An important message to the Australian Public-ABC TV’s Four Corners Program on Monday 4 July 2011 at 830 pm
Posted on July 1st, 2011
MEDIA RELEASEƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ –SRI LANKA SUPPORT GROUP, CANBERRA
Mr Kerry OƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢Brien is going to air the infamous UK Channel 4ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s documentary ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Killing FieldsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ on Monday 4 July 2011 on ABC TV Four Corners.
This program alleges that Sri Lanka committed extra judicial killings of Tamil civilians and Tamil Tiger terrorists in Sri Lanka, in the last stages of the war against the Tamil Tigers in 2009.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We say that this program is filled with lies, deception and fabrication.
It is reported that segments related to the alleged executions and several other images have appeared in a Tamil Tiger terrorist propaganda video previously (the original video). It is alleged that in the ChannelƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 4 video the atrocities committed by the Tamil Tigers are dubbed in as those committed by the Sri Lankan Army.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is alleged that the Tamil voices in the original video have been changed to Sinhalese voices by using a different sound track. The Sinhalese voices do not correspond or relate in any way at all to the actions of the Channel 4 video. Watch the original Tamil video below:
| http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150208292415642&oid=127743420642303&comments |
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Channel 4 states that the film footage came from mobile cameras.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The film is of such good quality, they did not come from mobile cameras.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ According to a leading Australian and international expert on digital video systems, Siri Hewawitharana, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the alleged film clips have not been taken by mobile cameras as alleged by Channel 4, but by sophisticated video cameras (note the excellent quality of the original Tamil video). There are about 17 frames of videos that are inconsistent with the original video. This shows that the videos had been edited with sophisticated video software. Because of the video editing, it has more than one video layer and the audio is not synchronized.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is alleged that in some scenes of the Channel 4 documentary the people shown in Sri Lankan army uniforms are not members of the Sri Lankan armed forces but Tamil actors. They resemble Tamils and not Sinhalese. Furthermore, they speak Sinhalese in a Tamil accent. It is widely believed that some of the most dramatic scenes as shown in the video may have been shot on a different location other than Sri Lanka such as South India.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ When UN Rapporteur, Professor Christof Heyns hired a US based alleged video specialist Grant Fredericks to analyse the video Mr Fredericks stated thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-a cell phone was used to record the video and audio in Item #2 and that it was compiled with the Philips software likely to a Nokia cell phoneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ (page 471 of this report)ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. In his report,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ he further stated ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Optical zooms have been used. Siri Hewawitharana, another expert states there are no optical zooms in any mobile phone (mobiles do have digital zooms, but he could not see any digital zoom artifacts in the Channel 4 documentary). This shows that Mr FredericksƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ analysis cannot be accepted as the gospel truth. Is he a genuine expert or not? What are his qualifications? Was he biased towards the UN who hired him? These are some of the things that need to be further investigated prior to the ABCƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s airing of the Channel 4 video on Monday 4 July 2011.
Mr Kerry OƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢Brien is trying his best to sell his show on ABC TV next Monday by regularly announcing that he will be showing Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Killing Fields where up to 40,000 civilians died. But Gordon Weiss, the Channel 4ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s main spokesman stated at his book launch in Melbourne in May 2009 ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that only 10,000 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” 40,000 people were killed. He further stated that he had never stated that a Tamil genocide happened in Sri Lanka. This same man (Mr Weiss) during the war stated that only 7,000 civilians were civilians were killed. Mr Weiss has previously uttered that Tamil Tigers had deliberately killed the Tamils who were fleeing the war zone. But the Channel 4 was not bold enough to state that of those people who died (7,000 or 40,000 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” we say it was much less), they were Tamil Tigers, Sri Lankan Military and if Tamil civilians also died, then they may have most probablyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ been killed by the Tamil Tigers themselves, as they were holding heavy armaments inside the no fire zone. Channel 4 failed to say that because the Sri Lankan Army did not fire at the no fire zone, large numbers of Sri Lankan soldiers got killed from the Tamil Tiger gun/artillery fire. Channel 4 did not want to say all this as then it willƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ not create a bad impression about Sri Lanka in the mind of the ordinary TV viewer.
The Sri Lankan community living in Australia has brought these findings to the attention of the ABC TV Four Corners Program. We have asked the ABC not to air the video until further examination is conducted, especially based on the strong and compelling evidence that we have provided them. However, the ABC Four Corners has decided to air the allegedly fake, fabricated video to the Australian people.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We say that the Australian people should not be led to accept, lies, deception and fabrication propagated by an unauthentic, highly dubious documentary.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We say that the Australian people should not be indoctrinated to support the vested agenda of those who wish to see Sri Lanka split into two.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We say that during the war Sri Lanka did not intentionally, recklessly or negligently kill Tamil civilians, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ but rescued them. It is the Tamil Tigers who shelled and shot at the fleeing Tamil civilians. Sri Lanka resettled the 300,000 civilians within no time.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In Sri Lanka Tamils and Sinhalese live in harmony.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Today Tamils comprised of less than 10% of Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s population (including the up country Tamils). In Colombo more than 40 % of the population is Tamil (more Tamils live in Colombo thanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in Jaffna). Tamils have established their businesses in Colombo and they run them very successfully. They are comprised of small-, medium- and large-scale businesses. Those who patronise them are the majority Sinhalese. If the Sinhalese discriminate against the Tamil, as possibly portrayed by the Channel 4 documentary,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ then they would not patronise the Tamil businesses. Apart from businesses, there are Tamil professionals like doctors, engineers, accountants and lawyers who work in all parts of Sri Lanka. Most of the top Sri Lankan companiesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ boards are comprised of Tamil directors.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There had been former Inspector Generals of Police, an Army and Navy commander, Attorneys General, Chief Justices, Solicitor Generals, number of Ambassadors, Justices of the Courts that have been Tamils. Even today there are number of Tamil cabinet ministers and junior ministers in the Sri Lankan Government. Apart from the private sector, large numbers of Tamils work in the Sri Lankan public service. Not just in the North and the East but even in predominately Sinhalese areas such as the deep South. This is a clear example that the Sinhalese and Tamils do live amicably and in harmony in Sri Lanka, and they patronise each other.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They co-exist with each other very well. Sinhalese and Tamil children go to study in the same schools. Intermarriage between the Tamils and Sinhalese is common in Sri Lanka. Obviously the Channel 4ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ does not want to report these positive things inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka.
We ask the Australian people not to fall into the alleged lies and deceptions of the Channel 4ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Killing FieldsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ documentary, which is going to be promoted by Mr Kerry OƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢Brien on Monday 4 July 2011 on the ABCƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Four Corners.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka Support Group, Canberra
srilankasupportgroup@bigpond.com
July 1st, 2011 at 4:04 pm
Sri Lanka Support Group, Canberra hope you are taking necessary action to report this matter to Australia Government authority
July 1st, 2011 at 4:30 pm
To all SriLankns, Shri Lankans or Helas living in Australia,
ABC Code of condut says,
¨2. Accuracy
Principles: The ABC has a statutory duty to ensure that the gathering and presentation
of news and information is accurate according to the recognised standards of objective
journalism. Credibility depends heavily on factual accuracy. ¨
If you believe 4 corners program has breached you must first complaint to ABC first and then to ACMA.
ACMA web siteś relevant page is as follows.
http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=IND_REG_CODES_BCAST
Complaints to ABC web page is as follows,
http://www.abc.net.au/contact/complain.htm
Please go to this ABC page site and make you complain.
Knowing that C4 program material are suspect , they are in breach of their code if they broadcast without investigating the facts.
July 1st, 2011 at 8:16 pm
Even though it is established that C4 documentary is is doctored, Tamil voices are removed and Sinhala voices were dubbed, this video will still run in ABC.
We must realize that LTTE is still not banned in Australia. Many nations find it hard to believe that Armed Forces freed the Sri Lanka from LTTE virus, and there is no chance of breaking up Sri Lanka and India. It is hard to them to swallow.
July 2nd, 2011 at 2:46 am
Lets hope the ABC 4Corners program will expose the Ch-4 fabrication, as otherwise it would bring discredit to the ABC channel itself, for airing this fraud when the original of this video where apparently captured SL soldiers are being shot by Tiger terrorists, is now available for ABC 4corners to view.
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:23 pm
Let ABC 4 Corner see the unedited version now available freely before monday 4th. Otherwise ABC also can start learning ABCD– of Media.
July 3rd, 2011 at 2:35 am
ABC can access the unedited version from Sri Lankan news channels. If they ignore this opportunity and broadcast the LTTE/C4 produced Sinhala dubbed fake version, it says so much about Australian free press.
Lets wait and see, if Australians are happy or unhappy about Sri Lanka freeing it self from clutches of Terrorism, or, were they wishing us ill, all this time.
July 3rd, 2011 at 9:57 am
SRI LANKA SUPPORT GROUP- Canberra-Australia
Very important for us to know that our brothers & sisters are actively pursuing TRUTH against all odds. The evil group with all monies in the world can do so much to damage the image of a Soveriegn Nation. Plz keep up the good work.
Gamunu Alahakkone
July 3rd, 2011 at 10:58 am
From ratings to the comments above, it looks as if the eelam-diaspora is a little “excited” about news of the original, unedited video being discovered:
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2011/06/30/terrorist-propaganda-exposed-%E2%80%9Cchannel-4%E2%80%9D-and-ofcom-owe-an-explanation-to-sri-lanka-and-her-citizens/
July 3rd, 2011 at 4:34 pm
Dham,
Good find.
Let’s grill them.
Others,
You don’t have to be an Australian to write to ABC. Follow the link and fill the details. No rocket science.
ABC1
Four Corners
NSW
Give a name and an email address. Write something decent and sensible. Done.
You can be proud to be part of this winning campaign. Unfortunately we didn’t have the good fortune to kill terrorists personally, but this is our chance to kill them in the propaganda war. Sometimes the pen is mightier than the sword.
Kumatada kusalata kammali wanne?
July 3rd, 2011 at 7:45 pm
Hey Guys, We are giving more publicity to this than it deserves.
I know lots of my oze friends are now talking about because of us – which is a shame. Only the SLHC in Canberra should take this matter up at official level – not every tom, dick and harry!
July 3rd, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Every Tom, Dick and Harry has rights; so they should write. There is a viewer comments section in ABC which is specifically for this type of things. They more than welcome comments. The campaign against rubbish should get maximum publicity. Of course Nathikadal losers are hurt when Sri Lankans turn the tide.
July 5th, 2011 at 3:05 am
This is what I wrote to the ABC. You all should write and complain sooner than later.
‘I viewed this programme broadcasted by the C4, UK. There is agreement among Sri Lankans and non Sri Lankans that this programme is very biased and meant for discrediting Sri Lankan government.
There is another version of the same video clips being circulated in web sites with Tamil voices. As such, we still do not know which one is original.
No attempt has been made to show the enormous effort taken by the Sri Lankan army to safeguard the Tamil civilians. If the army wanted to kill civilians as the main actress in the document states, the army could have very simplybombarded the area. Instead, they circulated leaflets by air stating the routes of escape from Tiger’s grip.
As no one has claimed the origin of these video clips, where it was recorded and the authenticity is being questioned,broadcasting this documentary was very short sighted and clearly violated good media ethics.
Despite LTTE is a banned outfit in most of European countries, US,UK, India and Canada, they enjoy free activities in Australia. This shows the influence of Tamil Diaspora in Australia. Such programmes will only create more hatred between the two communities. Sri Lanka is trying to come to terms with the 27 year conflict where LTTE terrorists carried out hundreds of deplorable crimes on a day to day basis.
I hope similarly if new concrete evidence emerges disproving the alleged killing of Tamils by the army, the ABC will be responsible enough to broadcast a documentary to enlighten the audience and apologize’.
July 5th, 2011 at 10:48 pm
This is a conspiracy against our mother Lanka. There are so many inaccuracies in this.
That is why we need international independent investigations to get to the bottom of this.
We have nothing to fear ? Right!