The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the murder of Sri Lankan journalist, Darmaratnam Sivaram, after his abduction by an unknown group.
On 29 April, Sivaram's body was discovered near the Sir Lankan parliamentary complex in a high security zone in Colombo. An unidentified gang abducted Sivaram from outside a restaurant the previous day at 10:30pm. The high security zone where Sivaram's body was found is tightly patrolled by Sri Lankan government security forces, leading local groups to blame the government for his murder.
"The tragic loss of a skilled and dedicated reporter is a massive blow for the free and independent media in Sri Lanka," said IFJ President Christopher Warren.
"The Sri Lankan government must investigate the murder of Sivaram and put an end to the targeting of journalists."
"The murder of Sivaram comes just days before the release of IFJ's annual South Asia Press Freedom Report, adding to the unacceptable death toll of journalists in Sri Lanka."
"Four journalists have now been killed in Sri Lanka during 2004-05, three of those reporters, including Sivaram, had close ties with the Tamil community," said Warren.
Darmaratnam Sivaram, also known as Taraki, was a political columnist with the English language newspaper, The Daily Mirror and member of editorial board of tamilnet.com, and was an outspoken critic of the Sri Lankan government.
It is believed Sivaram was murdered for his political and military reporting. Sivaram was considered a pro-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) journalist and police in Colombo had been continually harassing him, raiding his house twice during the past year and making threatening phone calls. In 2001, Sivaram was forced to flee his home town of Batticaloa after security forces demolished his press office, during which he was stabbed. The attack was in retaliation for his reports on government security forces involvement in assassination attempts and political murders in the region.
"All journalists have the right to report without fearing for their lives," said Warren.
The IFJ extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to Sivaram's family and friends.
For further information contact Christopher Warren on +61 411 757 668.
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries
