31st October 2007, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Free Media Movement (FMM) registers is dismay that the Government of Sri Lanka put out a gazette prohibiting news reporting on proposed military operations in the country. It was issued under the emergency regulations and called "Prohibition on Publication and Transmission of Sensitive Military Information". The gazette would have made it illegal to report material "which pertains to any proposed operations or military activity as well as plans to buy equipment for security forces or the police." by the security forces. Under the terms of those regulations, editors could be jailed for up to five years for breaking the censorship, together with a fine not exceeding 50 dollars. In a release issued on 24th September 2007 this is what FMM said: 'The Free Media Movement (FMM) reliably learns that the government is preparing to promulgate new Emergency Regulations to impose a general prohibition on investigative reporting and media coverage in respect of issues relating to defence procurement. " It is now reported that the President has cancelled this gazette notification as has expressed his trust that the media will report responsibly. However, the fact that such a gazette was deemed prudent and approved by the President before he rescinded it is for the FMM a clear and damning marker of the understanding of and approach to media freedom by this government. Over the past fortnight alone, media freedom in Sri Lanka declined with incredible and deeply disturbing rapidity. Journalist Kumudu Champika Jayawardana of www.ethalaya.org was shot at around 11.45pm on 30th Oct 2007 in Colombo, on his way home from office. The government’s closure of five FM radio channels belonging to ABC Networks was without any due process or proper investigation. Highly placed government officials as well as the defense establishment indulged in vicious verbal attacks against media that analyzed and investigated the LTTE attack on the Saliyapura Airforce Base in Anuradhapura last week. Finally, the arrest of Arthur Wamanan, a staff reporter of The Sunday Leader by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the imbecilic racist arguments put forward by the CID in court proceedings against him indicate the degree to which media freedom in Sri Lanka has eroded in Sri Lanka. The gazette prohibiting news reporting on proposed military operations in the country needs to be appreciated in this light. Though now annulled, the supposed “trust” in the media by the President and this government is in reality a thinly veiled threat to media freedom and the freedom of expression. The FMM has for years condemned the total lack of media freedom under the LTTE and other paramilitary groups including the EPDP and the Karuna faction in the North and East of Sri Lanka. Sadly, today the same is true of media in the South. This government only “trusts” and finds “responsible” media that is servile and sycophantic. Journalists who in the public interest engage in investigative reporting are intimidated, threatened, shot at, killed and censored. Media and human rights activists are branded unpatriotic and LTTE sympathisers. The proposed gazette would have resulted in local and international condemnation of the government’s heavy-handed censorship. That it is now cancelled is no measure of this government’s commitment to media freedom. The events of the past fortnight alone indubitably demonstrate this President’s and his government's understands of media rights and freedom. Unequivocally condemning the proposed gazette, the FMM urges those in power to desist from actions antithetical to democratic governance and work instead to strengthen media freedom and the freedom of expression in Sri Lanka. Free Media Movement -For more information -Sunanda Deshapriya – (+ 94)777 312457 |