Definitely. In the mid-1980s, there was a period when legal censorship was imposed by the government. Though they tried to suppress the media by bringing in laws and closing down newspapers, not many journalists were killed -- only one or two. They were not killed for their writing.

This is the toughest period if you consider the killings of journalists. In the last three years, at least 18 journalists and media workers have been killed though the government puts the number at only at nine.

A number of newspapers have also closed down. A lot of editors have come under tremendous pressure. The reason for all this is that the government openly declared that their main aim is to defeat the Tigers without any negotiations. So, they see only two categories of people: one that fights terrorists and the other, supporting terrorists.

This government does not accept that the media has an independent role to play to create a discussion on this issue in the country, and make people more informed so that they can take a stand. This is the only government, I would say, that has taken this position so strongly.

Do you people look at the war against the Tigers as genocide of the Tamils? Is that the reason why President Mahinda Rajapakse is against the media?

This accusation about genocide is very recent and related to Mullaitheevu. The reason is the campaign for Tamil rights. In Jaffna, you have a strong provincial media. They came under attack in the first two years (2006-2007). One newspaper had to close down, 80 percent of the staff left. From 30,000 copies, the circulation came down to just 5,000.

The staff of Udayan, a popular Jaffna newspaper lived in the office for two years. Seven of their people were killed. They came under attack mainly because they were giving voice to the aspirations of the Tamils. I would say, sometimes the aspirations of the militants and rebel groups also.

What stand did you take?

Personally, my writing for the last 25 years has been pro-peace, pro-Tamil, pro-devolution and pro-human rights. I am for equal rights for the minorities. The majority has been taking all the decisions and holding power in the country. There is a strong group of journalists in all newspapers supporting Tamil and Muslim rights.

Did you support the Tigers?

We never supported the Tigers. That is because we never support militant movements. We only supported the Tamil people's right to autonomy or self-rule, and not separation. We always said that we could start somewhere with small concessions and once the trust is built, things would move smoothly.

Now, there is no trust between the Sinhalese and the Tamil. They look at each other with suspicion.

We oppose the war because it is not the solution. What we need is a negotiated solution. But it is not going to be there.

Image: Ethnic Tamil civilians board a military vehicle to go to a camp for displaced people after being checked by the Sri Lankan military in Vishvamadu, a town recently captured by soldiers battling to crush the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Photograph: Reuters

Also see: 'It's not yet time to write the LTTE's obituary'

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