(27 Dec 2007) SHOTLIST
1. Staff of state television station (Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation - SLRC) waiting outside chairman's office where Sri Lankan Labour Minister Mervyn Silva and his bodyguards were held hostage
2. SOUNDBITE (Sinhala) No name given, Sri Lankan police officer:
"You requested us to arrest the bodyguard of the minister so allow us to do that."
3. One of Silva's bodyguards who allegedly attacked SLRC news director T.M.G. Chandrasekara, being led away by police
4. SLRC employees attacking the bodyguard as he leaves with police
5. Photographers waiting at door as members of army and police lead Silva away
6. Various of Silva being escorted through jostling crowd by army and police
7. SOUNDBITE (Sinhala) Mervyn Silva, Sri Lankan Labour Minister:
"I deeply regret what has happened. If I have done wrong I will apologies but I have not done anything wrong."
8. Army and police escorting Silva through jostling crowd
9. Pink paint being thrown on Silva
10. Various Silva (covered in pink paint) being led out of building through pushing crowds
11. Silva escorted through crowd into car
12. Various of Silva and car leaving
STORYLINE:
A Sri Lankan government minister and his bodyguards rampaged through the offices of a state television station in Colombo on Thursday and assaulted its news director before furious employees fought back and took them hostage, officials and witnesses said.
The alleged attack by Labour Minister Mervyn Silva, who has repeatedly been accused of threatening reporters, underscored accusations about endemic corruption in the country and the brazen behaviour of senior officials who believe they are above the law.
Silva's alleged attack and the employees' retaliation captivated Sri Lankans as it unfolded throughout the day.
The violence began on Thursday morning, when Silva and a group of his bodyguards entered the offices of the Rupavahini Corporation and attacked news director T.M.G. Chandrasekara for not broadcasting one of Silva's speeches, a station employee said.
Angry staffers quickly chased the attackers into the chairman's office and refused to let them out for three hours as soldiers and police gathered outside to defuse the situation, a standoff that was broadcast live on the Rupavahini station.
A police officer at the scene pleaded with Rupavahini Corporation employees: "You requested us to arrest the bodyguard of the minister so allow us to do that."
Silva was eventually freed after issuing a public apology to the staff and left the office escorted by police amid hoots and jeers from station employees.
"I deeply regret what has happened. If I have done wrong I will apologies but I have not done anything wrong," he said.
Television footage showed the minister being covered in pink ink as he left the station.
Silva was admitted to Colombo hospital with a head injury, which was not critical, a hospital spokesperson said.
Police arrested one person on suspicion of assaulting Chandrasekara, a senior police officer said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.
Silva is one of the government's 36 non-Cabinet ministers, who have less authority and fewer privileges than the 50 Cabinet ministers.
The minister had previously been accused of storming into the offices of the Upali group, a private-owned newspaper company and Sirasa, a private television channel, threatening journalists at both places.
The government condemned Thursday's incident.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/3da8606471262ae3bf510556b8fdc82e
