Never before has the local media been subjected to such horrendous crimes as has been in the past two years. Appeals and protests against these despicable acts have fallen on deaf ears. If the perpetrators of these attacks have any respect for the committee they would desist from continuing in their anti-media campaign. But of course that seems to be only a fantasy. Days after a state media published a vicious lie about the Sri Lanka Press Institute, claiming it had sent ‘Tamil tigers’ masquerading as journalists for training abroad, its Acting Manager, Advocacy and Media Freedom and his friend, political officer of the British High Commission were brutally assaulted.

Soon after the attack, reports stated that a senior politician had claimed the attacks were meant to tarnish the image of the government. Now, when have we heard that before? It would seem that Sri Lankans have mastered the art of blaming anyone but themselves each time an irresponsible act takes place, be it against the media, an ethnic or religious community.

Let’s just take the assault on the SLPI which is located close to a senior cabinet Minister’s private residence. It is inconceivable then that the area is not awash with plainclothes security personnel at least. The attack itself took place opposite the Information Department which is right next to an army detachment at Polhengoda. And if the attackers were emboldened enough to assault the victims in glaring view of government authority, we need to question the suitability of those in charge of law and order.

Dotted as it is with security checkpoints, how does the state reconcile the fact that these marauders roam the city streets armed with poles and dubious vehicle licence plates? Perhaps my understanding of the workings of those checkpoints is incorrect. Perhaps they have been put in place only to ensure that LTTE cadres or those suspected of being their supporters are netted in. Remember the two Red Cross workers who were abducted at the Fort railway station and whose bodies were found close to Ratnapura?

And then of course there is the now popular theme that has been bandied around for the thousandth time. All those who shout themselves hoarse for human rights and free expression, are all on the payroll of the LTTE, or funded by the west and therefore have vested interests. Well, this might be a tad bit foolish of me to ask, who funds the Peace Secretariat, and where do the funds for all those development projects come from? The Treasury? Should not the same yardstick be applied to those as well?

Journalists are now being accused of planning the attacks themselves, so they could seek asylum in western countries. Yes, that’s right, break my bones pals, so I could be disabled for life and ensure a free ticket out of the country! Those who genuinely desire to leave Sri Lanka can apply to emigrate, study or work abroad. They do not have to go to the extent of losing their lives to bid adieu to their homeland. But, then, is it not a fact that those very same people who cast these aspersions are those who have citizenship in the so called developed countries and could skip away the minute things get too rough for them?

Stating distorted reportage as the cause, the UNP, according to a Sunday newspaper plans to ban state media from its private events. Similar tactics as the government one could say, since the latter has no tolerance of war related reportage unless sanctioned by them. The press can be gagged and human rights defenders cowed down, but the facts will speak for themselves. A study of media intimidation, in the past couple of years shows a steady increase. Be it killings, threats or assaults, incidents recorded in 2005 were around 24 and the numbers have increased to 34 in 2006, 64 in 2007 and to 52 in the six months of the current year.