Founder hacked to death in daylight, his successor
sacked; the future of the “Sunday Leader” questioned
| by Nilantha Ilangamuwa
(September 21, 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Here is
an exclusive interview with the former editor-in-chief of the Sunday Leader, Frederica
Jansz just moments after she was forced to resign by the new ownership of the
paper, due to her refusing to accepted new editorial policy.
NI. Frederica, welcome to the Sri Lanka Guardian. Your
services as the editor-in-chief of the Sunday Leader have been terminated as
you refused to change editorial policy to support the government. What did they
(owners) ask you to do? What are the basic points that you cannot stand with?
FJ. The new owner Asanga Seneviratne insisted that the
articles carried in The Sunday Leader are "malicious and rubbish." He
ordered me to stop being critical of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his
family. He also asked me stop carrying cartoons of the President. He then added
to a police complaint made by Sajin Vass Gunewardena, which claimed that a
nutshell carried in The Sunday Leader of September 16 would incite violence
against the President.
Despite my maintaining that the type of journalism
practised at The Sunday Leader was independent and unbiased he could not
understand or accept this position. As for me, I cannot work for someone who
does not understand or respect freedom of expression or journalistic
independence and credibility.
NI. You are the editor who took sole responsibility of
the Sunday Leader just after the assassination of the late Lasantha. What are
the challenges you faced in the last couple of years?
FJ. The challenges have been huge. Apart from having to
revive a newspaper that had suffered a staggering blow following Lasantha's
assassination, I have had to deal with continuous harassment and threats
including court cases and finally being insulted and maligned in a manner most
degrading by the Defence Secretary, the President's brother.
NI. Do you and your family feel safe to stay in the
country?
FJ. No. I have repeatedly received death threats and even
been followed home.
NI. I don’t want to reiterate words that the country’s
secretary defence used in a recent interview published by the Leader. You had
bitter experiences many times when you were directly dealing with those key
players in the country. Can you brief us on the present political system in the
country?
FJ. In terms of media freedom, the current political
system will continue to stifle free of expression and the right to information.
If compared to a thriving democracy, Sri Lanka continues to lag far far behind.
NI. At some point we talked about “Sri Lankan
Journalism”. Do you have anything special to share with the people in this
crucial time?
FJ. It is sad that journalists in Sri Lanka have chosen
to be cowed into submission. Next to winning the war, this in fact is this
government's second biggest success. The stifling of the local press.
NI. This is a worse stage of social control in the
country by the regime. So now the Government has taken over most of print,
electronic and other media, while giving the public a clear cut picture on
censorship. What would be the future if this scenario continues?
FJ. An autocratic regime. With a stifled press
accountability and transparency are non-existent.
NI. Do you think the opposition and the civil society can
intervene to solve this stalemate?
FJ.The opposition is dead.
NI. Is there any role to be played by the international
community?
FJ. I frankly do not think this government really gives a
toss about the international community or what they may think or say. Other
than China - and we all know their track record as far as freedom of expression
is concerned.
NI. Most people welcomed the draft resolution by the US
on Sri Lanka, which urges the implementation of recommendations given by the
LLRC. The people of Sri Lanka expect that the government will be encouraged in
the Universal Periodic Review to take gradual action, not only at the
legislative level, but beyond that to implement basic principles of rule of
law. Do you have any suggestions to the UPR which is going to have on next
month?
FJ. Amongst the voluntary commitments undertaken by Sri
Lanka, one is to “strengthen its national mechanisms and procedures to promote
and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of all its citizens through
the adoption and implementation of the proposed National Plan of Action”.
Despite the government promising to implement the targets set out in the plan
by 2009, it was only in 2012 that the initial stages of implementation were
underway.
NI. This is my final question. You were a remarkable and
fearless editor who worked in a tremendously stressful social situation. What
is your plan for the future?
FJ. Change is a part of life. So for me, this is just
another opportunity for a new beginning.
