Sri Lanka attacks “bad” war reporting
June 5th, 2008
by Alan Johnston
[BBC, South Asia Desk]
The Sri Lankan Defence Ministry has launched a bitter attack on what it says is irresponsible media analysis of military affairs and the progress of the war in the north of the island.
The Ministry, in a statement on its website, vowed to take action to stop what it called this “journalistic treachery”.
As Alan Johnston of our South Asia desk reports, the statement has been condemned in the strongest terms by media freedom activists.
The Defence Ministry’s message to the media stresses that Sri Lanka is at war. Its forces are engaged, it says, in the noble cause of liberating the country from the clutches of terrorism.
The statement says that those who undermine public support for that mission by making false allegations give aid to the terrorists.
According to the Ministry, only military officers are qualified to analyse military matters, and it attacks what it calls doomsayers and reporters who write inane comments.
It says that “traitors” in the press will be exposed.
Dire climate
The Paris-based watchdog, Reporters Without Borders has described the statement as very threatening, and part of a policy of intimidation.
It says that it opens the way to further restrictions and pressure on defence correspondents in particular, in what is already a dire climate for media freedom.
One leading commentator on military matters was recently abducted and beaten in unexplained circumstances. Another has ceased writing his weekly column. All this comes against a background of almost daily, fierce clashes between the army and the Tamil Tigers.
The military has pledged to defeat the rebels by the end of the year. It’s under pressure and clearly extremely sensitive to any criticism of the way that the war is being conducted. [Sandeshaya]
Entry Filed under: Courtesy: BBC News
3 Comments Add your own
1. R.G | June 5th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
KEITH NOYR, TISSANAYKAM ETC,ETC SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
2. ilaya seran senguttuvan | June 5th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
The language used by the Defence Ministry lacks the grace and niceties required. The knee-jerk reactions of GoSLeven to minor and warranted criticsm only goes to strengthen the widely held belief MR’s gang are in their last lap.
The wimpish Ranil W and the utterly dis-organised UNP will not bring in the change. The people -utterly frustrated, faminish,
unable to meet the increasing cost of transport - will get into the streets like in Corazon Acquino’s Phillipines and throw these set of usurpers out.
3. Devinda Fernando | June 6th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Freedom of Speech is not Absolute. Misinformation, False scare stories, and outright Lies by Politico-Journalists cost lives on the Battle front. Journalists have a responsibility to report the truth and to put it into context for the people. They are responsible for remaining Neutral and Objective. If they engage in using their position as a way to spew their Political agenda, especially if that agenda provides Support to the enemy then they have now ceased to be Journalists and become participants in Combat and therefore are now not subject to any protect. One does not have to carry a weapon into battle to be a participant. If you pick sides you are without a doubt a combatant. Thus you are now in Harms way.
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