Paris based media rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa to stop the arrests and intimidation of journalists working for privately-owned and foreign media.
“This wave of post-election violence could cast a lasting stain on the start of President Rajapaksa’s second term and bodes ill for the political climate during the coming years,” RSF has said.
The organization has highlighted an increase in election violence and censorship in countries such as Iran and Tunisia in its latest press freedom roundup.
RSF has also reminded the President of the statements in support of press freedom that he had made on many occasions, including a meeting with a RSF representative in October 2008.
“It is quite normal for journalists and privately-owned media to side with a candidate before and during a democratic election but it is unacceptable for them to be the victims of reprisals once the elections are over,” the organization has added.
Police and unidentified groups have been targeting the media, especially media that supported the opposition candidate, General Sarath Fonseka, ever since the announcement of the result, which some opposition sectors including Fonseka are disputing. RSF has also listed seven incidents where serious press freedom violations have taken place during the final stage of the Presidential election and afterwards.
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