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The President and the Secretary of the Judicial Service Officers' Association messrs D. J. Sunil Perera, District Judge, Horana and D. G. Kulatilleke, District Judge, Elpitiya have received death threats, it was reported yesterday.

The two judges have instituted fundamental rights actions against the Chief Justice and Judicial Service Commission alleging that they obstructed the holding of the 60th anniversary of the Judicial Service Officers' Association.

Death threats have also been received by Ravaya Editor Victor Ivan and former President of the International Bar Association Desmond Fernando PC. The latter has informed of the threats to the Minister of Defence, Tilak Marapana and Param Coomaraswamy of the United Nations Organization. The two District Judges have complained to the Police. The Free Media Movement to which got to know about the death threats has issued the following statement signed by Sunanda Deshapriya, convenor of the Free Media Movement:

"It is reported to the Free Media Movement that there are death threats to the two District Judges who had instituted two fundamental rights action against the Chief Justice and against the Judicial Service Commission on the ground that they had obstructed the holding of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Judicial Service Officers' Association, and to Ravaya Editor Victor Ivan, and to Desmond Fernando PC, who is a former President of the International Bar Association. Desmond Fernando has informed the Minister of Defence and Coomaraswamy of the UN on the matter.

The two judges have complained to the police about it.

The Free Media Movement considers this a challenge to freedom of expression and requests the Inspector General of Police and the Government to provide proper security to all those against whom there are death threats, and to hold a proper inquiry and to bring before the law all those who were connected with the incidents, whatever be the status.

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