Dear ___________,
SRI LANKA: Attack on an editor of a provincial newspaper
I have recently learned of an attack on an editor of a local newspaper in Sri Lanka, following his attempt to report on illegal construction in his area. Though the matter is now common knowledge and the local police in Negombo have been made aware of it, no action has been taken against those deemed responsible for the attack. Such an attack not only affects the editor and his own rights and safety, but also is an attempt to suppress freedom of the press.
On April 21, Mr. Freddy Gamage, the editor of the Meepura, a provincial newspaper published in Negombo, went to interview a person and to get photographs of some illegal construction at the lagoon area. At Kothalavla Bridge near the lagoon some persons claiming to be owners of the property had been attempting to fill in the lagoon in order to build a construction there and the authorities had ordered that this be stopped. The order was communicated through the police. Mr. Gamage was trying to collect information and pictures on this issue when a group of people attacked him.
After assaulting Mr. Gamage, the attackers then destroyed some of the video cassettes and camera lenses he had in his possession. Despite the Criminal Investigation Department at the Negombo Police Station being informed of this incident, and despite the attack receiving wide coverage in local newspapers, the police have not investigated the matter and have not taken any action.
Freedom of the press is a basic right and this freedom extends also to local newspapers. Local papers are an important part of the way in which information is provided to people on local issues. Attacking journalists engaged in such work is done to intimidate journalists and to prevent them from providing an essential service to the public.
With this in mind, I write seeking your intervention so as to prevent any further attacks of this nature. The Criminal Investigation Department at the Negombo Police Station must immediately investigate the attack, along with hold a disciplinary enquiry into why this has not already been done. Those persons deemed responsible for the attack should then be charged and produced before a court of law. During the court case, the cost of repairing the damaged camera equipment must be addressed.
Yours sincerely,
----------------------------------
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. K. C. Kamalasabesan
Attorney General
Attorney General's Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 436421
2. Mr. Chandra Fernando
Inspector General of Police (IGP)
New Secretariat
Colombo 1
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 440440/327877
3. Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
No. 36, Kynsey Road
Colombo 8
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 694 925 / 673 806
Fax: +94 11 2 694 924 / 696 470
E-mail: sechrc@sltnet.lk
4. National Police Commission
3rd Floor, Rotunda Towers,
109 Galle Road
Colombo 03
SRI LANKA
Tel: +94 11 2 395310
Fax: +94 11 2 395867
E-mail: polcom@sltnet.lk
5. Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse
President
Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka
C/- Office of the President
Temple Trees
150, Galle Road
Colombo 3
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2472100 / +94 11 2446657 (this is contact for Secretary to President)
Email: secretary@presidentsoffice.lk
6. Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, M.P.
Minister of Mass Media and Information
Parliament of Sri Lanka
Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte
Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 11 2777 100
Fax: +94 11 2777 548
Email: webmaster@parliament.lk
7. Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
c/o J Deriviero
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9177
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION)
Email: jderiviero@ohchr.org or urgent-action@ohchr.org
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
