IC SHD STOP GOSL's REPRESSION/THREAT TO LIVES OF JOURNALISTS!!!

Stop journalists “migrating”: RSF

With more journalists fleeing the country the Paris based Reporters Without Borders or Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) yesterday called on the government to get back those journalists to the country by ensuring their freedom and security.
RSF Asia/ Pacific head Vincent Brossel told the Daily Mirror the international community that tried to prevent flows of immigration would be wise to stop the Sri Lankan government from creating a climate of fear which is resulting in journalists migrating.

“This bleeding of Sri Lankan journalists leaving the country is another consequence of the ongoing policy of the government to prevent critical reporting. A country without journalists is not a democracy.

And the Sri Lankan highest officials are directly involved in such threats that make life impossible in Sri Lanka. These journalists, some of them working in the most important media, are not escaping because of LTTE threats, but because of government cronies increasing their pressure," Mr. Brossel told Daily Mirror.

At least five journalists have fled the country following the assassination of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickramatunga. The latest to flee the country out of fear for his life was Channel head of MTV/MBC Chevaan Daniel.

“In this case, Sri Lankan journalists, human rights activists and civilian are not leaving the island to escape poverty, but to escape political repression. The international community that tries to prevent flows of immigration will be wise to stop the Sri Lankan government from creating this climate of fear,” Mr. Brossel added.

He went on to say that RSF would never encourage journalists to leave the country, because at the end, the right of the people to be informed is jeopardized. However he added that RSF fully understands and supports the journalists in their decision and it is the duty of the government to get them back in the country, ensuring their freedom and security.
dailymirror.lk