The Tamil National Alliance today accused the government of attacking the Jaffna-based Uthayan newspaper in an attempt to silence its political rivals ahead of key local council elections.
The TNA 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 MP Suresh Premachandran told AFP.
“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 the pre-dawn arson assault on the Uthayan office and printing press in Jaffna which came on the eve of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
The Media Center for National Security (MCNS) had claimed that the attack was an “inside job” to discredit the government as the United States expressed concern for media freedom and urged a credible investigation.
The military in a separate statement issued Saturday denied any involvement in the attack.
Police said a senior officer was heading an investigation into the assault and that no arrests have been made so far.
