Sri Lankan rights group says it was accused of treason

by Suranee | June 2, 2009 at 06:10 am

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Just a day after the general secretary of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, Poddala Jayantha was attacked, a Sri lankan rights group said it had received a threat accusing it of treason.

COLOMBO, June 2 (Reuters) - A Sri Lankan rights group said on Tuesday it had received a threat accusing it of treason, the day after a media activist was beaten up in the latest episode in the country's long history of politically tinged violence.

The CPA claims that a letter titled "Notice to the Traitors" was left at their office. The contents of the letter accused CPA of being traitors of Sri lanka and warned the CPA to shut down for a week to honour the fallen.

The director of the CPA said he had reported the letter to police and the presidency.

On Tuesday, the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) in Colombo said a letter left at its office titled "Notice to the Traitors" talked about the military victory over the Tamil Tigers last month that ended a 25-year separatist war.

"That is through the dedication of the present government, fearless military commanders and heroic warriors born in our motherland. And also, through the sacrifice of their bones, flesh and streams of blood," said a copy of the letter provided by CPA.

Since the declaration of victory on May 18, anger from government backers has been directed at Sri Lankan journalists and activists seen as having supported the Tigers during a war that killed 6,200 soldiers in its last three years.

"This (victory) was achieved by defeating the activities of the wretched traitors like you who commit evil acts against Mother Lanka," the letter said, and warned the CPA to shut down for a week to honour the fallen.

CPA Director Paikasothy Saravanamattu told Reuters he had reported the letter to police and the presidency.

Government officials in state media have warned they were investigating journalists believed on the payroll of the LTTE.

Rajpal Abeynayake, editor of the independent weekly newspaper Lakbima News says the attacks on the journalists may or may not be paramilitaries.

This week, government officials in state media have warned they were investigating journalists believed on the payroll of the LTTE, listed as a terrorist group by more than 30 countries.

"It most appears journalists have been attacked after it has been alleged they had connections with the LTTE. After that you can expect these. It may or may not be paramilitaries," said Rajpal Abeynayake, editor of the independent weekly newspaper Lakbima News.