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Govt. ready to protect journalists who return from exile

 

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Mar 11, 2010 10:31 AM · The government was ready to offer protection to any of the Sri Lankan journalists who return from exile, attorney general Mohan Peiris has said.

"Speaking for myself, and I?m fairly sure the government will back me up on this, there is no question that the government needs our journalists," he has said.

Mr. Peiris was speaking to a delegation from the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists, comprising deputy director Robert Mahoney and Asia Programme Coordinator Bob Dietz.

According to the CPJ, Mr. Peiris has said, "They must come back and work with us and help set up the structures so that we can work together and we can respect each other."

"We must work with these institutions because we need them. We know if they stay outside and attack the government that is not useful," he has said.

When asked if the government would ensure their safety, Mr. Peries said, "Of course, if they come back, there must be assurance on our part that they won't come to any harm."

The meeting came near the end of a series of discussions CPJ had with journalists in Colombo and Jaffna to assess the situation for reporters following presidential elections in January and before April's parliamentary polls. 

"The attorney general's appeal to journalists to return from exile is just a first step,? Mr. Mahoney has said, adding, "The government must go further by taking concrete action to address the climate of impunity and intimidation that prompted them to flee in the first place."

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