And in remembrance of Lasantha Wickrematunge Editor, Sunday Leader & Winner, UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize 2009,
brutally assassinated in January 2009
and all other murdered or incarcerated journalists
PUBLIC MEETING
Saturday 06 June 2009 at 3.30 pm for 4.00 pm start
Bdg K, Theatre K3.09, Monash University, Caulfield Campus (Melway Ref: 68 F1)
MELBOURNE
In Sri Lanka today, while civilians continue to be killed in the war zone, there is unchecked assault on human rights and democratic freedoms throughout the island.
A major casualty of the conflict is media freedom. The Sri Lankan media are either co-opted into the propaganda machinery of the regime or suppressed with extreme violence.
The current government has now more than matched the LTTE’s own dedication toeliminating dissent and dissenters.
An opportunity to meet with guest speakers at 3.30 pm with light refreshments served.
Guest Speakers:
Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Co convener Platform for Freedom, Executive Director, Centre for Policy Alternatives
& distinguished human rights campaigner
Mr. J C Weliamuna, Co convener Platform for Freedom, Executive Director, Transparency International Sri Lanka, Attorney-at-Law & leading human rights and anti corruption activist
MEDIA RELEASE
HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER THREAT IN SRI LANKA: THE WORLD MUST ACT NOW!
People for Human Rights and Equality (PHRE) and Darebin Ethnic Communities Council (DECC)
have jointly organised a public meeting on Human Rights and Media Freedom in Sri Lanka. The
meeting, on Saturday the 6th June 2009 at 4.00 PM in building K of the Monash University, Caulfield
Campus, will remember Lasantha Wickrematunge, the slain editor of the Sri Lankan independent
newspaper Sunday Leader & Winner, UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize 2009, who was brutally
assassinated in January 2009 and all other murdered or incarcerated journalists.
Distinguished human rights campaigners from Sri Lanka Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu and Mr. J C
Weliamuna will address the meeting.
“Independent media are refused entry to report about the appalling conditions of the war affected
civilians in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan media are either co-opted to spread the regime’s good news or
suppressed with threats and violence. The government which describes its human rights violations
including the assault on the media as a necessary part of its war on terror says that its achievement is
worthy of emulation by other countries” says Dr Channa Wickremesekera, President of PHRE. “Our
organisation founded and run by concerned Sinhalese and Tamils is for equality and freedom for all
in Sri Lanka. Now is the critical time when every freedom loving person must act” he added.
Journalists without Borders has listed Sri Lanka as one of the most dangerous places for journalists
in the world. PHRE says that since 2006, 18 journalists had been killed in Sri Lanka, including
Lasantha Wickrematunge, who was murdered in broad daylight on the streets of Colombo in January
this year.
The Darebin Ethnic Communities Council (DECC) is a peak body representing the views and
interests of culturally and linguistically diverse communities, including those from Sri Lanka, living
in the city of Darebin. DECC promotes and acts as an advocate of multicultural values and practices
in the City of Darebin. DECC will continue to promote community harmony amongst the Sri Lankan
community living in the municipality and support them in their quest for a peaceful resolution to end
the civil war. Reports indicate many thousands of civilians and/or combatants being killed during this
round of war alone and many hundreds of thousands of people being displaced and languishing in
temporary shelters. Both the foreign and domestic media have been barred from the front lines and
casualties would not be known for a long time to come.