“Just few weeks ago, when a top terrorist identified as Muththusami Ilankoowan who is a close associate of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and owns a shipping line which he uses to promote the LTTE’s cross-border terrorist activities was arrested in Colombo, a media group operating from Colombo interpreted the arrest as an illegal abduction and as a case of disappearance ignoring the clarification made by the Police. This media group, widely known as ‘ Koti Nalikawa’ ( Tiger Channel) is allowed to express views and news freely, compromising the national security.”_______________________________
by S. Akurugoda in Melbourne
(March 12, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) The President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a public rally held in Ratnapura, said that ‘some sections of the media were attacking him and the government claiming that it was curbing media freedom, but in fact, these media institutions were speaking for the LTTE’. He requested the media not to betray the government in that manner and assured that he would never kneel down before the foreign countries.
by S. Akurugoda in Melbourne
(March 12, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) The President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a public rally held in Ratnapura, said that ‘some sections of the media were attacking him and the government claiming that it was curbing media freedom, but in fact, these media institutions were speaking for the LTTE’. He requested the media not to betray the government in that manner and assured that he would never kneel down before the foreign countries.
Allegations against the misuse of media freedom by the media institutions and counter allegations against curbing media were not new to us in Sri Lanka. The allegations against the misuse of media freedom were at its peak in nineteen sixties and seventies. The very few printed media institutions available during that period were seen playing a considerable role when forming and breaking governments. Even the toppling of the government of Mrs Bandaranayke in 1964 was said to be planned and executed by a well known media giant. Sealing of media institutions and press censorships (by both the SLFP and UNP governments), take over of Lake House etc could be cited by others as attempts by the governments to curb media freedom.
Although JRJ led UNP was vociferous when the Lake House was taken over in early seventies, the subsequent UNP government continued to keep the Lake House group under its control. In addition, beating opponents with bicycle chains, disappearance, thuggery, an underworld etc was introduced with the full patronage of the highest level to suppress the freedom of expression. Since then, the freedom of expression was at its lowest until mid nineteen nineties. With the beginning of electronic media, the government control over the media gradually disappeared, probably due to ineffectiveness of any form of censorship.
There should not be any argument as to the existence of freedom of expression in a democratic society. However, the obvious question that arises from the Presidents above statement is, ‘are we expecting to compromise the security of the country, as a whole, against those who write or telecast something or call themselves media personalities and either engage in terrorist activities or support such activities?
Just few weeks ago, when a top terrorist identified as Muththusami Ilankoowan who is a close associate of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and owns a shipping line which he uses to promote the LTTE’s cross-border terrorist activities was arrested in Colombo, a media group operating from Colombo interpreted the arrest as an illegal abduction and as a case of disappearance ignoring the clarification made by the Police. This media group, widely known as ‘ Koti Nalikawa’ ( Tiger Channel) is allowed to express views and news freely, compromising the national security.
This is not the first time that incidents of treacherous acts of some of the media groups were reported. A year ago, February 2007, when the security forces arrested three Sinhala LTTE terrorists in Colombo with strong evidence of proving their links to the LTTE with a haul of arms and ammunition in their possession, so-called free media personalities attempted to manipulate the situation as a case of abduction and human rights violation to discredit the government, just because the men arrested have had some connection with a trade union paper.
We also read about cases of printing of vital information in newspapers published by notable media personalities, which were useful to the terrorist outfit and risking the lives of security personal, VIPs and above all the innocent civilians.
The very same anti-government media groups, with the full blessings of the power hungry parliamentarians, made a big fuss about a MIG deal, just to discredit the government few months ago. When the Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara told the parliament that a parliament select committee to inquire into the alleged MIG deal was not appointed as there was no substantial evidence to initiate a select for an inquiry, the said treacherous groups have become comedians of the day and their true nature was exposed.
Apart from the support providing to the terrorist outfit, directly or indirectly, the almost irreversible damage causing to Sinhala language and its cultural values by some of the media groups is enormous and needs attention of the relevant authorities as a priority. Telecasting of cruelty, murder and other social maniac to the viewers including younger generation by the irresponsible media institutions without control or rating is sickening to say the least.
Although prominence is given to the peace lobbying groups in their publications, probably to reach out to wider audience including the so-called international community, we are fortunate to have the support of at least one or two printing media groups to voice against the terrorism. Otherwise, considering the amount of machineries available to speak on behalf of the LTTE (both in and outside Sri Lanka), the country would have been partitioned long ago due to unopposed one-sided views and news.
‘Low is second to policy in fight against terrorism, although the responses must be lawful’ is the right answer to those who attempt to put pressure on the government on various types of freedoms and rights at a time when the country is fighting against one of the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world and its well established propaganda machinery. When fighting terrorism, the methods of the terrorists have to be matched and the terrorists should be hunted to their hideouts, wherever they may be, irrespective of their status.
Although JRJ led UNP was vociferous when the Lake House was taken over in early seventies, the subsequent UNP government continued to keep the Lake House group under its control. In addition, beating opponents with bicycle chains, disappearance, thuggery, an underworld etc was introduced with the full patronage of the highest level to suppress the freedom of expression. Since then, the freedom of expression was at its lowest until mid nineteen nineties. With the beginning of electronic media, the government control over the media gradually disappeared, probably due to ineffectiveness of any form of censorship.
There should not be any argument as to the existence of freedom of expression in a democratic society. However, the obvious question that arises from the Presidents above statement is, ‘are we expecting to compromise the security of the country, as a whole, against those who write or telecast something or call themselves media personalities and either engage in terrorist activities or support such activities?
Just few weeks ago, when a top terrorist identified as Muththusami Ilankoowan who is a close associate of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and owns a shipping line which he uses to promote the LTTE’s cross-border terrorist activities was arrested in Colombo, a media group operating from Colombo interpreted the arrest as an illegal abduction and as a case of disappearance ignoring the clarification made by the Police. This media group, widely known as ‘ Koti Nalikawa’ ( Tiger Channel) is allowed to express views and news freely, compromising the national security.
This is not the first time that incidents of treacherous acts of some of the media groups were reported. A year ago, February 2007, when the security forces arrested three Sinhala LTTE terrorists in Colombo with strong evidence of proving their links to the LTTE with a haul of arms and ammunition in their possession, so-called free media personalities attempted to manipulate the situation as a case of abduction and human rights violation to discredit the government, just because the men arrested have had some connection with a trade union paper.
We also read about cases of printing of vital information in newspapers published by notable media personalities, which were useful to the terrorist outfit and risking the lives of security personal, VIPs and above all the innocent civilians.
The very same anti-government media groups, with the full blessings of the power hungry parliamentarians, made a big fuss about a MIG deal, just to discredit the government few months ago. When the Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara told the parliament that a parliament select committee to inquire into the alleged MIG deal was not appointed as there was no substantial evidence to initiate a select for an inquiry, the said treacherous groups have become comedians of the day and their true nature was exposed.
Apart from the support providing to the terrorist outfit, directly or indirectly, the almost irreversible damage causing to Sinhala language and its cultural values by some of the media groups is enormous and needs attention of the relevant authorities as a priority. Telecasting of cruelty, murder and other social maniac to the viewers including younger generation by the irresponsible media institutions without control or rating is sickening to say the least.
Although prominence is given to the peace lobbying groups in their publications, probably to reach out to wider audience including the so-called international community, we are fortunate to have the support of at least one or two printing media groups to voice against the terrorism. Otherwise, considering the amount of machineries available to speak on behalf of the LTTE (both in and outside Sri Lanka), the country would have been partitioned long ago due to unopposed one-sided views and news.
‘Low is second to policy in fight against terrorism, although the responses must be lawful’ is the right answer to those who attempt to put pressure on the government on various types of freedoms and rights at a time when the country is fighting against one of the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world and its well established propaganda machinery. When fighting terrorism, the methods of the terrorists have to be matched and the terrorists should be hunted to their hideouts, wherever they may be, irrespective of their status.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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