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Editor Fingers Killers From Beyond Grave

Slain Sri Lankan journo blames gov't in posthumous editorial

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 13, 2009 6:32 AM CST

(Newser) – Days after the murder of Sri Lanka's best-known independent journalist, his newspaper has published a 2,500 word editorial from "beyond the grave" that accuses the government of orchestrating his death. Lasantha Wickrematunge was shot dead on Thursday after 15 years of dogged reporting on the country's civil war. "When I am finally killed, it will be the government that kills me," writes Wickrematunge.

As the Guardian reports, Sri Lanka's Sunday Leader published major scoops about the government, including war atrocities, despite heavy censorship. Wickrematunge had suffered several attempts on his life before, which he alludes to in the article—believed to be written only several days before his death. "Countless journalists have been harassed, threatened, and killed," he wrote. "It has been my honor to belong to all those categories, and now especially the last."

[Images (5)]

[Quotes (2)]

Staff members of the Sunday Leader newspaper mourn near the body of editor Lasantha Wickramatunga at Athidiya in the suburbs of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Jan. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

Elderly Sri Lankan women hold photograph of the Sunday Leader newspaper editor Lasantha Wickrematunge during his funeral procession in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Jan. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

Sri Lankan protesters march as an effigy of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is burnt during the funeral procession of the Sunday Leader newspaper editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, in Colombo. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

Staff members of Sunday Leader hold a portrait of editor Lasantha Wickramatunga as they stick banners announcing his death, at Athidiya, in the suburbs of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Jan. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

Sonali Samarasinghe, center left, wife of Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickramatunga pays last respects near his body in the suburbs of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Jan. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

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Let there be no doubt that whatever sacrifices we journalists make, they are not made for our own glory: they are made for you. Whether you deserve their sacrifice is another matter. As for me, God knows I tried. - Lasantha Wickrematunge

Countless [Sri Lankan] journalists have been harassed, threatened and killed. It has been my honour to belong to all those categories and now especially the last. - Lasantha Wickrematunge

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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Editor Fingers Killers From Beyond Grave