Victor Ivan’s whistle-blowing sends Deshapriya to Chennai

Comment by Azad Mohomad in Chennai

(February 10, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) No sooner had we published Victor Ivan's account of Sunanda Deshapriya's dance of the seven veils, and everybody and his brother seemed staggered by the apparent defalcations, the great hero of free media decamped, of all places, to Chennai, from where he wrote the piece reproduced here as it appeared in Tarun J.Tejpal's 'Tehelka.'

Questions, questions. How did Deshapriya get an Indian entry visa in a flash? And why did he choose Chennai? Did he do the Tiger boat ride there, which may not surprise anyone considering his links with the CPA, however reluctantly removed?

We have invited Victor Ivan to say his aught. Meanwhile, the daring Deshapriya has returned to his other freedom, after having exercised his freedom to dip his hand in somebody else's till.

Here is the full text of the column by Deshapriya written as a journalist in exile in Chennai,

The Truth Here Is One-Sided
Sri Lanka's journalists are under pressure from their government to toe the official line
SUNANDA DESHPRIYA
Journalist

SRI LANKA is among the most dangerous places in the world for a journalist. During the last three years, the media has come under unprecedented pressure. Journalists have been killed, abducted, assaulted, arrested and labelled as traitors. Media institutions were forced to close down, set on fire, and branded anti-national.

Since 2006, 18 journalists and media workers have been killed. The majority of journalists killed had been Jaffna-based Tamils. The most recent case was last month, when Lasantha Wikramatunga, editor of the Sunday Leader, was killed in broad daylight. Last month saw increased pressure on the Sri Lankan media. On January 6, petrol bombs had been hurled at the popular television and radio station MTV/MBC network. Two days later, a gang had entered the station and set it on fire after destroying the control room. Two days later, Wikramatunga was killed.

Within a week, Keheliya Rambukwela, the spokesperson for national security, named both Sunday Leader and MBC as media institutions that didn't heed government advice on reporting defence-related matters. Media activists who spoke out against these attacks received death threats, and gangs visited their homes. Two weeks later, Upali Tennakoon, Editor of the Rivira Sinhala Weekly, was attacked. He survived as his wife covered him with her body.

On January 10, the website Lankadissent.com voluntarily closed its operations. In its last editorial it said, "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, goodbye!" In the wake of these attacks, at least 11 senior journalists left the country, seven of them for India. Since the beginning of 2006, more than 30 journalists have left the country.

In his first address to the nation in December 2005, President Mahinda Rajapaksa made it clear that the media had to take its side against the war with the LTTE. The government has not left any room for ambiguity. The message to the messenger was clear: there was one truth in the war against terror and that was, the one that came from the official Media Center for National Security (MCNS) and like institutions.

In 2006, the government requested for media self-censorship. In a letter to the media, the Ministry of Defence appealed: "Please be advised that any news gathered by your institution through your own sources with regard to national security and defence should be subjected to clarification and confirmation from the MCNS in order to ensure that correct information is published, telecast or broadcast."

Finally, in October 2007, the government put out a gazette prohibiting news reporting on proposed military operations. It was illegal to report material "which pertains to any proposed operations or military activity as well as plans to buy equipment for security forces or the police." Under the terms of those regulations, editors could be jailed for up to five years. But due to strong opposition, the government backed down.

The systematic silencing of the Tamil media has been a grave indicator of the deteriorating space for freedom of expression. Tamil journalists, especially in the north and east, have been subjected to intimidation and harassment on a daily basis by security forces and armed groups. Certain Tamil newspapers, particularly in the east, have been set on fire and distributors prevented from selling them. Newspaper offices have been looted, burnt, vandalised and bombed.

Since 2006, the Tamil-populated Jaffna peninsula has become a nightmare for journalists, human rights activists and civilians in general. Murders, kidnappings, threats and censorship have made Jaffna one of the world's most dangerous places for journalists to work. At least 11 media workers, including three journalists, have been killed in the Northern Province since May 2006. Three media workers are missing, including a journalist.

OVER THE past three years, army officers have summoned Jaffna-based Tamil media chiefs several times to order censorship of certain events such as the speeches made by LTTE leader V Prabakaran, the students' strike, kidnappings, and other matters the army would prefer not reported. This puts the Tamil media in an impossible situation, because the LTTE demands they cover such topics. More than 20 journalists have been arrested all over Sri Lanka, the majority of them Tamils. Four Tamil women journalists were taken into custody under emergency regulations. All were branded LTTE supporters and suicide bombers. Well-known Tamil journalist J Tissainayagam, trainee journalist, V Walarmathi, and her husband, V Jasiharan, were arrested and charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

During 2008, press bodies in Sri Lanka have documented, that two journalists were killed, 50 were threatened with death or grave physical harm, one case of a journalist being abducted by unidentified persons and subjected to serious mental and physical torture, 16 were attacked by unidentified assailants, and 12 were detained. Three cases of media facilities, such as delivery vans, were attacked or raided, including one case of arson that completely destroyed the office of a Colombo-based newspaper. There are dozens of instances of verbal abuse of journalists by name or of the profession in a generic sense, including the official website of the Defence Ministry naming some media and journalists as supporters of the LTTE. There are 18 cases of journalists seeking exile or voluntary displacement within the country because of threats to their lives.

When the authorities sworn to upholding the fundamental rights of all citizens effectively declare war against journalism, it becomes a profession impossible to pursue. Journalists' organisations have demanded:

• immediate halt to all threats, abductions and attacks against media practitioners and outlets currently being perpetrated by all parties to the conflict;

• transparent and timely investigations into the murder of media practitioners;

• halt the irresponsible practice of publicly vilifying media practitioners;

• reverse action already undertaken that restricts freedom of expression and refrain from any moves to introduce any form of direct or indirect censorship

Today Sri Lanka is at the crossroads. The LTTE will soon cease to exist as a military force. The Sri Lankan military will establish its dominance in the north and east. Yet, it is too early to predict where it is heading. The right to dissent and free speech are not on the political-military agenda at this juncture and will have to wait. The question is, for how long? And also, can the journalists afford to wait?

Deshpriya is a Sri Lankan journalist living in exile in Chennai

From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 6, Issue 6, Dated Feb 14, 2009

-Sri Lanka Guardian