RSF says Sri Lanka is the fourth dangerous contry for media

Sri Lanka is among the most dangerous countries for media personnel in the world, according to an international media watchdog.

Paris based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says 86 journalists were killed worldwide in 2007 in 21 countries.

Three journalists killed

Sri Lanka, where at least three journalists were killed, is the fourth most dangerous country for journalists, according to RSF.

The watchdog says Iraq, where 47 journalists killed, Somalia and Pakistan are the more 'deadly' countries than Sri Lanka.

Troops and paramilitary forces waged a dirty war on Tamil journalists, especially in Jaffna RSf statement

During 2007, "Troops and paramilitary forces waged a dirty war on Tamil journalists, especially in Jaffna," a statement issued by RSF said.

A Geneva based media watchdog earlier said that Sri Lanka was third dangerous country for media personnel in the world.

At least nine media personnel were killed in Sri Lanka, Press Emblem Campaign said, adding that more media personnel were killed only in Iraq and Somalia.

AHRC statement

The Hong Kong based Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) meanwhile accused the authorities of failing to take any serious action to punish human rights violators.

The watchdog says incidents where journalists at a state media institution were assaulted and the killing of Tamil MP T Maheswaran as latest incidents indicating the prevailing lawlessness in the country.

	President Rajapaksa is accused of failing to take action against Minister Silva

Labour minister Mervyn Silva was assaulted by workers at Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) after his supporters assaulted new director, TMG Chandrasekara.

Sri Lanka's Free Media Movement (FMM) has expressed shock over President Mahinda Rajapaksa's inaction to take any action against the minister while taking action against those telecast the event where minister Silva was humiliated.

Opposition leader, Ranil Wickramasinghe, as well as some government ministers said Rajapaksa administration should take responsibility for the killing of legislator T Maheswaran.

President's 'forgotten promises'

The late MP has earlier complained to the Speaker of the House about threats to his life as government reduced his security after he voted against President Rajapaksa's budget proposals on 14 December.

Another Tamil opposition parliamentarian and human rights activist Mano Ganeshan has fled Sri Lanka due to threats to his life.

After every such crime the president of the country makes a declaration that there will be an impartial inquiry. Such promises are forgotten within a few days AHRC statement

"The year 2008 is likely to see things get worse and certainly no action is being taken by the state to create hope that things will take a turn for the better," a statement issued by the AHRC said.

The rights watchdog recalls that MP Maheswaran was killed after he told a television channel and Lankaenews website of his intentions to make a special statement on killings and abduction in Jaffna.

"After every such crime the president of the country makes a declaration that there will be an impartial inquiry. Sometimes the declaration even goes further to the effect that if the local inquiry fails foreign experts will be called in to conduct further inquiries. Such promises are forgotten within a few days," the AHRC added.