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Anti-government editor shot dead in Sri Lanka
Friday, 9 January 2009 - 4:02 AM SL Time
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The editor of an anti-government newspaper has been shot dead in Sri Lanka, two days after attackers torched the offices of a privately owned television station.
Lasantha Wickrematunga, editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, was shot in the chest, head and abdomen while travelling to work in his car this morning. He died several hours later on the operating table. The two men who attacked him were believed to have escaped on motorcycles.
The fatal attack is the latest in a string of assaults on journalists critical of the Government in an atmosphere of growing patriotic fervour caused by the seemingly imminent military collapse of the Tamil Tiger guerrillas in the north.
The Sunday Leader is virulently anti-Establishment and has exposed several privatisation deals that were eventually overturned. Mr Wickrematunga had fought multiple defamation cases brought by senior politicians.
After repeated attacks on the newspaper s printing presses, most recently in November 2007, he was quoted as saying: `I think it is the work of someone against whom I have been writing recently.`
Only 48 hours before his shooting, arsonists burnt down the offices of Maharaja TV, the largest privately owned television station in Sri Lanka, which had been labelled unpatriotic by the Government.
Campaigners for press freedom in Colombo said that the attacks, although not carried out by the Government, had come about because of an atmosphere of intimidating being whipped up by the administration.
Jehan Perera, of the Colombo-based, Non-Violence Peace Council, which campaigns for a peace deal between the Sinhalese-run Government and Sri Lanka s Tamil minority, told The Times: Attacks have taken place on journalists who criticise the Government or who have reported on the war.
The Government may not have committed these attacks itself, but there is a build up, and creation, of an environment in which such attacks are made.
The Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapakse, has said that government troops are close to eliminating the Tamil Tigers after a series of victories on the battlefield.
Today, the military announced that it had captured the base of Pallai, on the Jaffna peninsular in the north, further boxing-in the rebels. Security forces are pushing into remaining rebel-held territory in the north confined mainly to the jungle after capturing Kilinochchi, its de facto political capital, last week.
In light of the fighting, with the capital Colombo fearing suicide attacks in retribution, the southern city has been filled with military checkpoints and racial profiling of Tamils based there has intensified.
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Buddha
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 7
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 8 Jan 2009 22:39:32 GMT Report for Abuse
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Lasantha,
A brave, intelligent and an educated soul been silenced by un-educated, un-ethical, cowards. All true sinhalese who ever love this country should be ashamed of being called sinhalese. Whoever performed this horrendous act, has brought a dreadful curse on the community. He lived a complete life, and proved that he is a true sinhalese, with good intentions, by writing the true facts,and never been intimidated by all the opposition that he has faced. Whoever involved in this, have proved that, they do not have family values to talk to their loved ones, no qualities to be leaders, no values to prove that they are buddist, overall, they have brought a shame and pain on all true sinhalese, and this may haunt us for generations to come.
' If tears could build a stair way,
and meories a lane
I'd walk right upto heaven
And bring you home again '
Good bye, Lasantha, from all of us who believe in true values,and love that we've learned from our grand parents to talk and stand for truth, but nothing but truth. |
kiwikanga
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 8 Jan 2009 23:21:48 GMT Report for Abuse
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I ditto Buddha's comments.
(How appropriate is it to use 'Buddha' as a forum name as there is the strong possibility of ridicule and villification being cast upon the reverred name by some members in this forum)
Edited By - kiwikanga - 8 Jan 2009 23:23:14 GMT |
justman
Joined: Mar 2006
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 8 Jan 2009 23:44:49 GMT Report for Abuse
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Buddha
I fully agree with you and this another sad day for Sri lanka these murderers will rot in hell for sure.may he rest in peace. |
Gaja
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 8 Jan 2009 23:56:49 GMT Report for Abuse
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Lasantha,
You have been a brave and courageous professional. I salute you and I will say Sivapuranam for your soul to realise peace.
Gaja Lakshmi Paramasivam |
Saradial
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9 Jan 2009 00:29:20 GMT Report for Abuse
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.
Bddha Rocks... wish the rest too will see things through multiple windows and not just one ....
Lasantha bless your soul thanks mate you did serve the country according to your profession and capabilities
Bless your family hope they have a peaceful life
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Buddha
Joined: Jan 2009
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9 Jan 2009 01:09:31 GMT Report for Abuse
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Lasantha,
' If tears could build a stairway
And memories a lane
I'd walk right upto heaven
And bring you home again '
Lasantha, we salute for your courage as you never surrendered to death, but cowards killed you. For all living legends like Lasantha, please keep up your spirit and be courageous. Lasntha's spirit and good life will protect you.
You will live in our hearts for ever.
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p007
Joined: May 2006
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 9 Jan 2009 01:18:32 GMT Report for Abuse
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I stopped reading the Sunday Leader a long time ago because Lasantha's journalism tended to be more personal vilification than principle-based objective criticism. I still remember how he faulted CBK for celebrating her victory in election in 1994 and for having caviar in her birth-day celebration.
But to attack him and his press on previous occasions and finally take his life so brutally is reprehensible and must be condemned in the strongest terms. Whoever committed this dastardly crime, the government must be held responsible as it had created a climate which makes possible such wanton criminal acts. |
Ruhunu
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 9 Jan 2009 03:55:20 GMT Report for Abuse
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Lasantha was never an honost and un-biased journalist. He was mainly an agitator. Criticism is good when it is done properly. But this guy was engaged in slander more than reporting.
Regradless, his murderers should be punished. People should not jump to conclusion too soon.
Follow the Money. Think who will be benifited by this murder at this moment. SL just started celebrating the victories against the terrorists. Now somebody wanted to throw a barrel of tar on the face of the government. Think people Think!
Edited By - Ruhunu - 9 Jan 2009 04:00:43 GMT |
Thalaivar
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 9 Jan 2009 04:01:40 GMT Report for Abuse
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Lasantha was never an honost and un-biased journalist. He was mainly an agitator. Criticism is good when it is done properly.
But this guy was engaged in slander more than reporting
the fact is he has many readership and many belived his findings or reporting. that is why MR and govt feared about his reporting and eliminated him |
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