Freedom of expression throttled again – editors guild

poddala jayantha in Colombo general hospital

The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka yesterday condemned the attack on Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) Secretary Poddala Jayantha on Monday and said it was yet another assault on the freedom of speech and expression in the country.

“It fits into a very clear pattern of the systematic neutralizing of free expression and dissent that has continued unabated for the past two years to rob the people of this country of their cherished democratic values. Free expression and dissent are the cornerstones of a democracy. Each and every assault of this nature must be condemned with all severity.

“However, such condemnations seem to have little impact on those in office. Not long after the murder of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickramatunge and the assault on Rivira Editor Upali Tennakoon, the Sri Lankan President, no less, assured the journalists of this country that there will be no repetitions. In fact, he said that such assaults were, to use his very words, ‘like assaulting me’,” the Editors Guild said in a statement.
“By the same token, the attack on Mr. Jayantha can be considered another assault on the President, whose assurances seem meaningless in the circumstances. Demanding an investigation into the assault of Mr. Jayantha and asking that the culprits be speedily brought to book is sine qua non to this condemnation, though The Guild is realistically pessimistic of any such outcome. It is most unfortunate that such incidents also go to detract from the credit due to the Armed Forces for their noteworthy achievements of recent times,” the statement said.

Is informing about abduction to the family of the victim offence? Ranil asks

(Lanka-e-News, 04.June.2009, 8.45PM) Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe says that abduction and assault of Working Journalists’ Association secretary Poddala Jayantha is an attack against the media freedom that is considered a basic requirement for national unity.

Addressing a special media briefing held in official residence of the Opposition Leader at Cambridge Terrace, Wickramasinghe said, “Poddala Jayantha is a journalist that never shared our political views. On Monday he was kidnapped by a white van. His hair and beard were cut and a leg was broken. Luckily, his life was saved. The government has expressed regret. It says the case will be investigated. It is not sufficient. A number of journalists were attacked and killed. Government has not taken action.

“While expressing regret to Poddala Jayantha,the government arrested Benet Rupasinghe of Lanka-e-News website. The charge is informing the wife of Poddala Jayantha that her husband has been abducted. Is informing about abduction to the family of the victim offence? We cannot satisfy about the investigations of the government. Journalists are afraid now. I do not blame them. This kind of abductions and killings terrify them. Government should conduct an impartial investigation to find out the culprits. Otherwise the responsibility should be admitted by the government.

“To create national unity, all should be treated equally. For a common identity, all should have rights. Our country has a diversity of cultures, nationalities, languages and political parties. There is a diversity of views in such society. There must be freedom of expression. Otherwise the march towards national unity will be blocked.

“The responsibility is with the President Mahinda Rajapakse. The people must feel that he is looking into these matters. Meanwhile, some journalists are accused of helping the Tigers. If someone has helped terrorism, legal action must be taken against them. Then, the courts will judge. This mud slinging campaign is a terror tactic that must be denied.

“The government must talk with the journalists and solve the issues if it really needs to build national unity as it says. We can help. The government should pioneer.
“These issues are pointless. Terrorism has been eliminated now. Democracy must be strengthened to build national unity. There is a new terrorism now. Letters are sent to the businessmen asking for ransoms in millions of rupees. They must be protected. We can go forward as a democratic society if the rule of law is granted.”

The Opposition Leader emphasized that the government should discuss with the media organizations and prepare a satisfactory environment for them. The culprits of Poddala Jayantha incident should be exposed and the charges against Benet Rupasinghe should be revealed, he said. A democratic society will not exist without press freedom, the Opposition Leader stressed.

I have no list of journalists that were in LTTE payroll – Media Minister

Minister Anura Yapa

(Lanka-e-News, 04.June.2009, 8.30PM) Minister of Media and Information Anura Priyadarshana Yapa says that he has not received a list of the journalists that have been under LTTE pay list although he had heard about such list. He says that he cannot point finger at anybody until the investigations are conducted.

At the cabinet press briefing held in the auditorium of the Ministry of Media today (04), a journalist pointed out that state-owned and some other media had announced that around 50 journalists had been in LTTE payroll assisting them. He said that if it was true, the government could publicize the list and take legal action against them instead of abducting and killing them. He asked if the government was trying to prevent exposing the culprits that abducted and assaulted Poddala Jayantha, through arresting Lanka-e-News chief editor Sandaruwan Senadheera and news editor Benet Rupasinghe, who informed the police chief, Information Director Anusha Pelpita. President’s Coordinating Secretary Kumarasiri Hettige, Poddala Jayantha’s wife and other relevant authorities.

The Minister Anura Yapa said that attacking Poddala Jayantha was a worthless act and he is an employee of Lake House that has not created any problem in his work place. The Minister said that Poddala Jayantha was a friend of his and he was unaware how the incident took place.

Minister Yapa said that nothing could be expressed about any journalist until investigations are carried out. The Minister said he was unaware of a list of names given by Daya Master and no one could be blamed until an investigation is conducted despite there is such list.

He said that the investigations should be on the persons that helped the LTTE for money and not about the individuals that talked with LTTE, the Minister said in response to a query of a journalist.
The Minister said that two journalists had been arrested for interrogation and released on bail by court. He said that he could not advise police on the ways the investigations should be conduced. “No matter of interrogating. Release them immediately if there is no connection,” the police have been instructed, the Minister says.

A journalist explained that although the Minister said that there was no list of journalists that helped the LTTE, the Dinamina newspaper that is under his administration stated in its editorial written by Mahinda Abesundara that Sunanda Deshapriya and Poddala Jayantha were Tiger associates that should be killed. Independent Television Network Thulawa programme compeer Sudarman Radaliyagoda repeatedly asked from the Army Commander what action would be taken against the anti-war journalists. A journalist queried if the media practice of these journalists would not put some other journalists in peril. Minister Yapa said he could do act if something happened in media under his Ministry and promised to focus his attention to the matter.

South Asia media associations condemn attack on Sri Lanka scribe

New Delhi (PTI) Two prominent media associations of South Asia on Thursday expressed shock at the kidnapping and beating of a prominent Sri Lankan journalist and asked Colombo to resolve issues relating to freedom of the media.

Condeming the incident, the South Asia Media Commission (SAMC) and South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) said it was a “blatant violation of freedom of expression and independence” of media.

Poddala Jayantha, the General Secretary of Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association and a member of Free Media Movement, received injuries on his head, chest and leg while he was returning from work.

Six unidentified men dragged Mr. Poddala into their vehicle and after beating him up, threw him out, near a hospital. They also cut his beard and hair. “This is adding insult to injury.”

“After an official end of war against LTTE, the government must focus on solving the long awaited issues relating to freedom of media,” Imtiaz Alam of SAFMA and Najam Sethi of SAMC said in a joint statement.

This is the second major attack on journalists since January this year. On January 8, Lasantha Wickrematunga, a leading journalist, was killed.

Media organisations have called upon the Sri Lankan government to make an impartial inquiry into the attack. They said lack of prosecution has enabled an environment which supports attacks and killings.

Eleven media persons killed; 27 attacked and four were abducted under Mahinda Rajapakse’s Presidency -Dayasiri Jayasekara

report card in early 2007

(Lanka-e-News, June 04, 2009, 9.30 AM) United National Party (UNP) Kurunegala district MP Dayasiri Jayasekara says that the government that ended the terrorism in north has launched state terror in south to abduct media persons and to break their limbs.

MP Jayasekara expressed these views addressing the press conference held in the office of the Opposition Leader yesterday (03).

He said that Sri Lanka is the country where the most unfortunate media persons live as some state media personnel write the death warrants to other journalists. He explained that the journalists that criticize the government and expose the corruption have been named as the traitors and the anti-war campaigners before they were physically attacked.
The state owned Dinamina newspaper in its editorial wrote Sunanda Deshapriya of the Free Media Movement, Poddala Jayantha and Sanatha Balasooriya, the secretary and the chairman of the Working Journalists’ Association should be attacked since they were Tiger associates. He said that it was despicable that another working journalist advocated breaking the limbs of a fellow media person due to having political ideas.

MP Jayasekara said that the journalists are facing grave difficulty after Mahinda Rajapakse became the President. Eleven journalists were killed, 27 were attacked, four were abducted under his rule, Jayasekara pointed out.
He said that despite several police teams were appointed, culprits had never been brought to books and all the investigations had been defunct. Police has denied divulging information regarding some incidents, he says.

The government says that the LTTE’s former media spokesman Daya Master has given a list of names of the journalists that helped the LTTE and they are being abducted and assaulted, says Dayasiri Jayasekara pointing out that Poddala Jayantha was abducted and assaulted as the media organizations were having a discussion with the President.

The MP also said that police attempted to penalize editor-in-chief of Lanka-e-News Sandaruwan Senadheera and the news editor Benet Rupasinghe for informing the police chief, the media minister and the other authorities. He said that informing police about a scene of crime could be an offense that would be punished.

Media persons that tried to save my life were produced in court; it is a crime, Poddala writes to the IGP

lanka enews editor with Poddala at hospital

(Lanka-e-News, June 04, 2009, 4.00 PM) The secretary of the Working Journalists’ Association Poddala Jayantha says that manipulating his abduction case to intimidate more journalists instead of bringing the culprits into books is very distressing. He mentions thus in a letter he wrote to the Inspector General of Police. The complete letter is as follows:

“I write this letter to bring to your notice a shocking incident that I came to know while being treated in National Hospital for the serious injuries sustained in torture by a gang of thugs on June 01, 2009.

Benet Rupasinghe and Sandaruwan Senadheera of Lanka-e-News website have been arrested and produced in court regarding the crime against me.

These two persons are close professional associates and personal friends of mine. They have taken steps to inform the Inspector General of Police, the President’s office, government ministers and other authorities, media activists and my wife about the incident and I believe that their urgent mediation helped me to save my life at least like this.

I think that misinterpreting their action and producing them in court as accused is a crime that will not be approved by any person with sense.

I cannot describe in words the mental agony I underwent while being in pain and near paralyzed condition in hospital when I heard about this incident.

It is very painful manipulating this incident to hunt more media persons instead of apprehending the culprits.

Therefore, I kindly appeal from you to focus you attention to this matter and to correct it.

Signed by

Poddala Jayantha

Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association

(In the photos, the editor of Lanka-e-News visiting Poddala Jayantha in hospital and Poddala Jayantha in hospital

No confidence in police investigations into Poddala’s assault – Jayasekera

MP Dayasiri Jayasekara

The UNP has no confidence in the investigations carried out by the police into the brutal assault on media person Poddala Jayantha said Kurunegala District UNP Parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekera.

Addressing a media conference held yesterday, Mr. Jayasekera said there was an effort by the government to push aside police investigations with regard to assault on the journalists. He said 11 media personnel have been killed, 27 have been mercilessly assaulted and four have been abducted since 2005.

The government has branded journalists covering UNP or opposition media events or rallies as traitors and made false accusations that they are supporting the LTTE he said adding that never in the country’s history have the lives of media personnel been subjected to such dangers and the government institutions and the state media has been supportive of these acts.

He said if any media person or a group was aligned to the LTTE, as the government claims they should take measures to punish such media people according to the law of the land. But what the government does is going on a witch hunt attacking journalists who criticize the regime said Mr. Jayasekera.

(http://www.lankatruth.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2355:no-confidence-in-police-investigations-into-poddalas-assault–jayasekera&catid=35:local&Itemid=50 )

Sri Lanka: Media an in conflict

AP Photo: Journalist and media activist Poddala Jayantha lies in Colombo National Hospital after being abducted and assaulted by unidentified assailants June 1, 2009. He is the latest in a string of journalists who have faced violence on the Indian Ocean island, which just finished a 25-year war against the Tamil Tiger rebels. Colombo, Sri Lanka.

(http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2009/06/sri-lanka-media-in-conflict.html)

By Nilantha Ilangamuwa

“Racism and racist oppression are the causative factors for rebellions and secessionist politics.” – V. Prabhakaran, ex- leader of the LTTE , Heroes’ Day Address in 2002

(June 04, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The leading Sinhala daily newspaper ‘Divaina’ in Sri Lanka in their recent editorial published few hours after a senior journalist and activist, Poddala Jayantha faced the wrath of the gang attack by an unknown group of men who had kidnapped him in a white van, has called for open death penalties for the all the journalists, scholars and questionable people, who are on the payroll of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) also know as the Tamil Tigers. This is a worrying development for the future of Sri Lanka. There is no doubt the editor’s assertion is silly and his views are Nazi Germany’s Joshep Goebels jingoistic journalism. However, it is clear rabid hatred is clearly reflected in the editor’s comments.

Situation seems to be that, Sri Lankans are still unsure about the emerging favourable post Tamil Tiger defeat situation and is uncertain about their responsibility and conduct in the society which is now free of terror. The media which thrived on the war so far is failings to react to the changing post- war situations responsibly. In this context, failing to understand the emerging favourable situation will adversely harm the wellbeing of our society. Tigers are no more, but paranoia of Tamil Tigers is still haunting the society and is influencing the island nation in all levels. It was totally different during the Indian intervention, though the intervention has changed the traditional post independence politics of Sri Lankan.

The LTTE dictated the political agenda’s of the governments for the past three decades and with its demise now, the situation must change for us altogether. Our main focus now must be to change the centralized executive power system of the President.

In my view, since the implementation of the current constitution of Sri Lanka in 1978, introduced by the then President Junius Richard Jayawardene, this is the first time a President is able to stand up and assert that he is not under the dictates of the LTTE. JRJ during his tenure influenced the growth of the Tamil Tigers by his highly centralized governance (and the death threats against him by the Tigers as revealed by his wife the fist lady Elena Jayawardene) made him take the tough stand against the Tigers.

It is right time for all the political parties to reshape the type of governance in Sri Lanka from now onwards. A paralyzed opposition in the wake of government victories in the war should not be dictated by gullible patriotism. As citizens of Sri Lanka, we must carefully consider the comment made by the President in his speech in the Parliament after the wipe out of the Tamil Tigers in the warfront: “There are no minorities in Sri Lanka, there are only two nations, one is people who love the Country and other one is people who not love the Country,” says the President.

What is the meaning love? In biblical term ‘Love they neighbour’ has deep meaning. Love is physiological and eternal feeling towards others and other lives. A famous French novelist Honore de Balzac said: “True love is like a psychic experience. Everyone tells ghost stories, but few have ever seen a ghost.” Likewise the time will answer connect of the ‘people who love the Nation’ and Sri Lanka is not exception.

Jubilation of media over the victory in the war clearly shows how journalism and journalists are facing challenges over their duties and responsibilities and post-war must dictate high values in journalism to build and strengthen the democratic nation of Sri Lanka. Many journalists think they are fathers of victory in the war. In that they betray their own collogues who are facing the challenges loggerhead in the difficult terrain for journalists. This is dangerous for freedom of journalism at this important juncture.

In his worrying editorial comment the Editor states:“today, the key decision maker in this world is money. Therefore, journalists, Tiger sympathizers in television channels and intellectuals can be bought easily. There were journalists and professionals in Colombo, Sri Lanka who were in the LTTE’s pay directly or indirectly. Some of these persons had fled overseas while others who could not make it on time are still in the island. All of them are guilty of treason.” (Quoted: Editorial- Divaina, sister news paper of the ‘The Island’, on 02 June, 2009)

It further states: “the penalty for treason is death. In a country like China, such persons are prosecuted and lined up before a shooting squad. Unfortunately for us, this country does not have capital punishment. People who commit worst of crimes and sentenced to life in prison get freedom after a few years for good conduct.” To quote China for democratic credentials is laughable. Let Sri Lanka limit its dealings with China on cheap arms purchases and not be dictated by its gun hoe culture against free expression in this country.

AP Photo: Journalist and media activist Poddala Jayantha lies in Colombo National Hospital after being abducted and assaulted by unidentified assailants June 1, 2009. He is the latest in a string of journalists who have faced violence on the Indian Ocean island, which just finished a 25-year war against the Tamil Tiger rebels. Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The simple question is, is there any differences between the journalists who had taken money from the Tamil Tigers and its sympathisers and/or the government? Consciences of all journalists including the ‘Devina’ editor must also ask their own minds of this question. Can we stand on moral high ground and say those who had taken money from the Tigers must be branded as traitors whilst those benefiting from the government as patriots?

It is time for journalism in Sri Lanka to discipline itself and define ethical conduct and its dutiful mission. We must not forget in this self-destructive path blame many journalists lost their lives in the island nation. Calling for death penalty on journalists by the frustrated journalists seemed ludicrous and this could only undermine rule of law in the country. The answer for assumptions and hatred is not simple black and white. There are a million of shades opinions in a free democratic society. Let us respect them in a free democratic society.

A new era for Media in Sri Lanka- Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene

Thu, 2009-06-04 03:57

An interview with Asian Tribune Colombo Correspondent Prasad Gunewardene

Colombo, 04 June, (Asiantribune.com): Media MinisterMedia Minister Lakshman Yapa AbeywardeneMedia Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene in an interview with the” Asian Tribune” said that the Government will not be merely carried away by the confession made by LTTE’s Daya Master now in custody, who is reported to have alleged that some journalists has had transactions with the LTTE. He added that the interrogators were intelligent enough to arrive at justifiable conclusions to investigations.

Asked whether Daya Master was trying to create a division between the Government and the Media in the country by making such allegations, Minister Abeywardene asserted that Daya Master should provide concrete evidence to all what he had confessed, and if Daya Master had made such allegations with an ulterior motive, the law enforcement authorities would deal with him severely.

Citing the arrest of Sudaroli editor who was arrested, produced in court and acquitted recently, the minister said the intelligence authorities were intelligent enough to weigh the allegations of Daya Master during investigations.’ No one will be allowed to make baseless allegations against any journalist’, the minister assured.

Following is the full text of the interview;

Asian Tribune : Mr.Minister, we are meeting at a time when the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association Poddala Jayantha had been abducted, assaulted and hospitalized. How do you view these ugly developments at a time the people, Government and the nation were gearing to celebrate the victory over terrorism?

Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene : In the first place, such an ugly incident should not have happened. If somebody has done something wrong, there is the law of the land. I do not know the reason behind that incident. But I wholeheartedly condemn it. This is not war time. If it was that, we could say we have no time to investigate such incidents. The President has instructed the Police to conduct a full investigation to apprehend the culprits. I must say that the President was visibly disturbed when he heard that ugly incident. We must bring an end to such nonsensical incidents.

Asian Tribune Now let’s come to the confession of LTTE’s Daya Master in custody, who had reportedly made a claim that the LTTE had paid certain journalists. Can such allegations be substantiated or proved beyond any reasonable doubt?

Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene : Yes… Daya Master is said to have made a confession to that effect and it has been made public. We do not trust his confession but we will investigate.He must present evidence to prove such allegations.

Asian Tribune: Daya Master was LTTE’s Media Spokesman and many journalists have had conversations with him over the phone and whenever they met him in the North. Now that Daya Master is abandoned and no LTTE exist, he may, with ulterior motives attempt to create a division between the Government and the Media by making such allegations. Also, for a member of a racist organization like the LTTE, would not it be his motive to create dissension in the South when peace has been restored?

Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene : We don’t trust every word in his confession. But, even when a criminal makes a confession it has to be investigated. I can assure you that the Government will act with much responsibility and care on all confessions made by Daya Master. We will not allow him to tarnish the good image of our journalists. We know the LTTE well and what they did for 30 long years and the manner they took governments for rides. We will not be carried away by every word in their confessions.

Asian Tribune: A few journalists left the country claiming their lives were under threat. What have you got to say with regard to such sudden departures? Now that the war is over, will you invite them back to the country and guarantee their security?

Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene : Well, there are two sides to their story of departure. It is said there were some journalists who ‘reaped benefits’ during war time. Some journalists behaved in an irresponsible manner in reportage during war times.

They misused the freedom and carried the wrong message to the world. They engaged themselves in other ‘businesses’ and that’s not a secret. We lost confidence in them. Some used the opportunity to seek greener pastures abroad.

If a person has done something wrong he has a guilty mind. If these journalists who ran away claiming their lives were at stake, they can now return as there is nothing to fear with the war period being now over. I invite them back to serve their country with dedication to build a new Sri Lanka.

Asian Tribune: They claim their security is at stake…will you guarantee their security?

Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene : The government is committed to ensure and guarantee the security of all its’ citizens.When it comes to security we do not categorize people by their professions or designations. We treat all alike. If someone has committed an offence, the law enforcement authorities will do their job .If we prevent that, then we are destabilizing the democracy in this country.

Asian Tribune: Mr. Minister, we both agree that the turbulent times and the war period are now over. Yet there are unsolved murders of a few journalists starting from Sivaram to Lasantha Wickremetunga. Will this inordinate delay continue further with regard to those murders? If that happens the scribes may begin to lose faith in the post war free period that is heralding a new Sri Lanka. What is the current position on these issues?

Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene : We have resolved several issues pertaining to assault and attacks on journalists.(The minister calls for a file containing the minutes of the proceedings of a Committee that Investigates Attacks on Journalists that meet at the BMICH on a regular basis). Here, the case against the Lakbima journalist is settled with both parties agreeing to a compromise in court. Then the attack on Sirasa TV media crew was determined in court and compensation awarded….

Asian Tribune: May I interject to ask you about the murders…

Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene : Yes…. let me be frank…. most of those murders have been committed using the facility of mobile phones or telephone booths, the investigators say. Therefore, when such a method is adopted to murder people, the process is much complicated, the police say. And it takes time to probe such methods. I am confident that the investigators will soon come to conclusions on those murders. Also, we cannot divulge all details found by investigators. Its’ not fair by the Police as divulging information prematurely may hinder their investigations. I trust that all those incidents will be concluded at the earliest.

Asian Tribune: Finally Mr. Minister, war is over, now peace is there and as you say 100 per cent democracy prevails…How do you see the future of the Media in such a bright atmosphere?

Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene : Now its’ development time… and no room for gun culture, under world kingpins, drug peddlers and illegally armed gangs. The President has directed the Police to crackdown on those segments and it is already happening I can say. So the media has nothing to worry.There will be no clashes between media and law enforcement authorities. Now its’ an era devoid of any type of clashes. I invite the Media in this new era to be partners in the pathway to nation’s development, to herald a New Sri Lanka.

- Asian Tribune -