From AP:

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Hundreds of journalists marched Thursday in Sri Lanka’s capital to protest harassment and suppression of the media. The march was organized by members of the Movement Against Media Suppression, who say media personnel have been killed, abducted and jailed by government-backed paramilitary groups and Tamil Tiger rebels. The group says 14 journalists and media workers have been killed in Sri Lanka in the past two years, while eight have been abducted and four others imprisoned. It says licenses for some radio stations have been revoked by the government.

When I worked for The Indian Express, a famously gutsy paper not known for pulling any punches, I was once instructed by a local bureau chief not to use the word “terrorist” to describe some terrorists. I was told I could use militant, extremist, ultra, whatever, just not terrorist.

“Why not?” I asked.

“Because they do not like to be called terrorists. If we call them terrorists, they will kill one of our people, possibly a driver.”

“But that’s … terrorism.”

“Yes, it is. But are you doing to drive the delivery truck?”

Clark Kent, upon hearing of some villainous plot, told his boss, “That’s terrible!” And crusty Perry White responded: “That’s why they call them terrorists, Kent.”