Once again a daily newspaper has been attacked. Several miscreants reportedly forced their way into the closed premises (closed for the Eid holidays) of The Morning Sun and vandalised the office and destroyed photographic equipment and several computers and lazer printers. We condemn this act and express our outrage at this attack on a contemporary, which in effect can be considered to be an attack on the free press itself. If newspapers cannot operate within an atmosphere of physical security, then obviously its capacity to operate freely and objectively is hampered.

This is not the first time that newspaper offices have been vandalised. A couple of years back the same paper had Its premises ransacked and equipment destroyed by a group of miscreants. More recently the premises of the Banglabazar Patrlka also came under attack in which, again, equipment were destroyed.

what is of extreme concern is the fact that in neither case the attackers were ever caught. It is this fact that crimes can be committed with impunity, and the criminals can go about their business without fear of being caught, which we find to be so disturbing. We have written on numerous occasions about the worsening law and order situation and the thereat It Is posing to some of the core institutions of democracy. While many of the 'black laws' curbing press freedom have been removed, yet new threats, especially in the form of vandalism and physical attack, are on the rise. There Is a pattern in the attacks on the press — to destroy the Infrastructure and to Inflict financial damage. It is as if, to punish and "make one pay" for being a free press.

We urge the government to leave no stone unturned in trying to get to the bottom of this sordid affair. The record of attacks on the press going unpunished will encourage others to do the same, and then none of us will be safe. We re-Suest the Home Minister to personally look into ils incident and Instruct his staff to do their utmost to get the culprits this time around. In this connection we would like to reiterate our view that without the overall improvement of the law and order situation. Just as trade, commerce and Industry are not safe, so also the functioning of the Independent press is under threat. As a nonpartisan Independent media, we feel especially vulnerable to all such possibilities. A free press essentially has no friends, but many enemies. Its only guarantor is a lawful society and the establishment of democratic traditions.

A free press is among the most Important components of democracy. Therefore any threat to its freedom should be met with the sternest of legal measures. And we urge the government to take them.-