Media Freedom in Sri Lanka:

Is the Fourth State under siege?

By Indeewara Thilakarathne

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The on -going debate over media freedom suddenly became topical when a spate of attacks were launched by unknown elements on several journalists including Keith Noyer.

The latest victims are two journalists of the Independent Television Network (ITN) who were being allegedly dragged into the UNP head quarters Sirikotha and questioned about their coverage out side the UNP head quarters.

In a statement to the Parliament, Minister of Information and Mass Media Anura Priyadarshana Yapa stated that UNP has clearly displayed its media policy by detaining and threatening two ITN journalists at Sirikotha.

Speaking to Sunday Observer Minister of Media Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena categorically condemned the recent attacks on journalists stating that Government stands for the protection of media freedom in the country.

He emphasized the fact that Government has already instructed the police to take necessary measures to bring those who are responsible for the attacks to book and to deal with them in accordance with the law of the land.

Minister Abeywardena said that a committee looking into the allegation of threats against journalist has already been appointed in order to find out who were behind the attacks that were carried out by white vans.

White vans became a quite a phenomenon signifying that the attacks were carried out by the same group.

It is rather ironic that UNP and its leader who made media freedom capital in his campaign and was caught red-handed when two ITN journalist were dragged into UNP head quarters Sirikotha.

Earlier when journalist Namal Perera and British High Commission official Mahendra Ratnaweera were attacked by a group of unknown gangs, the accusing finger was directed at the Government.

It was on this occasion that civil society organizations held several demonstrations demanding that environment conducive to free and fair reporting be created in the country and that justice be done to the journalists who were attacked by unknown gangs by brining them to book.

Minister of Media Lakshman Yapa Abeywadena pointed out that when ITN journalists were intimidated by UNP, there are hardly any so called civil society organizations, at least, issuing a press release condemning the alleged intimidation by UNP.

He further pointed out that citizens should take into consideration that fact that so called civil society organizations that appear as vanguards of press freedom are maintaining dubious standards.

Their stance vary from incident to incident and often the motives are not clear.Although the civil society organizations are crying foul at the drop of a hat, their silence on certain instances where journalists are intimidated, is rather incomprehensible.

It is a well-known fact that the NGOs and various rights groups are financially dependent on outside sources and as newspapers , to certain extent, obliged to its advertisers , these rights groups and organizations are also accountable for their donors.

Vanguards of media or mercenary misery mongers

Though it can not be generalized with regard to the functions of the right groups and advocacy groups and also organizations with lofty goals, most of the organizations are on a perpetual mission to paint a rather bleak picture of Sri Lanka before the international community, apparently with the intention of attracting more and more funds for their so called advocacy activities in Sri Lanka.

The impact of their work in the field is assessed in terms of news items and newspapers articles appeared in national newspapers and the impressive annual reports highlighting political activities that the organizations carried out in diverse parts of the country.

The NGO fraternity who are, in fact, dependent on foreign aids, have been projecting themselves as independent organizations who are on a pious mission to strengthen democracy and resolve conflicts in the host countries.

However, this is not applicable to those organizations which have been engaged in humanitarian missions and are really contributing to improving plight of refugees and IDPs in the country.

Though it may not be clear for the funding agencies, the impact of those so called advocacy agencies and councils of different hues is not going beyond their bookshelves. These are the misery mongers who have maintained dubious standards regarding the violation of media freedom.

In this light, it is pertinent for all peace loving citizens and media personnel to think twice whether Sri Lanka has plunged into abyss of media freedom and the fourth state is under siege.

However, the protection of media freedom should not be left in the hands of the journalist fraternity alone and it is the responsibility of each and every citizen as free media protects the people’s right to information.