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TMVP threatens female journalist - FMM
editor on 19 August, 2008 14:20:52 | 371 times read
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The Free Media Movement says a TMVP (Karuna faction) supporter/member threatened journalist Thakshila Jayasena of Sandeshaya - BBC Sinhala Service soon after she covered a protest by the United National Party. According to Ms. Jayasena, the incident occurred on 15th August 2008 as she was returning to her office after covering the protest rally. A motorcyclist who followed the three-wheeler taxi she was traveling in blocked her way, stopped the taxi and asked her if she can recognize him. Ms. Jayasena told him that she has seen him at the press conference held by Mangalam Master, the TMVP candidate for Polonnaruwa at the Provincial Council Election. Then the TMVP supporter/member had told her that he had come there not to leave any one alive and that he arranged a whole group to do the job. Journalist Takshila has lodged a complaint regarding this threat made against her with Polonnaruwa Police (No. 376/174). The FMM views this threat, coming from an armed group engaged in the Provincial Council Election as an omen of worse media repression in the Eastern Province. If these threats are not addressed at the outset, the FMM is deeply concerned the TMVP will treat media in much the same manner as the government treats media in the South, which is to say that they will violently clamp down on all dissenting and independent reporting. The FMM recalls that a number of threats against journalists from the TMVP over the past months that have been brought to its notice. We demand an apology from the TMVP over this regrettable incident and ask them to respect the freedom of expression and media freedom in areas under their control, if they wish to convince us of their newfound democratic bias. We also request Polonnaruwa Police to initiate a quick and transparent inquiry in to this incident to ensure that all journalists will be able to report the upcoming Provincial Council Elections without fear and intimidation, the FMM added.
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