
“Media freedom under serious threat”
-Northern Media Association on military intrusions in Jaffna
“The harassment and intrusive actions of the SL military in Jaffna towards the media and its personnel are a serious threat to media freedom” said the Northern Media Association in a report condemning the so-called search operation carried out by the SL forces in the premises of the Tamil Daily “Namathu Eelanadu” in Jaffna today 15 December 2005.
Public thoroughfares leading to the printing press and office of this newspaper were cordoned off and the military conducted a search for more than thirty minutes. It was not known what they were looking for, but the newspaper office was ransacked and the staff subject to harassment, severe questioning and checking of identity papers. The office of another Tamil Daily “Valampuri” housed in close proximity to “Namathu Eelanadu” too was subject to such searching and harassment of staff.
15 December 2005
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