Under Fire - Defiant Journalism and Censorship through Assassination

For many journalists around the world, the writing of articles criticizing government and other powerful actors within society can be a defiant yet perilous activity - even where the writing of such critical articles is formally legal. This might particularly be the case during times of war when sharp expressions of dissent are viewed as anathema. The execution of Lasantha Wickrematunge, editor-in-chief of the Sri Lankan publication The Leader by four gunmen on motorcycles is a strong indication of the realities and threats facing those who dare to write articles and editorials critical of state policy and actions of rebel groups. According to one article (written by Wickrematunge's niece), The Leader published numerous articles criticizing the (Sri Lankan civil) war, corruption, terrorism, and human rights. Their salvos were aimed not only at the conduct of the government of Sri Lanka, but against the Tamil Tigers; The Leader and its fallen editor received a great deal of enmity and threats.

So consistent were the threats that Wickrematunge anticipated his demise. He prepared a final editorial that was published online. He stated, in part:

…as our opinion pieces over the years amply demonstrate, we often voice ideas that many people find distasteful. For example, we have consistently espoused the view that while separatist terrorism must be eradicated, it is more important to address the root causes of terrorism, and urged government to view Sri Lanka's ethnic strife in the context of history and not through the telescope of terrorism. We have also agitated against state terrorism in the so-called war against terror, and made no secret of our horror that Sri Lanka is the only country in the world routinely to bomb its own citizens. For these views we have been labelled traitors, and if this be treachery, we wear that label proudly.

Such brave defiance of course can come at a price. It did, sadly, for Lasantha Wickrematunge.