COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s main Tamil party accused the government yesterday of attacking the biggest opposition newspaper in an attempt to silence its political rivals ahead of key local council elections.
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which represents minority ethnic Tamils, said Saturday’s torching of the Uthayan newspaper presses added to a “fear psychosis” among the population in the northern district of Jaffna.
“One of the main objectives (of the attack) is silencing the opposition ahead of provincial council elections,” TNA legislator Suresh Premachandran said.
“There is a fear psychosis in Jaffna, people are living in fear. They are scared to come out for political meetings. They fear there could be violence,” Premachandran said.
Three gunmen staged Saturday’s pre-dawn arson assault on Uthayan’s office and printing press in Jaffna, the capital of Sri Lanka’s former civil war zone in the north of the country.
Myanmar leader calls for multi-faith harmony
YANGON: Myanmar’s reformist president called for multi-faith harmony in a national address to mark the country’s New Year celebrations yesterday, following recent anti-Muslim unrest that has scarred communities.
Thein Sein dedicated his speech to promoting religious unity as the nation remains tense after a wave of rioting last month that left 43 dead, thousands displaced and saw homes and mosques destroyed.
“Our society has overcome many difficulties and challenges together so we can emerge as a society in which multiple races and religions coexist harmoniously, while still preserving our own customs and traditions,” he said in a televised speech. He said the country’s efforts at democratisation had been hampered by “black spots such as disunity, conflict and instability”.
Agencies
