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| Sunday, 7 November 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Media and the threat of Angulimaala Light Refractions by Lucien Rajakarunanayake The re-election of George W. Bush is bound to cause great concern in the United States about the threats to media freedom there and the fate of the First Amendment. However, journalists in Sri Lanka now face a different situation. There is a promise of respectful worship for the good and a threat of an Angulimaala reborn for the bad. Those of us, who have been at the forefront of the battle for Media Freedom, had never thought of this phenomenon. We've worked at codes of conduct for the media and journalists, given thought to the need to change laws governing the media and also remove the powers of Parliamentary Privilege faced by the media. We've won some battles and lost some and still keep our faith in media freedom. But it seems necessary now to think of a whole new concept for media practice and behaviour in Sri Lanka. There is the overarching need to avoid being targeted by an Angulimaala for bad media practice. It is in this context that I discussed with Janashakthi Liyanage, the well known commentator on media practice, the situation of the media in Sri Lanka today. "It is always good to remember that to be forewarned is to be forearmed" he said. "There is now the necessity to separate the wheat from the chaff or the sheep from the goats in the media. This is the time to rethink all the old beliefs one had about media freedom and the role of a free media in a democracy". "Is this because you fear that the re-election of George Bush for a second term would adversely affect media freedom in Sri Lanka too?" I asked. "Well that is not impossible, given the impact of the United States and the occupant of the White House on the entire world. But that is not my concern just now. What bothers is why the media in Sri Lanka does not learn to re-think its role in a democracy, to prevent the rise of an Angulimaala, who is prepared to put the media in its place." "So how can the media avoid this Angulimaala threat?" "To give even the devil its due, one must not forget that the one who warns of being another Angulimaala, with all what it means, is also ready and willing to fall at the feet and worship a media that is just and fair. The threat is only to those who play foul in media practice, as he sees it. Angulimaala is known to have got his name because he wore the fingers of his victims as a necklace to show his power. Now who would want the finger of any media person today, to be worn so proudly round the neck of any person emboldened by the privileges of power?" Acharya Janamana Puvathsarana, who had a string of qualifications in Mass Communications, without ever having worked in a newspaper or media institution, said it was time for the Sri Lankan media to think afresh of what media freedom is. With the threat of an Angulimaala hanging over one's head, it was necessary for journalists to re-think their priorities. "The first rule is to avoid reporting what is said to have taken place in casinos, night clubs or even cricket clubs. Surely there are other and more interesting things to report about. The next is to follow the New Golden Rules of Reporting". "Can you tell me what these New Golden Rules are?" "Of course" said Acharya Janamana. "They are very simple to follow. Remember never to report on any incident, especially in night clubs and such places, and the offspring of any Ruhunu Hero at such a place, unless you have been there in person, camera at the ready and with pictures to prove your story. "The next is not report anything about anyone claiming descent from Dutugemunu, even if you have heard it from your most reliable source. It is important in such instances to keep your best sources and informants at more than arms length. "Don't ever try to probe whether the police has been active, inactive or turning a Nelsonian or any other type of blind eye, to incidents said to have taken place in those no go places for journalists such as casinos, night clubs, and places where powerful young bucks with armed entourages tend to gather," he said. "The list of no go places may extend as time goes on, but these are simple rules to follow," he added. "You mean the media must behave like the three monkeys See no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil?" "In a way it is so, but not in all cases. The good media will follow these rules when it involves any descendant of Dutugemunu. This has nothing to do with the old legends about the name Dutugemunu being derived from Dutta Gamini which in turn came from Dushta Gamini, just like Dharmasoka originating from the earlier Chandasoka. But that is by the way." "You mean following these rules will ensure that journalists keep their fingers without having them adorn a deadly necklace of an Angulimaala?" "Exactly. Even better, it will mean that the possible Angulimaala, will instead fall at the feet and worship the media that behaves in such a just and fair manner." "But what about the responsibility of the media to society?" "C'mon, when faced with the possibility of an Angulimaala reborn, it's not the time to think of such responsibilities. Besides, let's be honest that the media has often forgotten its responsibility to society in its behaviour. It's pointless discussing such things as the agenda of the media, the following of political lines and the propping up of political favourites at a time like this. What is more important is prevent the emergence of a revised version of the Angulimaala Sutta," he said. "Merve the Nerve, I thought to myself, trying to steady my own nerves. It was certainly time to visit my regular watering hole to ponder a little more on the possible achievements of a future Angulimaala. |
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