ALERT – SRI LANKA
30 July 2008
FMM concerned over army commander’s justification of recent attacks against
journalists
SOURCE: Free Media Movement (FMM), Colombo
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 29 July 2008 FMM press release:
The Free Media Movement is deeply disturbed by remarks attributed to the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, in recent interviews he has granted.
One such interview appeared in the state run “Sunday Observer” newspaper on 20 July 2008. The content was later posted on the Ministry of Defence website ( <http://www.defence.lk/http://www.defence.lk ), thus giving it official credence.
Another interview was published in the Sunday Sinhala weekly “Lakbima” and was posted thereafter on their website (http://www.lakbima.lk/archive/lasthttp://www.lakbima.lk/archive/last
20.07.08/index.htm ).
We reproduce below relevant excerpts of the interviews, in which Lt. Gen. Fonseka is quoted as justifying the recent attacks, intimidation and harassment of journalists.
“If Keith Noyair has not done anything wrong, he does not have to live in fear. If he has done some damage to our organisation or to a person, especially when he has done something which he is not supposed to do, then it is natural he must be living in fear. If they think that they have done something of that nature the best thing for them is to correct themselves and rectify the mistake.
“We know that journalists are being bribed, given ‘drinks’, treated in restaurants and they have their own vested interests . . . We know very well about those media people who take bribes, write and voice their
opinion for some personal gains.
“These so called media guys are not responsible to the people and they are not entitled to such media freedom.
“That Keith Noyair, who was assaulted, was returning from a restaurant with his friends and they were drunk. We do not know that somebody in the restaurant had got annoyed with them, followed him and assaulted.
“So, especially the media people should behave well and set an example to others. To me, those who stage protests with unshaven beards, long hairs and wearing costumes like in fancy dress competitions are not scribes who are clamoring for media freedom but a gang of thugs” (interview with the “Observer”, reproduced on <http://www.defense.lk/http://www.defense.lk).
In another interview with “Lakbima” weekly, the commander said the attacks on Keith Noyahr, Iqbal Atthas and Namal Perera could be the consequences of their “misdeeds”.
If indeed Lt. Gen. Fonseka has made the remarks attributed to him, the FMM is of the view that it is unbecoming conduct of the highest military officer. At a time when he is spearheading a war against Tiger rebels, it is unfortunate that he has chosen to justify indirectly the recent attacks on journalists. (The FMM waited for a week before making this statement to see if there would be any corrections to the interviews form the commander.)
In reporting any public interest issue, no doubt, independent journalists may express dissenting views. Such views may sometimes be uncomfortable to various persons in the echelons of power. The time-honoured tradition under successive governments has been for those concerned to counter those views, correct the facts if they are known, or state their own.
If they violated the laws of the land, they would also have recourse to the courts. However, if the remarks attributed to Lt. Gen. Fonseka are in fact accurate quotations, it clearly leaves an indelible impression that the might of the military is being brought to bear on unarmed and unprotected journalists. This is a kind of hate campaign to threaten, harass, intimidate and force them into silence. This is an extremely disturbing trend and is unprecedented in Sri Lanka.
Making this even more disconcerting, the FMM strongly believes, is the deafening silence of the government. Not so long ago, they announced the appointment of a Ministerial Committee to alleviate the problems faced by journalists. Several ministers made pledges to protect them and ensure media freedom.
FMM believes that it would be the responsibility of the government to make its position clear. Otherwise, FMM fears, their silence or indifference would only pave the way for more journalists to be killed, brutally assaulted, intimidated and harassed.
For further information on the Noyahr case, see: <http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/94093http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/94093
For further information on the Atthas case, see:
<http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/94271http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/94271
For further information on the Perera case, see:
<http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/94944http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/94944
For further information, contact the Free Media Movement, 237/22, Wijeya Kumaratunga Road, Colombo 05, Sri Lanka, tel: +94 777 312 457, +94 11 257 3439, fax: +94 11 471 4460, e-mail: <mailto:fmm@sltnet.lkfmm@sltnet.lk, Internet: <http://www.freemediasrilanka.org/http://www.freemediasrilanka.org
The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of FMM.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit FMM.
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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984. The above statement has only been forwarded by the AHRC.
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