Attack on Sirasa shows pattern of terrorism against media

The Sri Lanka Chapter of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA Sri Lanka) strongly condemns the attack by a mob of people on the office and studio complex of the Maharaja Broadcasting Company (MBC) and Sirasa TV on March 22, 2010. We note that despite the high security alert in the country enabled by the continued State of Emergency, the mob arrived in a bus in broad daylight, and proceeded to throw stones and other objects at the MBC complex while trying to force their way into the compound. The Police was not seen to arrive until nearly two hours had passed thereby giving complete freedom for this mob to operate in this violent and illegal manner in the heart of Colombo. In fact, reports indicate that it was more the effort of ordinary citizens than that of the Police that resulted in the mob violence being resisted and ended.

SAFMA Sri Lanka has subsequently learnt that those suspects arrested by the Police in this connection were later released on police bail despite the serious nature of the incident in which they are suspected of being involved.

SAFMA Sri Lanka once again expresses its condemnation at yet another incident of violent attack on the mass media. This latest attack indicates that there is no abatement in this terrorist undermining of democracy. The unceasing incidence of violent attacks on media organisations, on media professionals and on activists defending media rights and freedom of expression, indicates a pattern of persistent violence and intimidation that can only be described as terrorism against the Sri Lankan mass media.

While the Government or elements linked to it may or may not have any complicity with this wave of anti-media terrorism, the Government is expected to deploy its considerable counter-terror capabilities to combat this form of terrorism. The failure of the police to respond in time to this incident also shows a pattern of continued police failure to adequately deal with this problem. And the failure of the Government so far to enable the Police to track down and deal with the many perpetrators of this anti-media terror only adds to the alarming environment of impunity for those brutish violators of the law and the subverters of democracy.

We call on the President to take steps to prevent a decline of the democratic credentials of his government and presidency by acting decisively to combat this terrorist menace.

SAFMA Sri Lanka.