NPC calls for a Parliamentary Select Committee to probe Sivaram's murder

Denouncing the murder of the senior Tamil journalist, the Sri Lanka Democracy Forum (SLDF) says, “a climate of total impunity prevails and attacks on freedom of expression go unchecked”.

“if Sivaram’s murder goes unchecked and the perpetrators are not brought to justice, it may also open the window for a repetition of the Sri Lankan State’s horrible history of extra-judicial killings and violence against minority activists.”

The SLDF says the government, international community and the Tamil Tigers should take responsibility of encouraging abductions and killings of civilians.

National Peace Council

“The Sri Lankan government and the international community would appear to have turned their backs on most such victims. The LTTE and its supporters have encouraged this negligence by implying their victims’ involvement in armed activity and labelled them as belonging to para-militaries.”

A climate of total impunity prevails and attacks on freedom of expression go unchecked SLDF

Condemning the murder of senior Tamil journalist Dharmeratnam Sivaram, the National Peace Council (NPC) said appointing a Parliamentary Select Committee would demonstrate the commitment of all political parties to the restoration of peaceful conditions in the country.

Hate speeches by politicians are creating an environment that is “conducive to acts of hate,” a statement issued by the NPC said.

The NPC says both the LTTE and the Karuna group should end their factional fighting.

“We also call on the LTTE and Karuna group to ensure that their rival political killings are brought to an immediate halt.”

International condemnation

Sivaram was kidnapped from outside a Colombo restaurant late on Thursday evening.

We also call on the LTTE and Karuna group to ensure that their rival political killings are brought to an immediate halt NPC

He was later found dead with gunshot wounds. A former Tamil militant, Sivaram became a journalist and was a senior editor of the pro-Tamil Tiger rebel news website, Tamilnet.

“Abductors forcibly took Sivaram in to a waiting Inter cooler jeep, and speeded away. The restaurant is situated just opposite the Bamabalapitiya Police station,” said Sunanda Deshapriya of free Media Movement (FMM).

The killing led to international condemnation. The government said it had ordered a full scale investigation.