Reporters Without Borders and Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka have denounced an attack on a Tamil newspaper in Jaffna, just 10 days after the same paper’s office were attacked in Kilinochchi.

Both RSF and JDS said,

“We are appalled by this latest attack, which comes amid growing threats and violence against the Tamil media, and we offer our complete support for Uthayan’s journalists, whose courage has our admiration and respect,”

“The police should have agreed to the newspaper’s request for protection after the 3 April attack on its office in Kilinochchi. The passivity of the police in the face of repeated crimes of violence against Uthayan, and the systematic impunity enjoyed by those who carry out these crimes, render the government directly responsible.”

The Uthayan newspaper, owned by TNA MP Saravanapavan, has been covering issues of land grabs by the government, which editor Premananth Thevanayagam said,

“could have been one of the motives for the attacks, as well as the debates prompted by the elections of provincial councillors.”

He went on to say,

“Speaking in Tamil and threatening them with their guns, the attackers told the staff in the printing section to disperse. When the staff refused to obey, they opened fire on them and the machinery, before setting fire to the machinery. Fortunately, no one was injured.”

“We will no longer be able to print the newspaper at full strength as our main printing machine is damaged beyond repair.”