Press release - September 6, 2017
Greenpeace India strongly condemns the murder of much respected veteran journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru last evening.
Bengaluru/ New Delhi | September 6, 2017: Greenpeace India strongly condemns the murder of much respected veteran journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru last evening. With her murder India has lost a bold, progressive and fearless voice. Lankesh was one of a handful of writers with incredible courage, who challenged communal and corrupt forces in this country through her writings.
“Her murder is a severe blow to our democracy, and demonstrates the fast shrinking space for independent voices, justice and dissent. Increasingly those speaking out against communalism, ecological destruction, social equality, artistic freedom and displacement of people are being harassed and unjustly branded as ‘anti-national’” said Dr Ravi Chellam, Executive Director, Greenpeace India.
“But make no mistake, such attempts to silence and browbeat voices of dissent with impunity will fail miserably. Journalists, activists, scholars and civil society as a whole stand united against these brutal forces, to reiterate the fact that these shameful and brazen attempts to create an environment of fear will not succeed. We demand immediate arrest of the culprits and speedy justice for Gauri,” Ravi added.
We demand that the extremist forces behind this assassination be brought to justice, and their attempts to create an atmosphere of fear and intolerance be stopped immediately.
Over the past three years Civil Society Organizations, along with several activists, artists and scholars, have been at the receiving end of repeated attempts to muzzle their voices and views.