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| Sunday, 29 January 2006 |
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Minister whips media by M. P. Muttiah In a scathing attack on the media at the first meeting of his ministry's Advisory Council held at the Mahaweli Centre in Colombo yesterday, Constitutional Affairs and National Integration Minister D. E. W. Gunaskera said that the media created the ethnic problem, aggravated it and was living on it. "First of all it is necessary to enlighten media owners, editors and journalists if we are to make headway in solving the problem. It is my personal opinion that even the State media leaves much to be desired," he said. Minister Gunasekera stressed that the ethnic problem cannot be solved by the government alone. No single party can solve it. Therefore, a consensus among non-LTTE parties is an essential component in the peace process. There are 12 parties in parliament and it is necessary to find a political solution to this political problem. The ethnic crisis cannot be solved by war. He said that the draft Constitution submitted to the House in 2000 was the most progressive one but it failed. "There is a new realignment of political forces in the country," he said. Gunaskera said that Geneva talks would not be on peace but about the strengthening of the Ceasefire Agreement. It would help to build up an environment to begin peace talks. The Minister said that there can be no talks if mutual understanding and trust does not prevail among the concerned parties. Unless the CFA is strengthened it would be difficult to go forward, he pointed out. He said that there was a good opportunity for peace at present than fifty years ago and this opportunity should not be missed. The Advisory Council of the ministry would help enhance the awareness of the public on the peace process, he said. |
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