Police have entered journalist's house disguised as telecom workers

The Free Media Movement (FMM) made the accusation after a senior photo journalist's wife was questioned by police who entered his house disguising themselves as telecom workers.

"The officers could have questioned the journalist himself if they were civilised enough to respect the law," FMM convenor Sunanda Deshapriya said.

Anurudhdha Lokuhapuaarachi is a senior photo journalist working for Reuters news agency.

Journalist on duty

Officers from Criminal Investigation Division (CID) have questioned Anurudhdha Lokuhapuaarachi's wife at his residence while the journalist was away on duty.

"They had questioned his wife at length about his activities in the manner that they would interrogate a suspect of a serious crime," a statement issued by the FMM said.

The intimidation of journalists into silence is the mark of a totalitarian regime, the emergence of which in the South is cause for deep concern   FMM Convenor, Sunanda Deshapriya

Pretending that they did not know he works for the media, the CID personnel had insisted they wanted to check the home phone to investigate Lokuhapuarachchi's contacts in the north and the east.

The FMM says the journalist also feels his telephone conversations are being tapped since recently.

International media watchdogs have been continuously protesting increasing threats to media personnel as violence escalated between the government forces and the LTTE.

Contacts with north and east

Meanwhile the government, Sunanda Deshapriya says, has ordered all communication centres in Jaffna to record details of all those use communications made including calls made and emails sent and received.

"Jaffna has already become a place where no privacy at all and this an extension of that situation to the South," he told BBC Sinhala.com.

	Police pledged 'to investigate' if a formal complaint made to the IGP

The FMM has urged the government to respect the right of journalists to independently, accurately and impartially carry out their duties.

"The intimidation of journalists into silence is the mark of a totalitarian regime, the emergence of which in the South is cause for deep concern," the statement added.

The police authorities denied any knowledge of questioning the wife of senior photo journalist.

Police spokesman, DIG Jayantha Wickramaratne, told BBC Sandeshaya that the police would investigate the incident if the FMM lodges a formal complaint with the Inspector General of Police(IGP).