Media activists challenge government

Media activists coming down hard on Minister Keheliya Rambukwella for his statement accusing journalists of being in the LTTE payroll have demanded legal action against those reporters if proved.

“We challenge the government to prove these charges, because we’re ready to face the consequences,” said Sunil Jayasekera, Convener of the Free Media Movement.

“So many people have been labelled this way, but till today there has been no legal action taken against anyone. There have been allegations and statements, and the government has not been able to do anything, despite it being a very serious charge,” Jayasekera added.

Responding to Rambukwella’s claims of not having legal provision to take action against such journalists, Dr. Pakiyasothy Saravanamuttu, head of the think tank the Centre for Policy Alternatives(CPA) said that the two-thirds majority in Parliament can be used to bring in new laws if the need arose.

Rambukwella alleged during Thursday’s Cabinet briefing that certain journalists in the country are funded by the defeated LTTE and foreign Non-Governmental Organisations, but the government did not have the necessary legal provision to take action against them.

He also alleged that these journalists are working to tarnish the image of the country, and claimed that he had a list of names of such journalists.

“There is a distinction that needs to be made between people who are critical of the government and those who work against the country. The government should not be confused on the idea of a country and government, countries are there forever, and governments come and go,” Saravanamuttu added.

Ceylon Today Online

‘Local code of media ethics will be introduced’

“President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is a true Sri Lankan from Medamulana will not accept a code of media ethics imported from the UK, as suggested by the Opposition Leader. A local code of media ethics formulated by Sri Lankan journalists, academics etc to match local requirements is to be introduced this year,” Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing held at the Government Information Department Auditorium yesterday, Minister Rambukwella said that the government will not introduce a code of media ethics by force. The process of formulating a code of ethics will be open. Proposals, suggestions, opinions and ideas of all will be obtained and all relevant persons and groups ,such as, journalists, scholars etc are to be consulted while forming the code of media ethics.

According to Minister Rambukwella, arrangements will also be made to establish an authority in order to cut down the procedures followed by the Government Information Department. Once the authority is established, the process of taking decisions will become speedier, short and smooth. The main objective of establishing code of ethics and authority is operating with a future vision for the development of media and to remove all hazards (if there are any) which prevent the development of media.

“The so called ‘Umbrella Organization’ of media personnel have around 1400 members ,but, they do not know what this media organization is or what it is doing. None of the office bearers of this organization are in Sri Lanka. They are all abroad. Sri Lankan people have very clear experience on how some sections of the ‘media’ and ‘journalists’ behaved during the humanitarian operation. The history is very bitter. They did their best to destroy the country, people and the government and attacked our Armed Forces. Some ‘journalists’ were on the payroll of some international forces and acted against their motherland”, Minister Rambukwella said.

“They said the body of Prabhakaran was not his and it that was the body of someone elses. They lied even after watching the body themselves and said Prabhakaran was rescued by a country. Some accounts belonging to NGOs are under the tag of ‘social services’. But the people’s judgement is the most powerful entity.

‘The matter will be judged by the people when it is presented to the people’s court. But the majority of the media and journalists extended their fullest support to the country and its people during the humanitarian operation”, Minister Rambukwella added.
Nadira GUNATILLEKE
CDN

Pro government group take on FMM

Hundreds of journalists representing private and public sector media institutions yesterday launched a massive protest against attempts by the Opposition in connivance with the Free Media Movement (FMM) to tarnish the image of the country at a time when it has won accolades from all parts of the world for restoring peace and democracy in the country.

The journalists voiced their anger over the conduct of the FMM in the past to betray the country from funds provided by international Non Government Organizations. They shouted slogans denouncing leaders of the FMM who launched various media campaigns in the past that the LTTE could not be defeated. The massive protest was organized by journalists at the Fort Railway Station.

Journalists carrying placards walked towards the Fort Railway Station from Lake House roundabout and Technical junction. The protest campaign which was scheduled to be held by the Opposition and the Free Media Movement was deemed to be an attempt to bring disrepute to the country at the UN Human Right Council meeting in Geneva in March. Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited journalists were among the large number of participants.
Chaminda PERERA
CDN

Journalists in exile conspiring

Journalists who have fled the country are conspiring to defame the country, Minister of Media – Keheliya Rambukwella has said.

Making an exclusive statement to the state-owned Dinamina newspaper, Minister Rambukwella has said that all journalists must stand against this in order to defeat this conspiracy.

He emphasizes that no journalist should be allowed to defame the country.

Journalists who perform their media duties well at this crucial time would forever earn the respect of the nation while those who continue to go against the country by tarnishing its reputation would never be pardoned by the nation.

Joining NGOs and foreign media, these journalists in exile are upto their old tricks again, the Minister has said, adding that they are sacrificing the country for dollars to gain their petty issues.

Noting that Sri Lanka enjoys a larger media freedom when compared with other countries, the minister has added that it is sad that these journalists are unable to perceive this.

Srilankamirror

Pro-govt. group forces Black January protesters out

While Sri Lanka slipped to 163rd position on the World Press Freedom Index, a pro-government mob yesterday prevented seven media organisations from staging a protest, titled Black January against media suppression, at the Fort Railway Station premises despite a Court order granting them permission. 

When the media personnel arrived at the Fort Railway Station yesterday afternoon, the pro-government demonstrators had already occupied their space and demanding that that they go to Lipton Circus in Colombo 7.

The journalists, unable to match their rivals’ physical might, decided to shift their protest to Lipton Circus, where they called for an end to state sponsored threats and attacks on the media.

Earlier in the day, the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, acting on a motion filed by the police, directed the media personnel to hold their demonstration within the Fort Railway Station premises and not move out onto the main road.

However, the pro-government activists were seen walking on the road opposite the Fort Railway Station.The World Press Freedom Index, which has been complied by Reporters Without Borders, has listed Sri Lanka five places down from its 158th position in 2010.

WPFI said the stranglehold of the Rajapaksa clan forced the last few opposition journalists to flee the country. Any that stayed behind were regularly subjected to harassment and threats. Attacks were less common but impunity and official censorship of independent news sites put an end to pluralism and contributed more than ever to self-censorship by almost all media outlets. “Online journalists and media continue to be targeted for violence. Impunity persists, and the regime does not hesitate to use censorship when its efforts to induce self-censorship no longer suffice,” WPFI said.

by Zacki Jabbar
IS

Sri Lanka drops in RSF World Press Freedom Index

  Sri Lanka dropped down five places last year from 2010 to rank among the 20 worst countries in a leading survey of press freedom.

The annual World Press Freedom Index for 2011 compiled by Paris based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has ranked Sri Lanka 163 out of 178 countries ranked. Sri Lanka was ranked 158 in 2010.

The index widely accepted around the world indicates the increasing suppression on media freedom in the country, media organizations point out.

In an accompanying report, the RSF said while violence and impunity persisted in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Philippines, there was more repression in Sri Lanka, Vietnam and China.

“In Sri Lanka (163rd), the stranglehold of the Rajapakse clan forced the last few opposition journalists to flee the country. Any that stayed behind were regularly subjected to harassment and threats. Attacks were less common but impunity and official censorship of independent news sites put an end to pluralism and contributed more than ever to self-censorship by almost all media outlets,” the RSF statement said.

Elsewhere, in the South Asian region Pakistan at 151st position was the world’s deadliest country for journalists for the second year in a row in 2011 with 10 deaths.

Nepal at 106th has shown modest improvement from the previous year due to a decline in attacks by Maoist groups and greater efficiency on the part of the justice system, the RSF said.

Ranking Bangladesh at 129th position, the RSF reported that opposition groups and the ruling Awami League took turns to attack and obstruct the press.

The survey ranked India at 131st position citing that journalists were exposed to violence stemming from the persistent conflicts in the states of Chhattisgarh and Jammu and Kashmir as well as to the threats from mafia groups.

The United States dropped 27 places in the rank to the 47th due to the many arrests of journalists covering the Occupy Wall Street protests.

CP

Black January media protest: Police harassments continue

‘Black January’ shifted to Lipton Circus
The Black January protest is to be held at the Lipton Circus at 3.00 pm today (Jan. 25), reports say.
The demonstration was earlier scheduled to be held at 2.00 pm at the Fort Railway Station compound.

Speaking to ‘Srilankamirror’ on behalf of the Sri Lanka’s Alliance of Media Organizations, convener of the FMM, Sunil Jayasekara confirmed the report.

He added that the time and the venue were changed due to security reasons.

Earlier today, Fort Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne ruled that the ‘Black January’ protest demonstration could be held under three conditions.

The magistrate made the above ruling after taking up a petition filed by the Fort Police, which claimed that the protest demonstration would disturb public peace.

The order states that the protest campaign should be limited within the Fort Railway Station compound, and not on the roads.

The magistrate had further ordered the demonstrators to refrain from going on a march.

Organised by Sri Lanka’s Alliance of Media Organizations, the Black January demonstration is a mark of protest against the government’s suppression of the media.

The event is named as Black January in view of the media attacks in the months of January in the past three years – including the killing of Lasantha Wickramatunga, attack on Sirasa Media Network and the disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda.

Srilankamirror

‘Black January’ protest to be held under 03 conditions

Fort Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne today (Jan. 25) ruled that the ‘Black January’ protest demonstration could be held under three conditions.

The magistrate has made the above ruling after taking up a petition filed by the Fort Police, who claimed that the protest demonstration would disturb public peace.

The order states that the protest campaign should be limited within the Fort Railway Station compound, and not on the roads.

The magistrate had further ordered the demonstrators to refrain from going on a march.

Organised by Sri Lanka’s Alliance of Media Organizations, the Black January demonstration is a mark of protest against the government’s suppression of the media.

The event will be held at 2.00 pm today.

The event is named as Black January in view of the media attacks in the months of January in the past three years – including the killing of Lasantha Wickramatunga, attack on Sirasa Media Network and the disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda.
Srilankamirror

Police want court order against meida protest

Court ruling on Black January protest on 25th  

Srilankamirror – Fort Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne today decided that the ruling of the petition against the Black January protest will be handed tomorrow (Jan. 25).

The Black January protest is scheduled to be held in front of Colombo Fort Railway Station tomorrow.

Organised by Sri Lanka’s Alliance of Media Organizations, the Black January demonstration is a mark of protest against the government’s suppression of the media.

The event is named as Black January in view of the media attacks in the months of January in the past three years – including the killing of Lasantha Wickramatunga, attack on Sirasa Media Network and the disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda.

The ruling was postponed after the Magistrate ruled that facts produced were insufficient.

The petition was filed by the Fort Police claiming that the protest demonstration would disturb public peace.

Earlier, in a press release, the Media Movement for Democracy charged that there is an attempt to obtain a court order against holding the demonstration, to prevent public from joining the event.
24 January 2012 19:28

Srilanka mirror

Government to sustain law and order , minister attack FMM

* ‘Unpatriotic elements who depend on NGO dollars trying to create problems’
* ‘People lending fullest support to government to continue development activities’

The government is well equipped and ready to face any challenge posed by disruptive elements who are attempting to create a conflict situation in the country, Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. Addressing a press briefing at his residence in Colombo yesterday, the minister said even though there are no economic hardships or difficulties confronting the people today, attempts are being made by saboteurs to provoke and incite the people to meet their vile ends.

“There is definitely an unseen hand at work trying to create chaos and unrest in the country,” he said.

The minister also said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has succeeded in bringing peace to the country.

“People who cannot bear this fact are trying to sabotage the government’s plans having come to realize that they cannot get the people’s support to change the government at an election,” Rambukwella said.

“Certain unpatriotic elements who depend on dollars of NGOs such as the Free Media Movement are trying to create problems in the country. However, the people are lending their fullest support to the government to continue its development activities overcoming all obstacles.

“The government and the President are being strengthened day by day. Those unpatriotic elements tried to betray the country when the war was raging in the country. But they couldn’t do that. Then they tried to betray the country after the war.

“They have not succeeded in this endeavour too,” he said. The minister said that when President Rajapaksa became the President in 2005, there were those who opposed him leading the country on the grounds that he came from a remote area.

“But the President succeeded in obtaining the support of the public. People like him and his Mahinda Chinthana concept. There is a democratic political process in operation . All political parties have complete freedom to express their ideas,” he said.

Commenting on the “13th Amendment plus” he pointed out that there is no problem with the police and land powers, but under certain limitations and restrictions the government will take measures to distribute police and land powers after discussions with political parties.
Ishara MUDUGAMUWA
CDN

All months are BLACK – Editorial, The Island

A collective of media rights groups is scheduled to stage a massive protest, Black January, tomorrow in Colombo against attacks on journalists. All right-minded people will readily pledge their solidarity with the campaigners for media freedom and protection of journalists. The past few years have seen a spate of attacks on the media. Journalists have been intimidated, assaulted, abducted and murdered; media institutions have been set on fire. But, none of these incidents have been investigated properly and therefore naturally the government stands accused of being involved in them. That the perpetrators of such crimes cannot go scot free without political backing is common knowledge. It is heartening that media rights activists have, albeit belatedly, opted for shock therapy.

But, is it possible for one to consider January the cruellest month for journalists? True, The Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunga was killed in January, 2009. The killers are still at large and investigations into his brutal murder committed in broad daylight have been hushed up to all intents and purposes. Pressure must be brought to bear on the Rajapaksa government to bring his killers to justice. But, several journalists have been assaulted or killed during other months as well. Why shouldn’t those months also be considered ‘black’?

Tomorrow’s protest has been organised, according to a BBC report, against attacks on media personnel in the recent years. One is intrigued. What about journalists killed and media institutions attacked under previous governments? Selectivity in condemning attacks on journalists may erode the credibility of media rights campaigners on a noble mission. Each and every attack on journalists and media institutions must be condemned unreservedly, regardless of the year of its occurrence and no room left for politicians responsible for crimes against the media in the past to masquerade as champions of media rights by shedding crocodile tears for journalists at present.

Some media rights groups usually make a mockery of their commemorative events by having as invitees some bankrupt politicians who suppressed the media while in power. It was only recently that we had some Opposition bigwigs who not only condoned violence against the media but also sought to justify the killing of Richard de Zoysa under the Premadasa government, sharing the platform with media rights activists to condemn Lasantha’s murder and thereby gain some political mileage. With such friends, journalists need no enemies!

It behoves the media rights groups fighting quite a battle against tremendous odds to protect journalists, press freedom and democracy to sever links, if any, with foreign organisations and governments with a history of harbouring and sponsoring the LTTE responsible for many civilian massacres, political assassinations, suppressing democracy and killing journalists. Anyone who has been aiding and abetting terrorists who committed crimes against innocent men, women and children cannot be considered a friend of the media.

Black January is happening in the run-up to a crucial UNHRC session in Geneva, where some western governments sympathetic to the LTTE are expected to renew their call for an international war crimes probe against Sri Lanka. However, the government will not be able to distract the attention of the discerning public from the serious allegations being levelled against it by claiming that the media rights groups are trying to give a boost to the on-going anti-Sri Lankan campaign spearheaded by some western governments and international human rights groups.

The government is left with no alternative but to investigate attacks on journalists and media institutions and bring the perpetrators to justice. Lame excuses and patriotic outpourings won’t do.
IS/ January 23, 2012