Sri Lankan attorney general assures exiled journalists
Sourece: The Committee to Protect Journalists
Colombo, March 10, 2010—In a meeting with a CPJ delegation today, Sri Lankan Attorney General Mohan Peiris said he was prepared to offer protection to any of the nation’s journalists who return to the country from exile.
"Speaking for myself, and I’m fairly sure the government will back me up on this, there is no question that the government needs our journalists,” Peiris told the delegation in his office. “They must come back and work with us and help set up the structures so that we can work together and we can respect each other. We must work with these institutions because we need them. We know if they stay outside and attack the government that is not useful.”
When asked if the government would ensure their safety, Peries said, “Of course, if they come back, there must be assurance on our part that they won’t come to any harm.”
Pereis made the statements to CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney and Asia Program Coordinator Bob Dietz. The meeting came near the end of a series of discussions CPJ had with Sri Lankan journalists in Colombo and Jaffna to assess the situation for reporters following presidential elections in January and before April’s parliamentary voting.
The January voting resulted in a landslide victory for incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Post-election disputes saw the arrest of the chief opposition candidate, former general Sareth Fonseka, who is being held as the government prepares charges against him and many of his supporters.
“The attorney general’s appeal to journalists to return from exile is just a first step,” said Mahoney. “The government must go further by taking concrete action to address the climate of impunity and intimidation that prompted them to flee in the first place.”
Sri Lankan journalists told CPJ about growing harassment from the government. Sri Lankan journalism is noted for its high degree of partisanship, and most media sided clearly with either Rajapaksa or Fonseka. State media heavily favored the incumbent, and staff at some state-owned media protested the violation of neutrality. Independent media chose to back one candidate, with few remaining neutral.
“Many journalists with whom we met in Colombo are very open about their fears of retribution from the government after the presidential elections, and they worry about what will come after the parliamentary elections in April,” Dietz said. “Attacks, threats, and disappearances have led many of them to consider leaving the country, and many others already have. Attorney General Peiris should extend a promise of protection to those who are still in the country as well as those who are in exile.”
The January 24 disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda, a political reporter for Lanka eNews, an opposition, pro-Fonseka Web site, remains unresolved. Ekneligoda’s wife, Sandhya, has repeatedly written to authorities, including President Rajapaksa, pleading for news of her husband’s whereabouts. The Sinhala-language opposition weekly Lanka’s editor, Chandana Sirimalwatte, was arrested on January 29, held for 19 days, and released with no charges brought against him. Earlier this week, Sandurwan Senadeera, Lanka eNews’ owner and editor, left the country after repeated threats on his life. CPJ estimates there are more than 15 Sri Lankan journalists who are now in exile, having fled to country in fear of their safety.
Sri Lanka ranks fourth, behind Iraq, Somalia, and Sierra Leone, on CPJ’s Global Impunity Index, a ranking of countries where journalists are murdered regularly and the killers go free. The country ranks 13th on CPJ’s database of journalists killed. A 2009 CPJ report, “Failure to Investigate,” reported on the history of attacks on journalists and the government’s failure to bring any prosecutions or convictions in any of the cases.
9 Comments
leave the protection.
What is his reply to my question.
How did the body of Mr. Sivaram, who was abducted in Bambalaititya, came near Parliament, which is in the most high security Zone.
Come back into my embrace and work with me so that you cant attack me seems to be what he is saaying. What about Ekneligoda, cant you find him sir?
The Attorney General’s call is a good sign, but raises many other questions. What is he going to do for those lost their life in this country? How is he going to get the just for those? Who is going to be punished for such crimes? Has he initiated any action in the legal system to address these issues? If he does not have any answer to the above questions then his call is in vein.
Is anybody willing to bite the bait?
Peiris used to be an authority in how to enforce the law. Since he's a part of the GoSL he switched sides and intentions. Now he seems to be the expert in how to twist and mock laws so they fit his masters sinister plans in building a family based, pseudo-democratic regime. As long as he is unable to present the murders of Lasantha, as long as he cannot/ will not tell the whereabouts of Prageeth Ekneligoda his words are hollow. Embrace your enemies to control them, that is what Peiris is saying.
In the end Peiris, with this remark, is a good example for the fact, that lies will always bounce back on to the liar's face. He admitted two things: 1. that there are journalists leaving the land, because not only do they feel threatened they are actually being threatened. 2. What kind of states have to give assurance to journalists, that the won't be harmed while doing their work? If Sri Lanka were a true democracy measures like that would not be necessary.
Anywhere else in the civilised world an assurance from the AG will be good enough. But here the game is played differently - by different playerws at the top who move instinctively - often sans ryhme or reason.
Our Journos are street-wise to take this assurance - made clearly to appease the global media and community in this Geneva visit - with just that pinch of ssalt - with all due respect to the affable Mohan Peiris.
ISS
As Sir john said the dogs have been let out out of the cages so what now we can pratice democrazy we had UNCLE NEPHEW PARTY then we had Bandaranayke dynasty and now we have Rajapakse dynasty Enjoy it while it lasts who knows our white knight may be the chinese no no perhaps the Indian Raj no no or may be the Iranians
we deserve the government we vote for stop complaining and go and do your work
Nathen
First, the Attorney General should work on the government to genuinely investigate every single attack on the journalists these past 4 years. He must spearhead the move to bring all the culprits including Mervyn Silva and his cohorts to book.
The latest trend is for the Defence Secretary to point fingers at Sarath Fonseka for many of the despicable attacks on journalists and attempt to extricate himself and the MR regime from those atrocities. The Attorney General should initiate the campaign on holding the government accountable for all those attacks, and locate Prageeth Ekneligoda or find and punish those responsible for his disappearance. Then those who are in exile would voluntarily return - confident that their efforts to protect freedom of expression would not be quelled with brute force.
Would you do that, Mr. Attorney General?
I have known the present Attorney General for yonks, we were educated at the same catholic boys college, were good mates till he joinrd Royal College.
I also knew his wife, a lovely lady, who is also a lawyer.
He has done well for himself, climbed the ladder on merit till he allowed himself to be made a political appointee, now gyrating to the tunes of his political masters.
The assurances that he has given are welcome not only to the exiled journalists, it should also be applicable to the common man and woman, he should brush aside his official position and endeavour to bring relief to the numerous persons who have had the pleasure of being driven away in white vans or who are being incaserated without justice being meted out to them.
This gentlement, who has had the misfortunate of having had his only child robbed from his and his wifw's midst due to illness, is very well aware of the misery that the dissapearence or loss of a beloved can incur.
Hopefully he means well, is sincere in what he has uttered and is not being a party to satisfy his boss from having to face an UN investigation etc etc. A j.