Twenty-nine global media organisations have appealed to the United Nations to put pressure on Sri Lanka to protect journalists, who have been described as "enemies of the state" for being critical of the government's role in the civil war in the country.
The media organisations affiliated to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said in a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon that mediapersons in Sri Lanka have been receiving constant threats that has "put journalists in grave danger."
According to the Lanka business online, the Defence Ministry in commentaries published on its website on June 5 labelled journalists critical of the war effort against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as "enemies of the state". The ministry said it would take "all necessary measures to stop this journalistic treachery".
"We seek your support in urging all United Nations member states to respect resolution 1738 in letter and in spirit, and specifically request your help in persuading the government of Sri Lanka to withdraw these statements and immediately stop all actions which undermine the independence and safety of the news community," the letter said.
"(We) condemn these statements, which risk encouraging those who have used extreme violence against journalists and other news professionals in the country," it said.
The global survey of news media casualties, presented to UN Secretary-General by the International News Safety Institute last December, placed Sri Lanka 14th on the list of more than 70 countries where journalists died while performing their duties. "Journalists continue to work there in conditions of fear and harassment," it said.
