Sri Lanka It's Happening

May 1, 2005

The government has killed the editor of the Tamilnet website (Mr Dharmaretnam Sivaram (alias Tharaki)). Isn't that a wild accusation? no.

The fact that the journalist was abducted in front of a police station and the fact that his body was recovered near the parliament itself points the fingure at government involvment.

Let us not forget for a moment that the government's co-alition partner is the JVP a former terrorist organization that is responsible for the death of serveral media men. The JVP is also accused of killing the president's husband.

One of the first acts of this government after coming to power was to raid the offices of the Sunday Leader - the most outspoken of Sri Lankan newspapers. Since then there was an attempt to arrest it's editor has well.

Over the past year, the period during which this government has ruled the country two other journalists have also been killed and their killers have not yet been brought to justice.

Last but not least let us not forget that they have publicly stated their intention to change the constitution unconstitutionaly. The president is on the record for having said she does not care two hoots about the opposition. An MP is in prison for contempt of court charges for expressing his views in public. In such a climate it would be a great suprise if the government does not kill of reporters.

Posted by raditha at May 1, 2005 3:30 AM