TigerLily
May 10th, 2009, 01:31 PM
http://news.uk.msn.com/world/article.aspx?cp-documentid=16702604
C4 ordered out of Sri Lanka
A Channel 4 News team has been told to leave Sri Lanka following allegations they made in a news piece last week, the broadcaster has said.
Asia correspondent Nick Paton-Walsh, cameraman Matt Jasper and producer Bessie Du were arrested and ordered to leave the country by the Sri Lankan Defence Minister after reporting allegations of abuse and ill-treatment of Tamils held in internment camps.
Their report, which was broadcast on Tuesday, contained claims that dead bodies were left where they fell and allegations of sexual abuse, along with food and water shortages.
The Sri Lankan government has denied the allegations.
Mr Paton-Walsh said the crew was being driven to Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, with a police escort.
A spokesperson for ITN, which produces Channel 4 News, said: "We will be seeking an explanation from the Sri Lankan government for this decision."
Police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekera said the trio were arrested in the eastern city of Trincomalee. He added that investigations are continuing.
An estimated 50,000 civilians are caught in the fighting as Sri Lankan government troops oust Tamil Tiger rebels from their strongholds across the north.
C4 ordered out of Sri Lanka
A Channel 4 News team has been told to leave Sri Lanka following allegations they made in a news piece last week, the broadcaster has said.
Asia correspondent Nick Paton-Walsh, cameraman Matt Jasper and producer Bessie Du were arrested and ordered to leave the country by the Sri Lankan Defence Minister after reporting allegations of abuse and ill-treatment of Tamils held in internment camps.
Their report, which was broadcast on Tuesday, contained claims that dead bodies were left where they fell and allegations of sexual abuse, along with food and water shortages.
The Sri Lankan government has denied the allegations.
Mr Paton-Walsh said the crew was being driven to Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, with a police escort.
A spokesperson for ITN, which produces Channel 4 News, said: "We will be seeking an explanation from the Sri Lankan government for this decision."
Police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekera said the trio were arrested in the eastern city of Trincomalee. He added that investigations are continuing.
An estimated 50,000 civilians are caught in the fighting as Sri Lankan government troops oust Tamil Tiger rebels from their strongholds across the north.