Sri Lankan journalists cite intimidation (AP)

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI, Associated Press writer 1 minute ago COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - With civil war raging in Sri Lanka, the journalists trying to cover the conflict find themselves increasingly under siege. They have been hounded by the government, attacked by unknown assailants and accused of aiding the rebels. Many reporters have been arrested or fled the country, while others have resorted to self-censorship, journalists said. Rights groups blame much of the intimidation on the government, saying that since fighting with the Tamil Tigers flared more than two years ago, pressure has grown on journalists to report the official line. When media don't comply — reporting higher troop casualties or alleging corruption in arms purchases — "they are branded as traitors," said Sunanda Deshapriya of the Free Media Movement. "The... [read full story]