Iqbal Athas
Iqbal Athas is a Sri Lankan journalist who sometimes contributes to CNN.[1] Athas was the defence columnist for the Sunday Times and he also contributed to Jane's Defence Weekly. He was threatened for his investigative reporting which uncovered scandals in the purchase of the arms by Sri Lankan Defence personnel, particularly the Sri Lankan Airforce.[2][3][4]
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[edit] Career as journalist
Iqbal Athas has been an investigative reporter on defence issues and has faced several threats to his life due to this. On February 1998 armed men entered his house and threatened him and his family as he had written about corruption in the Army and in 2002 during the ceasefire two Sri Lankan airforce officers were convicted for the attack.[5][6]
[edit] Article on Defence deal
Iqbal Athas exposed corruption involved in the purchase of second-hand MiG-27 from Ukraine. Sri Lanka ordered a probe into the deal.[7] Security given to Iqbal Athas was withdrawn after this article was published.[8][9][10] The ruling SLFP party staged a protest near his house calling on him not to reveal sensitive information. International media have appealed for restoration of security.[11] Journalist W. G. Gunaratne, who translated Iqbal Athas’s articles into Sinhala for the newspaper Lankadeepa, has received death threats.[12]
There have been recent allegations that Athas is spying for the Sri Lankan regime and passing on information about the Colombo based diplomatic community, other journalists and NGO's compromising them.[13]
[edit] Flight from Sri Lanka
In January 2009, it was reported that Athas had left Sri Lanka, fearing for his life.[14] However, as of 2010 he was back in Sri Lanka and writing for CNN.[15][16]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Police unleash tear gas as thousands protest in Sri Lanka". CNN. 10 February 2010. http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/10/sri.lanka.violence/index.html.
- ^ "Sri Lanka journalist threatened". BBC News. 18 February 1998. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/s/w_asia/57845.stm.
- ^ Human Rights Bulletin on Sri Lanka
- ^ Latest news from Sri Lanka in Sinhala, English and Tamil - (Lankaenews)
- ^ "Sri Lankan air force officers jailed". BBC News. 7 February 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1806833.stm.
- ^ Concerns over safety of journalist Iqbal-Athas
- ^ The Sunday Times investigation reveals shocking double-deals and wheeler-dealings
- ^ Journalist and family under threat after withdrawal of security
- ^ PM announces select committee will probe multi-billion rupee transaction
- ^ MiG deal: All parties agree on select committee probe
- ^ Sri Lankan journalist, still in jeopardy, says government never offered protection
- ^ Life of journalist Iqbal Athas in danger after his revelations about purchase of Ukrainian Migs European and US embassies urged to protect threatened journalist
- ^ http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_05_010.html Iqbal Athas is the spy who gives information about foreign diplomatic missions to Gotabhaya Details of many betrayals revealed, the traitor is among you – a warning to journalists
- ^ More journalists exit - Lanka Everything
- ^ Sri Lankan Leader Pardons Tamil Editor
- ^ "Detained Sri Lankan general sworn in". CNN. 22 April 2010. http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/22/srilanka.fonseka/?hpt=T2.
[edit] External links
- Sri Lanka mission report
- Nine recommendations for improving media freedom in Sri Lanka – RSF
- Media in Sri Lanka
- Free Speech in Sri Lanka
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