MEDIA RELEASE
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Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights in Sri Lanka (SPUR) Reg No. A 003 07777 M PO Box 4066 Mulgrave VIC 3170 Australia Email : Public Officer : Spokesperson : Webmaster |
Ph: 0411 287 434 +61 2 9682 7864 +61 3 9548 0276 Fax: +61 3 9548 0276 +61 2 9682 7864
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Sri
Lanka Government's refusal to renew the visa of Paul Harris, the British
journalist
Sri
Lanka government's decision to refuse the renewal of visa to Paul Harris, one of
the only two foreign correspondents who were in Sri Lanka is a deathblow to
democratic transparency. Paul Harris had been targeted for critical reporting of
the so-called peace negotiations in Sri Lanka. According to the French media
watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Sri Lankan Government authorities had
been responsible for a campaign of intimidation against Paul Harris.
While
the Government of Sri Lanka is bending over backwards to appease the Tamil
Tigers and is prepared even to ignore the 200 year sentence recently handed over
by Sri Lanka’s own High Court to the LTTE terrorist supremo for mass murder,
it is indeed ironic for the same Government to violate the freedom of reporting
by a journalist. It is obvious that the Sri Lankan Government is keen on
covering up its highly questionable dealings with the Tamil Tiger terrorists.
We
along with many Media Organisations including Foreign Correspondents Association
of Sri Lanka strongly condemn the Sri Lanka Government's manipulations to
prevent Mr Paul Harris from carrying out his professional duties as a
journalist.
We
are of the view that at this juncture a dissenting voice of a reporter like Paul
Harris is very important, as the majority of media organisations and reporters
in Sri Lanka are engaged in eulogising the so called Peace Process under severe
pressure exerted by the Government. We request the Government of Sri Lanka to
repeal its ruling and grant the requested renewal of visa for Mr Paul Harris to
continue his investigative reporting from Sri Lanka. We earnestly urge all Media
Associations to register their strongest protest with the Government of Sri
Lanka in the name of media freedom.
Malin Abeyatunge
PRESIDENT
16 November 2002