Tamil Journalists launch protest in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 May 2007, 08:45 GMT]
"Tamil journalists in Jaffna are hunted down and shot dead with impunity. So far six Tamil journalists had lost their lives for writing about and exposing the misdeeds of those in power," the press release of North Ceylon Journalists Association (NCJA) Thursday said. NCJA observed the World Press Freedom Day by launching a token demonstration programme protesting against the violence unleashed on the journalists of NorthEast and demanding the freedom to write.



In the first event of the programme NCJA representatives presented pupils of Jaffna St. Charles Mahaavithiaalayam with pens inscribed with names.

'We Tamils will rally together to protect the Freedom of the Press!', was the pledge declared at the event.

The NCJA representatives and the pupils raised slogans stressing the freedom of writing.

The following are excerpts from NCJA press release:

Media Freedom, personal safety and security of media personnel are under threat.

A culture of violence with impunity has led to the creation of any environment in which expression of dissent in itself can constitute a life threatening activity.

In Jaffna, Tamil journalists are hunted down and shot dead with impunity.

So far six Tamil journalists have lost their lives for writing iabout and exposing the misdeeds of those in power.

Tamil journalists are facing many challenges in trying to perform their jobs impartially with compassion and justice.

The pens are mangled and the mouths that echo their thirst for the freedom of expression and writing are gagged.

On this memorable day of World Press Freedom Day, we are presenting pens to the school children as a memento to uphold the cherished democratic freedom of speech, writing and publication.