Veterans withstand criticism

	Interviewed by Dhaneshi Yatawara [email protected]
Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka - Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Pic : Sudam Gunasinghe	Media freedom, a major issue the UNP had been raising, for the drop of a hat, was in fact, violated by its own leader Ranil Wickremesinghe the other day. The threats on the journalist was for his non-stop criticism of the Opposition Leader’s weak points - neither personal nor a case of mud slinging. Yet the reaction was extremely undemocratic.	Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne - United National Party (D Group) Pic: Kavindra Perera
Constructive criticism a must in democracy Never forget UNP 'media freedom'		Strong leaders won't attack critics We have not forgotten the past

What is your view on the Opposition Leader's statement?

Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka - Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)

Criticism is inevitable specially in politics. But it will be highly unfair if one tries to publish personal and unjustifiable comments just for the sake of narrow minded achievements, mixing both truth and the lies. Even though, this wasn't the case with the comments on the Opposition Leader it was neither personal nor there was any mud slinging. Ranil Wickremesinghe can take legal action but merely because he was criticised as a weak leader, his comments can not be justified at all.

Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne - United National Party (D Group)

The United National Party was acting like champions of media freedom. The Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe forgot all about media freedom the moment criticism was levelled against him calling him as a weak leader. The columnist didn't call him an uneducated or a silly person. He just criticised the Opposition Leader's weaknesses. When the whole country knows about Ranil Wickremesinghe's weak leadership the columnist had all the right to write about it. Media have criticised me all these years, in different ways, but, I never reacted violently. It's of no use. A seasoned, veteran politician can withstand criticism. It is part and parcel of this field. Ranil Wickremesinghe's reaction shows his real qualities. What are his qualities as a statesman, a senior politician?

Do you find fault in criticising politicians and their actions affecting the public?

Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka - Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)

Not at all. But the truth should be revealed. It should be well balanced. They are writing their wish which shouldn't be so. Criticism shouldn't be based on personal agenda or should attack the children and families of the respective person. The writer -must impose some sort of a self censorship in his work.

Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne - United National Party (D Group)

Let anybody criticise. It is the duty of the one who is criticised to clear the misunderstanding, not in any other way but very democratically. First the journalists also must be fair. They must be well-informed and report all sides. Let the reader decide.

Do you think reactions such as the Opposition Leader's, can stop the politicians from being criticised?

Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka - Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)

I don't think so. Sri Lankan journalism has proven, over the time that criticism can never be stopped. During '88 - '89 era and till about '93, journalists couldn't write in their own name, cartoonists' hands were chopped off, like the case of famous cartoonist Yunus, gruesome killing of veteran journalists like Richard de Zoysa are some of the example. So how is Ranil Wickremesinghe going to stop it?

Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne - United National Party (D Group)

The media must continue to play their role. I never agree with politicians, Government or opposition, attacking journalists mercilessly. The only weapon these people have is the pen. We politicians have all the security. But the journalists don't. And as I see, it is the quality of a weak leader to get agitated and start threatening and attacking his critics. He has a history of attacking journalists. His nature will never change.

What is your point of view on criticisms on politicians?

Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka - Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)

It must happen. But as I mentioned earlier it should be constructive criticism.

Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne - United National Party (D Group)

Criticism is part and parcel of politics. A seasoned politician can withstand any type of criticism. If not, that is a weakness and he or she shouldn't have been in politics.

How do you compare it with the world situation?

Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka - Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)

Many try to highlight that the media field is facing adverse conditions. We were not born yesterday. We saw what happened during the previous UNP regimes. How journalists were killed, limbs chopped off, tortured. Full pages were censored. There is no such situation existing today. Journalists and media institutes can report on anything. Otherwise how can such criticism be published. One thing must be borne in mind. Even at the Human Rights Convention it was accepted that in a country facing war condition situation can be exceptional. Even internationally this has been accepted. Those critics, especially the fault-finders, must keep this in mind.

Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne - United National Party (D Group)

Some try very hard to highlight that there is no press freedom in our country. One must keep in mind that we, as a country, are facing a unique situation as well. Even in highly democratic USA the country comes first in their constitution. This is mentioned under the USA PATRIOT Act. The number of International conventions we have signed to protect freedom and human rights are more than even in the USA. Here, many human rights groups, international as well as local, cry so loud about disappearances. Who dares to talk about disappearances in Iraq or, in Kashmir? It's simply because we are a small country. Of course in a situation like ours freedom can be limited but compared to many countries facing similar situations we are far ahead.

Aren't these criticisms meant to correct politicians?

Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka - Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)

If done unbiased and constructively, yes.

Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne - United National Party (D Group)

Certain comments on criticisms. Some are vindictive. Some are made on the requests of others to gain their personal objectives. If it is a fair and unbiased criticism definitely it is meant for the improvement of the person concerned. But as I mentioned earlier we have a unique situation in our country. We have never faced a war of this nature in our history, may be after King Parakramabahu. We must realise what a sacrifice an average soldier and his family is making while gaining nothing in return other than death.

How do you recall the way UNP had treated media during their regime?

Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka - Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)

Some of those journalists now support and whitewash Opposition Leader and the Party strongly accused the then UNP regime for posing death threats on them by the high ranking rulers. Government was heavily censoring defence and political articles. Mere criticisms of the ruling party were dangerous. Many accuse this Government for arresting journalists but after thorough investigations it was revealed that these so called 'journalists' were clearly supporting the LTTE. How can you call terrorist supporters as journalists? That is not journalism.

Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne - United National Party (D Group)

We can never forget the way the then UNP regime brought certain journalists before the Parliament and how senior journalists like Richard de Soysa were murdered. I can very well remember it was Ranil Wickremesinghe who brought in information at the Parliament debate on the assassination of Richard de Soysa. He tried to bring in every possible fact, even very personal matters of that journalist to justify that killing. Though we have our differences in thoughts with other political parties how can you justify killing journalists for that matter? The Opposition leader was the key player to justify Richard de Soysa's killing. This was his attitude when he was in power and it has not changed even now.

Doesn't this pose a threat to media freedom under a UNP Government in the future?

Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka - Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)

Obviously there is a big threat. We know the past as well. Though Mangala Samaraweera talks so much about media freedom we can still remember his actions in 1997. The Opposition Leader must restore democracy within his own party before pointing a finger at the media and the society. We very well know many of the UNP members are against his autonomy. The Opposition Leader should take up the challenge to seek a new leadership for the party and a democratic restructuring of the party. It is very well known that he is going to lose even within his party.

Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne - United National Party (D Group)

Weak leaders will even go to low levels like threatening and attacking their critics since they can't stand criticism. It is not the case with strong leaders. Weak leaders make others face criticism for them; make others respond on behalf of them. We have not forgotten the past. We have not forgotten how the Opposition Leader acted while he was the Media Minister during the then UNP regime.