Contradictory Positions on Media Freedon Encourage Impunity
May 30th, 2008
Statement by National Peace Council of Sri Lanka:
The silencing of journalists by killing and intimidating them has become a major problem in Sri Lanka. The National Peace Council condemns the killing of Paranirupasingam Devakumar who is the ninth journalist to be killed in the past two years. We are appalled at the brutal manner of his death by waylaying him as he was traveling and hacking him to death. This killing comes soon after the brutal assault and torture of senior journalist Keith Noyahr in Colombo.
International experience has shown that a key component of any political solution is its acceptance by the people of the country. It through public awareness creation, in which the media plays a central role, that the people’s mandate for a sustainable political solution can be found. The National Peace Council notes that the government continues to stand by the position that it is for a political solution to the ethnic conflict and the ongoing military operations are meant to facilitate that political solution.
In this context, the killing of Paranirupasingam Devakumar, who worked for a national television network in Jaffna will be a further constraint on the free flow of information from the war zones of the north. We reiterate our concern about the continued incarceration of senior journalist J S Tissaianayagam, whose arrest and detention now continues into its third month without charges being made against him in a court of law.
We are perturbed by statements made by senior Defence Ministry officials that the military and its leadership should not be criticized by the media and that journalists working for the state controlled media had no right to criticize the government. While welcoming the Media Minister’s statement that this is not government policy, we ask the government to ensure a unified media policy as contradictory statements may be taken by various groups as a further license to behave with impunity towards the media.
The National Peace Council expresses solidarity with those journalists who are courageously committed to revealing realities from the ground and to risking their lives in the service of truth. We express our admiration of the willingness of media personnel to continue their work in the face of such fatal risks. We call on the government to put in place protection mechanisms that would ensure the safety of journalists in Sri Lanka and the right of citizens to access a diverse media that provides free and accurate reporting on national affairs.
Media Director
On behalf of the Governing Council
National Peace Council of Sri Lanka
Entry Filed under: NPC, Press Statement
8 Comments Add your own
1. aratai | May 30th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
We call upon the government …..
We call upon the government…..
Is there anyone listening?
2. David | May 30th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Three brothers rule the country..Eternal war is in progress without any diplomatic effort. An armed bandit is elected as the chief minister of East. Tamils and Muslims are voiceless. Christian persecution is on the rise. Journalists are being killed or mauled every day. NGOs are refused entry.Corruption is boundless.THIS IS OUR SRILANKA.
3. Shan | May 31st, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Is it all Govt to blame ? what about the Tigers. .They killed the latest one in Jafffna, why only the Govt ? The ones that are reporting the truth. will be safe only if true democracy is acheived..
4. Indian Tamil | May 31st, 2008 at 9:09 pm
the leaders like Thondaman are more keen on ministry posts than the welfare of upcountry “citizens”. The education is virtually stagnant. Heathcare is hopeless.living standards are below the rest of the country.
5. Kinglsley | June 2nd, 2008 at 5:24 am
Thondaman? Last heard of him…..wait a minute..was when he made a big fuss and crawled back to government side…
6. samuel | June 2nd, 2008 at 9:43 am
Killings of journalists commenced as far back as during Chandrika K ‘ s presidency – Rohana Kumara, editor of Satana was alleggedly shot dead by Amarasinghe Dhananjaya Perera a.k.a
‘Baddegana Sanjeewa’ of the Prime Ministerial Security ( PSD ) division.
Subsequently, many journalists have been killed.
This is one of many methods by which Lankan Regimes suppress dissent & dissemination of truth.
Now, tamil journalists are an ‘especially endangered’ species.
This is part of the State Terrorism which props up the Lankan State.
Appeals like these, even by international media organisations are simply ignored.
There is no remedy except by international bodies like the UN.
7. Devinda Fernando | June 4th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
** Now, tamil journalists are an ‘especially endangered’ species. ***
Yes, they certainly are… You can’t find Tamil Journalists (you know – those objective professionals who report the News!) you only find LTTE supporters and Sympathizer Tamils using the the Journalism Guise to further their Politcal Agenda of Separatism…
LTTE killed off and shut up the Real Tamil Journalists a long time ago…
8. KINGSLEY | June 8th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Someone said “true democracy”? Just give me an example of true democracy. “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute-conversation with the average voter” – Winston Churchil.
Voter? who is a voter in Sri Lanka? The constitution provides that we can rig and vote ourselves into power thanks to JRJ.
MR got the full benefit of it. RW is dreaming on it!
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