The Committee to Protect Journalists (CJP) on Monday (13) joined 24 civil society organizations in urging recently elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to uphold press freedom.
CPJ has documented a persistent pattern of impunity for murders and attacks against journalists in Sri Lanka, including dozens that occurred during and in the aftermath of the country’s 26-year civil war that ended in 2009.
They called upon the newly elected government to:
- Reopen or initiate prompt, impartial, and transparent investigations to ensure accountability in cases of violence against the press and other violations of human rights and freedom of expression.
- Ensure that law enforcement agencies end the harassment and intimidation of journalists, especially ethnic Tamils
- Repeal the Online Safety Act
- Repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act
- Amend the Parliamentary (Powers and Privileges) Act
- Amend the Personal Data Protection Act
- Establish an independent, self-regulatory media commission
Read the full letter here.
Leave a comment