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Film described as ‘misleading and misrepresentative’:
UK’s Ofcom to probe Channel 4 documentary
 The UK Government’s Office of Communications (Ofcom) is to
investigate the veracity of Channel 4’s recent documentary ‘Sri Lanka’s
killing Fields’ following complaints that it was misleading and
misrepresentative.
British-based TV website TV Pixie, in a report filed by Alex Guest,
disclosed that Ofcom would probe the program, presented by Jon Snow and
produced by Callum Macrae.
Ofcom is the UK’s Independent regulator and competition authority for
the communications industries. “Ofcom will assess the complaints against
the program under their Broadcasting Code to see if it needs further
investigation and action. Ofcom is empowered to fine the broadcaster(s)
if it determines that the Code has been violated.
Ofcom has received over 100 complaints since the film was aired on
Channel 4 on June 14. Alex Guest commented that it is within the realm
of possibilities that the additional material (presented by Channel 4)
was partially or even entirely fabricated. “If Channel 4 has fabricated
material or attempted to mislead the public through editing, Ofcom will
see fit to censure the broadcaster.
“I await the conclusion of the investigation”. Sri Lankan diplomats
and leading forensic video experts had contested Channel 4’s claims of
accuracy.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan authorities on Friday revealed that they were
in possession of an original video which had been altered by Channel 4.
This video was subsequently aired by Swarnavahini.
The TV station said the footage was originally in Tamil and was
dubbed into Sinhala by Channel 4 to discredit the Sri Lankan Security
Forces.
Major Gen. Shavendra Silva, commenting “live” on the original,
unaltered video, told viewers that Channel 4 didn’t take up the
challenge to prove the video’s authenticity.
Maj. Gen. Silva said the video actually depicted LTTE cadres dressed
in Sri Lanka military uniforms and vowed to expose more lies by Channel
4. Earlier in New York, he had successfully exposed Channel 4’s
duplicitous conduct at a screening of the documentary organised by
Amnesty International.
The TV station said they have obtained original copies of some of the
footage from Channel 4’s “Killing Fields”.
“We got this original video and we gave it to a local television
station to air.
It shows the armed men speaking in Tamil and not Sinhalese.
That shows that the video aired in Britain was a fake,” military
spokesman Major General Udaya Medawala said.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka High Commission in Australia and Sri Lankans
living in Australia have complained to the Australian Broadcasting
Corporation following its decision to telecast the Channel 4 documentary
as part of its Four Corners programme.
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