Lankan government has stated that the video had been faked, but on 18 October the Sunday Leader printed an article on its front page, highlighting a report that an analysis of the video had concluded that the footage had not been tampered with or edited.

The threatening letters were postmarked 21 October, just three days after the newspaper ran its controversial story. Both letters included text saying “if you write anymore, we will kill you, [and] slice you into pieces”. The journalists reported the threat to Sri Lanka’s Inspector General of Police, and also to local police in the capital, Colombo. However, no action has yet been taken by the authorities.

In September, Dileesha Abeysundera, who works for the Sinhala-language edition of the Sunday Leader and also campaigns for greater press freedom in Sri Lanka, was threatened (see UA 269/09). There have been numerous serious attacks on the staff of the Sunday Leader and its publishers. Its offices have been burnt down, bombed and sealed several times.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Physical attacks and the relentless intimidation of journalists, as well as government-imposed restrictions on reporting, are threatening freedom of expression in Sri Lanka. Unprecedented levels of violence against media workers reporting stories critical of the government have contributed to a climate of fear and self-censorship that denies Sri Lankans the right to information. Journalist J.S. Tissainayagam was sentenced to 20 years rigorous imprisonment on 31 August 2009, on charges that his reporting on human rights issues promoted terrorism.

Numerous journalists have been detained while others have fled the country following death threats. At least 14 media workers have been killed since 2006. Investigations into the unlawful killings of journalists have failed to result in prosecutions.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
- to ensure the safety of Frederica Jansz and Munza Mushtaq, in accordance with the wishes of the journalists themselves;
- to immediately investigate the death threats received by the two journalists on 22 October, and the attacks on other Sri Lankan journalists and media workers, with the results made public and those responsible brought to justice;
- to abolish or reform legislations that are being used to suppress the right to freedom of expression and put an end to the climate of impunity that has allowed a long campaign, by state agents and paramilitary groups, of intimidation and violence against independent journalists in Sri Lanka.

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency the President
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: 011 94 11 2446657
Salutation: Your Excellency

Inspector General of Police
Jayantha Wickramaratne
Sri Lanka Police Headquarters
101/1 Kew Road, Colombo 2
SRI LANKA
Fax: 011 94 11 244 6174
Salutation: Dear Inspector General

COPIES TO:

Ambassador JALIYA WICKRAMASURIYA
Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
2148 Wyoming Ave. NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 232 7181
Email: slembassy@slembassyusa.org
For a print-friendly version of this Urgent Action (PDF):
http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa28809.pdf