Tuesday, August 29, 2006

HAKEEM CONDEMNS ABDUCTION OF SOORIYAN FM'S NEWS CHIEF

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) national leader Rauff Hakeem MP has strongly condemned the abduction of Nadaraja Kurubaran, chief news editor of popular Colombo-based Tamil radio channel Sooriyan FM (Asia Broadcasting Corporation Pvt Ltd.), this morning by unidentified persons. The abduction is a threat not only to journalists but also to media freedom and freedom of expression, he has stated. If impartial and competent media men continue to become targets of such threats and harassment, it will have serious and damaging repercussions in the international arena and will bring discredit to the country, he has also stated

Recalling his parliamentary discourses where he had repeatedly pointed out that truth is the first casualty of war , he stated that the abduction of Kurubaran has proved once again that journalists who never hesitated to bring to light the destructions caused by war, including losses of innocent lives and civilian properties, are under constant threat

The abducted journalists played an important role towards a good rapport between Tamil nationalism and Muslim nationalism and he associated closely with Tamil and Muslim political leaders, senior government officials and all VIPs, the SLMC leader has stated. He was well-balanced in presenting his reports but, unfortunately, those who cannot digest his news presentations have taken recourse to such a dastardly acts which deserves condemnation by all.

The SLMC calls on the abductors to release him without endangering his life and also calls on the government to take all necessary measures to get him released safely, he has stated.

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