Sri Lankan scene
Let us have a look at the political situation of Sri Lanka. The final outcome of the 26 years of separatist war against the Tamil Tigers in the far north-east of the country has gained much media attention.
The government of Sri Lanka claims to be highly committed and has expressed their commitment towards the peace talk. It is very difficult to justify the claim of the Sri Lankan government. Press freedom in Sri Lanka has shrunk since 2006. Reporters without borders expressed alarm at the statement by Sarath Fonseka, the army chief. He cautioned that journalists who visited areas formerly controlled by the Tamil Tigers would be prosecuted. Journalists still have no free access to the camps where 300,000 Tamil civilians have been interned. It must be noted that at least 20 Sri Lankan journalists have fled after receiving death threats and 14 have been killed since the beginning of the military campaign to crush the Tamil Tigers in 2006. Others have been arbitrarily arrested and tortured or disappeared while in custody. (Source 2nd June 2009,The Times).
Recently, a Sri Lankan court sentenced an ethnic Tamil journalist to 20 years in prison. Through this sentence once again the government proved to be hostile towards the press. Why does the Sri Lankan government feel scared of journalists? How long would they continue their autocracy?
It is the responsibility of the international community to keep an eye upon Sri Lanka, so that the common people, especially innocent Tamils, do not face any kind of ill-treatment.
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