Media Freedom In Sri Lanka releases damning report

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti ( Morning Leader)

Media Freedom In Sri Lanka has released a damning monthly report on the island’s horrendous record of media freedom violations in January including the murder of The Sunday Leader Editor, Lasantha Wickrematunge and dozens of other serious violations.

The report recorded three significant incidents overshadowing others — the arson attack on MBC/ MTV stations, the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge in close proximity to a high security zone and the attack on Rivira Editor Upali Tennakoon.

Besides, the report released on Tuesday (3) noted threats on The Sunday Times Associate Editor and Defence Correspondent Iqbal Athas, a grenade attack on the MTV/MBC network station on January 2 and the subsequent arson attack on the same network on January 6.

On January 7, Punithaseelan Piratheepan, a Tamil language journalist from Batticaloa complained of being under grave threat while President of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), Sanath Balasooriya received several threatening telephone calls that he would be killed.

The month’s violence reached its peak with the ghastly murder of international award winning Editor of The Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge being slain in broad daylight on January 8.

On January 9, the BBC Sinhala Service reports on the murder of Wickrematunge were censored.

On the same day, http://www.lankadissent.com announced its closure citing threats and lack of space for pluralistic and dissenting media in the country.

On January 9, the Government Defence Spokesperson, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella accused MTV/MBC and The Sunday Leader of not heeding the call of the government in reporting defence matters while the Defence Secretary levelled charges against the MTV/MBC network as LTTE sympathisers and Manusamy Parameshwari of Maubima as being a LTTE supporter. Meanwhile, the police prevented the putting up of posters calling for free expression in the aftermath of Wickrematunge’s assassination.

Following Wickrematunge’s assassination, the next biggest recorded incident was on February 22, when Rivira Editor, Upali Tennakoon’s vehicle was attacked injuring him together with his wife.

The same day, a freelance Tamil media worker Prakash Shakthi Velupillai was arrested at Colombo airport with the state controlled Daily News reporting, “A prominent LTTE supporter posing as a journalist was arrested at the BIA. He was later handed over to the TID for questioning.”

On January 23, two unknown persons visited Daily Mirror Provincial News Editor Kasun Yapa.

Adiran, a journalist working for Veerakesari was grilled for three hours by the TID in connection with the arrest of Prakash Shakthi Velupillai.

On January 25, Editor http://www.lankaenews.com, Sandaruwan Senadeeera, was grilled by the CID for three hours for the alleged violation of the media guide lines issued by MCNS in August 2006.

On January 30, the TID questioned FMM Secretary for three hours regarding Prakash Shakthi Velupillai. On the same day, Chamil Jayanetti, a leader of the New Left Front was charged by police for his participation in the media protest on January 9 where he allegedly obstructed duty and committed a breach of peace. Police have filed a case against Jayanetti.

Meanwhile, some 11 journalists/media activists have fled the country as Sri Lanka’s media freedom recorded an all time low.

Commenting on the media freedom index, activist Seetha Ranjanee said that Sri Lanka was increasingly becoming intolerant of differing opinions and there was a growing culture of meeting the mighty force of the pen with a bullet.

DPF Leader, Convener, Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC), Mano Ganesan expressed dismay at the frequency with which democratic voices were being silenced and said January 2009 would have its special place in Sri Lanka’s human rights and media freedom records as possibly the worst month ever.

Civilians continue to flee from LTTE clutches

One hundred and thirty one civilians had moved out of the Wanni so far this week, defence officials said.

Military Spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told The Morning Leader that civilians continued to flee from LTTE controlled areas and the military had also rescued civilians during their military operations.

“Whenever the military comes across civilians they rescue them and bring them to government held areas,” Nanayakkara said.

He also alleged that the LTTE was using safe zones declared by the government to launch artillery attacks on the troops. “But, we are not retaliating to those attacks,” Nanayakkara added.

Meanwhile, Director General, Media Centre for National Security (MCNS), Lakshman Hulugalle said many civilians in the Wanni have not yet moved into safety zones announced by the government.

Hulugalle in a statement has said that security will be guaranteed for civilians in the safety zones.

“The government has taken responsibility to guarantee the safety and security of all civilians within the ‘safety zone.’ However, the government cannot be responsible for the safety and security of civilians still living among the LTTE terrorists.”

“The government calls on all civilians to enter the demarcated ‘safety zone’ as soon as possible to ensure their safety and security,” Hulugalle said in is statement.

He said that the security forces, having reached the final stages in the war, are giving utmost priority to the safety of civilians.

ICRC Deputy Head of Operations, South Asia, Monica Zanarelli said civilians should be protected in accordance with humanitarian laws regardless of where they are.

Zaranelli has said that only half of the total population had moved into safe zones declared by the government and said it was too small for the entire people.

“Some 10,000-15,000 families, for example, have settled in a coastal area where there is no clean drinking water. No matter where they are, however, civilians are protected under international humanitarian law and must be spared the consequences of the fighting,” Zaranelli said.

She added that around 5,000 people have moved out of the Wanni into government-controlled areas since December. “Our staff on the ground has not observed any significant population movement — not more than about 5,000 people since last December — out of the Wanni into the government-controlled area.”

Zaranelli also said that there were hygiene problems in the Wanni.

“While there have been no reports of significant outbreaks of communicable diseases, there are fears of this happening should current conditions persist.”

“Our staff has built a makeshift structure for the incoming patients. They are rebuilding the wall of the ward for women and children that was hit on Sunday, helping patients into and out of ambulances, and helping to maintain basic hygiene by cleaning the hospital.”

She added that the ICRC continues to maintain contact with the military and the LTTE to remind them of their obligation to spare civilians, the wounded and the sick, and medical personnel and facilities, and of their obligation to balance military imperatives with humanitarian requirements.

Zaranelli also said that the disruption of aid convoys has prevented much-needed food, shelter and medical supplies from reaching the people.

“At the end of last week, after 13 days without a convoy, the ICRC facilitated the entry of 170 metric tonnes of food provided by the World Food Programme into the Wanni. Since then, however, it has not been possible to bring in any further emergency aid.”

Meanwhile patients of the Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital have begun to leave the place due to security fears.

ICRC Media Coordinator Sarasi Wijeratne said that the hospital was hit on four occasions within two days (Sunday and Monday).