|
Gunmen kill anti-government editor in Sri Lanka
Associated Press,
Thu January 8, 2009 04:31 EST .
BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Gunmen on a motorcycle Thursday shot and killed the editor of a Sri Lankan newspaper critical of the government, the second violent attack on media this week. Media rights groups have accused the government and its supporters of trying to stifle dissent in the war-wracked country by vilifying journalists seen as critical and creating an atmosphere of impunity for those who attack them. One of the most outspoken voices belonged to Lasantha Wickramatunga, whose Sunday Leader newspaper has accused President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government of corruption. Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the president's powerful brother, is suing the newspaper for defamation. As Wickramatunga drove to work during Thursday's morning rush hour outside the capital, Colombo, two gunmen rode up and opened fire, police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekara said. Police were investigating, but no one has been arrested. Television images of the car showed bullet holes in the windshield and blood splattered over the seat. Wickramatunga was rushed into emergency surgery for nearly three hours but died of head wounds, said Dr. Anil Jasinghe, director of Kalubowila Hospital. Colleagues said Wickramatunga had received threats recently. In 2007, assailants torched his paper's printing presses. Media Minister Anura Yapa, who said he was a friend of Wickramatunga, said authorities would conduct a full investigation. ``We believe in the freedom of the press and freedom of the journalists. We don't want to harm anyone,'' he said. But media rights activist Poddala Jayantha said the assault was part of an effort to silence the media. ``The government has failed to prevent attacks on the media and, at the same time, has not brought the culprits responsible for previous attacks to justice,'' he said. The shooting came two days after gunmen armed with assault rifles and grenades raided a private television station and destroyed much of its equipment. No one was seriously injured. State media had accused the station and its affiliates of not being ``patriotic'' enough in covering the government's recent victories over ethnic Tamil separatists. Media watchdog groups say intimidation of journalists has grown as the war between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels escalated over the past two years. In November, Amnesty International said Sri Lankan journalists face detentions and attacks, with at least 10 media employees killed since 2006 and one missing since being arrested two years ago. The government has denied it is behind the attacks and has appointed a committee to investigate.Discuss this story
Published: Thu Jan 8 05:42:48 EST 2009
|
Express your opinions, meet others at the
