“He maintains that his government will not tolerate attacks on journalists. Why then is the government not taking meaningful steps to stop such attacks? Why has the government not taken steps to bring the culprits to book? While being unable to bring the offenders of these cruel attacks to justice, the government talks of defeating the LTTE!”
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- The Sudar Oli Editorial
(July 04, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The international community is shocked at the cruel attacks on the media and media men in Sri Lanka. Naked violence unleashed on journalists are indicative of not only threats against the media but also against democracy.
Today the reins of the government are in the hands of one of those who raised his voice strongly against oppression in the dark era of late 80's and the early 90's.
Chandrika Kumaratunga, who too fought against oppression during that period, is disturbed over the present political trend in the country. She says that there are threats to her life. She mentioned that the threat to her life was not from Prabaharan but from other quarters. Even, she, a former executive President faces threats to her life in the present context.
While one of the leaders, who fought against oppression, has come to power, there are once again such threats to the media and democracy. Oh the other hand, another leader, who fought for democracy and became president, faces similar threats.
Meanwhile, the views expressed by the president over the most recent attack on journalists caused a surprise among many. He has charged that the recent attack on the media men was an attempt to bring discredit to his government.
"The government is engaged in the great task of liberating the people and the country from the clutches of terrorism. It is also engaged in the development of the country. In such a back drop, there are plots against the government. The attacks on the journalists are part of a plot to belittle the victories of the government in the war against terrorism", the President stated.
He maintains that his government will not tolerate attacks on journalists. Why then is the government not taking meaningful steps to stop such attacks? Why has the government not taken steps to bring the culprits to book? While being unable to bring the offenders of these cruel attacks to justice, the government talks of defeating the LTTE!
(An English translation of the Editorial in The Sudar Oli, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo)
- Sri Lanka Guardian
________________
- The Sudar Oli Editorial
(July 04, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The international community is shocked at the cruel attacks on the media and media men in Sri Lanka. Naked violence unleashed on journalists are indicative of not only threats against the media but also against democracy.
Today the reins of the government are in the hands of one of those who raised his voice strongly against oppression in the dark era of late 80's and the early 90's.
Chandrika Kumaratunga, who too fought against oppression during that period, is disturbed over the present political trend in the country. She says that there are threats to her life. She mentioned that the threat to her life was not from Prabaharan but from other quarters. Even, she, a former executive President faces threats to her life in the present context.
While one of the leaders, who fought against oppression, has come to power, there are once again such threats to the media and democracy. Oh the other hand, another leader, who fought for democracy and became president, faces similar threats.
Meanwhile, the views expressed by the president over the most recent attack on journalists caused a surprise among many. He has charged that the recent attack on the media men was an attempt to bring discredit to his government.
"The government is engaged in the great task of liberating the people and the country from the clutches of terrorism. It is also engaged in the development of the country. In such a back drop, there are plots against the government. The attacks on the journalists are part of a plot to belittle the victories of the government in the war against terrorism", the President stated.
He maintains that his government will not tolerate attacks on journalists. Why then is the government not taking meaningful steps to stop such attacks? Why has the government not taken steps to bring the culprits to book? While being unable to bring the offenders of these cruel attacks to justice, the government talks of defeating the LTTE!
(An English translation of the Editorial in The Sudar Oli, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo)
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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