Educated thugs!

- Thinakkural Editorial

(August 31, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Two media men had been subjected to abusive language and attacks near the hostel of the Colombo Medical Faculty students. A camera has been robbed from a press photographer.

It was the media men who went to collect some stories from medical faculty students who were attacked. Even the media men of the Sirasa telecast who went following the incident were also attacked. Their video camera too, was grabbed.

It is a disgraceful act that must be condemned strongly. Medical students who are considered to be the intelligentsia of the country have trampled on the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press guaranteed by the constitution in broad day light. They have revealed that they are educated thugs in the country.

The medical profession and the judiciary are two highly respected professions in the world. It is hurting that the medical students have conducted themselves in a manner that can bring disgrace to such a noble profession.

Educated thugs have to accept responsibility for this incident. They cannot justify their conduct in any manner. They have proved that they are not worthy of receiving higher studies. The government is spending large sums of money and the resources of the State to build up a healthy young generation. It is not a healthy sign that medical students are behaving in this manner.

If any body thinks that the media can be made to submit through such attacks, then he or she is sadly mistaken. It will be a historical blunder if any body wants to silence the media through intimidation.

(An English translation of the Editorial in Thinakkural, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo.) - Sri Lanka Guardian