Re Vidyatharan's arrest, Gothabaya TELLS that he is a terrorist even before he is charged of any crimes.

I can see the good governance of the institution crumbling...

My conclusion is that Gothabaya has placed Sri Lanka on the fast track to become a pariyah state.

There were many allegations against the LTTE by the Tamils who are cornered in Puthukuyiruppu. Some of them are such as shoooting those who tried to escape, throwing the injured out of the UN truck and denying food to those who tried to escape. Now I heard a new one; cutting the leg of the man who tried to escape in order to instill fear in the minds of the other Tamils who tried to escape.

It is still fresh in my memory of the amputation of the voting finger of the man who voted against Rajapakse. This was done openly by the LTTE immediately after the elections in Jaffna playgrounds to instill fear in the minds of the future voters of Tamil Eelam.

I congratulate the reporter for his balanced reporting and hope this would give the sinhalease the opertunity to see the other side of the storey.

Is this the kind of democracy the Sri Lankan Ambassador to UN -Dayan Jayatillake- represent?
Dayan, are you listening? Is this a tiger propaganda?
You want to get a DeLon rap for this to counter?
Please stop the war and negotiate with the tigers now.
Otherwise it will be too late for you to stop the formation of an independent tamil eelam in 2009.
Which people like you and "Ram" of The Hindu said was the pipe dream of pirapaharan!
Looks like it never was.

Thnaks SBS for bringing the truth. Thanks Gotabaya for showing their true colours.

The College of Journalism

Expert advice on impartiality, neutrality, accuracy and the right use of language in mass-media.

The Word 'Terrorist'

Use of the word 'terrorist' has become a very controversial issue in the media. The media has constantly avoided using the word 'terrorist' to introduce an organisation or a group. Rebel or insurgent are seen as more neutral terms.

Writing for the media

When writing for the media it is important to be impartial. A listener should not feel that the presenter is being partial.
The writing has to be clear and easily understood. Many people rely on us for impartial coverage of events.
It is extremely important that trust is not broken.

Writing for radio

It is extremely important to write very clearly when you write for radio because people only hear the broadcast once.

If we write complicated sentences and use difficult words, we might lose some of the information we are trying to convey to ouraudience.

It is important to be concise and to try to tell stories in two or three simple sentences rather than using long sentences containingcomplicated vocabulary.

We also need to make sure that we have a complete understanding of a story before starting to write it. In the long run, it does not save time to dash ahead before you are ready.

Translations

Translating is an important part of what we do. Translations need to be done in an organised and systematic manner.

The translator must carefully study the content and then translate the concept, rather than doing a 'word for word' translation.

If the translator is careless he can do a significant damage to the content by sending an incomplete or inaccurate message.

Pronunciation

On radio, if you pronounce something incorrectly a lot of the meaning of what you intended to say is lost.
A good presenter always takes great care to check how everything is pronounced.

A strong accent should not deter people from becoming presenters, as long as they are aware that they need to make sure that they are properly pronouncing each word.
Also, it is a primary duty, often dangerously neglected nowadays, to listen to your work as it goes out.
Without listening and evaluating your product you will neither develop your skills nor build a proper critical faculty.

Points of view

A journalist can hold very strong views in private but they should always take extreme care to be impartial when they are reporting.

A good broadcaster must leave their own views aside when they get in front of a microphone.

However, journalists are allowed to deliver 'professional judgements' - impartial conclusions drawn after carefully presenting all arguments surrounding a certain situation or event.

Experts' advice

In this film, the media special correspondent Allan Little sets out his approach to writing clearly and authoritatively for radio.

There are, he says, two essentials: have something to say; and say it simply and in plain English.

And as Allan shows, if you want to write well, you need to read and think about the language of all that you read; what works, what doesn't.

Be clear, too, about what it is you're trying to achieve: telling a story, evoking atmosphere, explaining something complex. Each has its own style.

In this land of the most compassionate Lord Buddha…..

Sinhala Buddhists who believe this land belongs to the most compassionate Lord Buddha and constitutionally calls it the "Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka", sing with pride "In wisdom and strength renewed / Ill-will, hatred, strife all ended / In love enfolded, a mighty nation / Marching onward, all as one / Lead us, Mother, to fullest freedom." as their National Anthem.

And….. in this compassionate, democratic Buddhist land enfolded with love, in wisdom and fullest freedom, media is forbidden to raise a dissenting voice. Media is forbidden to criticise the "law" of the ruling regime. The media is forbidden to speak for the people.

Many who thought they as the media have a right to freedom of expression, they have a right to information, that the people also have the same right and that it is a fundamental right in a modern civilised society, have been told very bluntly and at times most brutally, that it isn't so in this land of the compassionate, democratic republic, run by a "patriotic" regime.

The Tamil media in the North were the first to have been told this bluntly and ruthlessly while the Colombo media did not want those dissenting voices in the North, heard elsewhere. They had to learn that lesson, first hand.

And….that was a lesson learnt by some, who are not with us to tell their story. That is a lesson learnt by some, who don't have the right to say it, because they have a right to live some time more. For a lot, it was their station "Sirasa" that went ablaze with that lesson. It was their station that was smashed and set on fire to teach a lesson.

For Lasantha Wickramatunge, an editor with a passion for uncompromising media professionalism, it was a challenge to face. A challenge he never minced words, in meeting. He had his own aggressive style in meeting the challenge. Admired and respected but left alone without political backing.

And….. he, therefore, could not surmount this challenge, all by himself.

A lesson learnt, that needs no repeats to learn. This compassionate Sinhala Buddhist land does not tolerate "dissent". Those who would not want to learn that living, would have to learn that in death. We who live, would come back when "dissent" comes back as a democratic right, accepted and enjoyed in a modern land of compassion.

Till then, good bye!

Editorial Board
Lankadissent

This last comment under the name "Editorial board", Lankadissent, by Sammy intrigues me. I am not a Sinhala Buddhist but an atheist who was born a Catholic with Burgher-Tamil roots. However, I feel uneasy by what Samy has written. He/She is using the words "Sinhala Buddhist" in the same way that some white supremacists use the word "Negro", i.e., as a hate label. Does Samy and the editorial board of Lankadissent think that all "SinhalaBuddhists" HAVE ONE MONOLITHIC POINT OF VIEW? Does Samy know that in the 2005 presidential elections, some 49% voted for Ranil Wickremasinghe who was perceived to be not "sinhalabuddhist" in the sense that Samy is bludgeoning the words? Does Samy know that religions have co-existed in this country for countless centuries, while that was not the case in Europe? Does Samy know that most of the 20th century was a battle against the Christian-Aryan view directed against the Jewish view? Does Samy know that leftist secular politics has been a very strong feature of Sri Lankan politics? So, I can conclude that the mindset of the "Lankadissent" editorial board is in fact as fascist and as ignoble as the "SinhalBuddhist" label that Samy is trying to condemn. It is just the kettle calling the pot black. What ever Samy wanted to say (presumably from the point of view of freedom for political dissent) has lost all credibility because of what is revealed in his letter. If Samy were in power, he/she too would act exactly as the authoritarian individuals she/he is trying to condemn. I hope "Samy" is not a short form for "Samuel". He should go to the old testament and re-read Samuel to understand a little bit of the Abrahamic mentality that is perhaps an unknown undercurrent in Samy's thinking?

I know this comment will be posted without moderation, if freedom of speech exists!!!

My thanks to Amos Roberts of SBS Dateline for the video footage of SriLanka.

It would have been a pleasure(how distasteful it might be)if he could produce the barbaric acts of the tamil tigers this SriLankan government is fighting against.

That would amount to a balanced investigative journalism. The above video paints a picture where gov of SriLanka is terrorising tamils on the suspicion of collaborating with peaceful freedom fighters called 'tamil tigers'.

I think that is what the defence secretary of Srilanka was talking about.

Thank you SBS for bring the true story about Sri Lankan "STATE TERROR" to the outside world. Gotabaya's body language tells his true nature. Atleast the sinhalese who were "deaf,dumb and blind" will wake up and realise how they were brain washed and fooled by the murderous regime!!

It is obvious why Vithyatharan is abducted and is being held without any charges!! The crime he committed is showing the brutality of the STATE TERROR. What are the International Community waiting for? Are they going to wait till all the Tamils are killed?

I do not agree with Gotabayas approachin this case.He act just like Hitler or his commanders.( Even though they had some kind of dicipline)My question is who gave Gotabaya power to arrest people and givng a judgments without a trial?This is very dangeoreous trend.We need a solution for terrorism and war,however no one has a authority to undermine existing laws in the country.If it is so..what is the difference between Prabhakaran and Gotabaya? Gotabaya has not given any mandate by the people.Dont forget that power is a temporary one..it cannot cover all the sins made by humans!Sri lankan Govt. officials are paid by its citizens,Be fair to all communities in the country!

The interview with GR gives a clue to the owners
of this "White-van" and who directs it, without any
doubt.
How about A Dial-in for a White-Van, to improve
and expand your services. I can suggest a No. !!

I was seriously disturbed about the plight of the people too. But then if the security is loosened, LTTE will exploit the situation as usual. The cycle of terror will keep turning. To break the cycle of violence permanently is there someone who know an alternative? How many chances were Tamils given to bring LTTE to peace. Many 'genocide' marches was there any Tamils who demanded LTTE stop violence? Most of you looked the other way for 3 decades in the face of brutal violence, child soldiers and suicide bombing. Why are you worried about human rights now? Everyone knows how you operate. You lost your credibility ages ago.

Gothabaya equates himself and his brother's government in par with terrorism, but the International community is still kind to them and let them kill Tamils, media etc. why? are they trying to test new theories of eliminating Al Kaida etc, by having a trial run on killing the people (who are not white) at less cost? Even if this test fails, the only implication is to Sinhalese Army, who are also not white. When Georgia Vs Russia is conflict occurred last year, did the UN and IC waited until 2000 people get killed,??? They let Muslims die in Bosnia and Gaza, is this the covert racism by international community, and UN?

A good question but my answer to is yes, it is covert racism. An non white person, or a Muslim is considered less than a human by US and UK governments in the past, hope Obama changes it, but he is the prisoner of the machine too. So hope is just a hope for a time being. Until genuine people wake up and realise UN is a Useless Notion.

It was the SBS dateline which brought the Shadow war while the "CFA" was in place. Again it was this same Gota who was playing the game.

Again they have gone above and Beyond to show the excellence of Journalism.

May be the title can be re written " HUNTING THE DISSENT NOT THE TIGERS"

I fully agree with David. I know there are more than 50% of the Sinhala people who are very sympathetic towards the Tamil cause. Gothabaya and his army Commanders have terrorized lots of people in Sri Lanka not necessary to be from the minority communities but all others, including the Singhalese. By this action he has prevented everyone there from speaking out of their minds on this issue. When you are silent in your behavior the ruthless regime of Mahinda and co, thought all the people are with them and support their inhumane actions. If anybody oppose their agenda they are either killed or in imprisoned. Those people who try to fight for truth and justice are branded as terrorist. Example what happen to the chief editor of the Tamil day Mr.Vidyatharan. This man has been arrested, first they said he is been arrested to be quested and then will be released. Now the almighty Gothabaya tells that he is a terrorist even before he is charged before the court of law. Under the universal law a person arrested for any wrong doing is innocent until he is proven guilty by the court of law. How come this Gothabays who was hiding in United States and did not have the guts to stay in the Sir Lanka and serve the people and the country, came back to the country after his brother became the President and got this job become a prosecutor and pass judgment on a person before he is even being tried in the court of law. What happen to our constitution? Where is justice and fair play? This guy was appointed as a Defense Minister by his brother with out the approval of the people of the country.He is not even an elected Member of Parliament. . What is our judicial system doing for this type of utterance from and idiot who has no power other then hiding behind his brother’s sarong. Gotha do not worry your will be judged very harshly when the time comes. Only God can save you. It’s time you adorn the yellow robs and join the good monks and ask the Lord Buddha to forgive your sins.

I only see another Western hype and trying to destabilize a poor country in Asia. LTTE is banned organisation in most Western countries yet they operate openly for their couse in these soils. Western World see the LTTE as 'good terrorists' eventhough they killed more people by suicide attack than any other Terrorist organisation. Until change this double moral of Western World we are going to see more bloodshed in Sri Lanka.

I would like to response to Panhinda's comments.

The Tamils under the camps in Vavunia and other places are escaped from the war and some of them are escaped from Tigers. The same mistake taken place over and over in Sri Lanka is failed to win the heart of those people. If the government treat these people this way, government itself create new regime of the LTTE from the people escaped from LTTE.

Most of the people in those camp realized now that they should not escaped and they should stayed in the LTTE area.

Another view of the child soldiers, in the past two months there are 700 children have lost their lives and around 3000 got injured. You cannot deny this, when you see the list of patients taken out by ICRC, you will know how many of them are kids.

When a State government has killed and injured such a huge amount of children, they don’t have a right to speak about the child solders. I am not trying to justify the recruitment of the child. But on the other side, I have seen many counter protest has been taken place by the Sinhalese all around the world. Can you please point out any of those protest has pointed out the other side sufferings.

VJ

Congratulations Gothabaya!

You are indeed a true Sri-Lankan thug!

Even, Idi Amin couldn't have given such a scary interview. Talk about "eye contact" poor Amos, must have shivered while interviewing Gota.

" Ahathin Azhagu Muhathil Theriyum"

Too bad Alfred Hitchcock is dead, otherwise, He could have used this "natural born horror movie actor" for his movies.

Amirtha kali yan; What wxactly is your point?

What is impairing your thinking power?

Re Pariah state on 1st comment i like to say no country would not treat SriLanka(SL) a pariah state. Because India is with SL. India has to be with SL for at least two reasons.One reason is because of China and Pakistan. Other one is India does not like Tamils not because of LTTE. Rajiv murder is a lame excuse.Tamilarvi Maniyan Said not because of Rajiv murder. But from time of Hindhi protest India hates Tamils. So we EelamTamils also suffer. SL fortunate to have India and will never be treated as Pariah state. No change.
Tamilaruvi Maniyan resigned from Soniya Congress recently on Eelam issue.

Thank You for the Report of the Government Terror against the Tamils !!!!

This report brings not only the plight of innocent Tamils but also the Journalist who bring the Truth out to the people.
By killing its own Sinhala reporter Lasantha Wickramatunge, the Lankan Government does not want the world to know about the Truth as to what is happening in SriLanka
Anybody fighting for Eelam are branded as Terrorists and finished off. That's the strategy of the Lankan Government.
By following the Reporter and the refugee in the so called Relief Camp (in Vavuniya) the people are not allowed to express their freedom.
The camp is a TRUE EXAMPLE OF TAMILS BEING TREATED AS THIRD RATE IN THEIR OWN HOMELAND - EELAM.
If its a Relief Camp, why are there Army Soldiers guarding with assualt rifles. ?????
Mahinda and Gotabaya are present age Hitlers.
Atleast now, the International Government and the UN should force the SriLankan goverment to stop shelling/killing innocent Tamils and start the negotiations LTTE for the better of the people.

keep up the great work

The LTTE's greatest asset today must be Gotabaya Rajapakse. They must hope he keeps giving more and more interviews like this to show the world the true face of the current SL administration. It just shows what power does to those without the ability to handle it. Like a mad dog on kasippu he rants, threatens and finger wags at this reporter who is onlhy asking a few innocuous questions, creating just the opposite of whatever impression he is trying to make on world opinion.

I wonder what Colombo sewer we had to dredge in order to find this great "patriot".

It is great to finally see the truth come out. Gothabaya Rajapakse is going to have a lot of explaining to do after this interview, because he's the one who has the blood in his hands and Mahinda Rajapakse is the one who is pouring it onto his hands. If you noticed in this video, the Sinhalese government and soldiers never gave direct answers. The Australian interviewer was asking "Why did you make the decision for the refugees in the camp that they can't leave the camp?" the soldier said they're allowed to. Then when the australian interviewer asked him again he said they can't leave the camp. It is clear that the government is up to something terrible and the rest of the tamil genocide will continue under the very shadow of the rest of the media. We as more fortunate Tamils should help save our Tamil brothers and sisters living in Sri Lanka by raising awareness to the world! I beg you to not stay home and watch the tamil protests on tv. Be apart of the statement of what the Tamil needs are. I am telling you if we keep on protesting and bringing the awareness to our fellow neighbours and friends, We as a people will defeat this injustice that has tortured our parents and grandparents for so many years.