UN wants media freedom

The United Nations says journalists should be able to carry out their work unencumbered and free of intimidation.
UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said this in response to a question raised by Innercity Press on Sri Lanka at the daily UN press briefing held yesterday (Friday).
The spokesman was asked to comment on reports that in the run-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Colombo, there has been a lot of controversy about freedom of the press.
?About freedom of the media, that is something that the Secretary-General firmly believes is hugely important.? It?s important that journalists should be able to carry out their work unencumbered and free of intimidation,? the UN spokesman said.
Asked about the Weliweriya incident, the UN spokesman said he had nothing to say on it at the moment.
Meanwhile he said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is studying a set of recommendations on how the UN should act following the lessons it has learned on its role in Sri Lanka during the war.
?We need to be better prepared for action when we see, at an early stage, human rights violations.? But as I say, I would anticipate the Secretary-General would have more to say on this subject next month,? he said. (Colombo Gazette)