UN chief urges prosecution of murderers of Sri Lankan journalist

(May 2, 2009) United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has urged the government of Sri Lanka to bring to justice the murderers of prominent Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, who was assassinated in January on his way to work. Ban’s appeal came in a message ahead of the May 3 World Press Freedom Day. UNESCO, the UN’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is honouring Wickrematunge posthumously with its World Press Freedom Prize for 2009, at a ceremony in Doha on May 3. Underscoring the need to protect the journalists and media outlets on the frontlines of exercising their freedom and profession, Ban said that a free and independent media is an essential agent of human rights, development and peace. Citing figures by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the UN chief said attacks on journalists remain shockingly high in number. Wickrematunge, the editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper was among the 11 journalists killed in the line of duty so far this year, he noted. The CPJ also reports that, as of 1 December 2008, 125 journalists were in prison, some of them for more than a decade. China, Cuba and Eritrea account for half of those cases. The UN Secretary-General also expressed concerned that some governments are suppressing Internet access and the work of Internet-based journalists and others using the “new media”. Ban urged all governments that have detained journalists to ensure that their rights are fully respected, including the right to appeal and defend themselves against charges.