Sri Lanka threatens to expel media as army closes in on rebels

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Source: The Guardian

Sri Lanka has publicly warned foreign media, western media and aid agencies that they will be expelled from the country if their reporting is deemed sympathetic to the Tamil Tiger guerrillas, who are making a last stand deep in the island's jungle.

In an interview to local media, the defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, highlighted the role of ambassadors of Switzerland and Germany, and television networks CNN, BBC and al-Jazeera in his criticism of foreigners, accusing them of being biased towards the rebels, known formerly as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

"They will be chased away to give a second wind to the LTTE terrorists at a time the security forces, at heavy cost, are dealing them the final death blow," he said.

The blunt words underline how difficult it has become to cover one of the world's bloodiest and most under-reported conflicts. The government controls access to the war zones and international media groups complain of reporters being intimidated.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/01/ri-lanka-tamil-tigers-media

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1. Sri Lankan editor, wife wounded in knife attack

From Jan 23:

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Assailants on motorbikes attacked and wounded a Sri Lankan newspaper editor and his wife as they drove to work Friday morning, authorities said, the latest in a string of assault on journalists in Sri Lanka.

The government, which has been accused of turning a blind eye to the violence or even orchestrating it, announced it would create a special police team to find out who is behind the attacks, Media Minister Anura Yapa said.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ia4ejAqN9MT6G7PaUNDg10HXEVsgD95SRC100