FMM
disturbed over remarks by Army chief
The FMM accusing the Army
Chief further will be like opening the “Pandora’s box”
of the evils of journalists.
Noor Nizam. Sri Lanka Peace
Activist Communication Studies Teaching Personnel/Freelance Journalist.
Canada .
The news item in the Lanka Dissent dated Wednesday 30th., July regarding
the discontent of the Free Media Movement over remarks by Army Chief,
datelined, Wednesday 30th., July 2008.[ The Lanka Dissent, Colombo ],
is of serious importance when a so-called Media group supposed to be
consisting of journalist pointing the fingers at the Commander of the
Sri Lankan Army with the grave allegations. Since the Defense Ministry
or the Government of HE. Mahinda Rajapaksa has not given any thought
to what the Army Chief, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka has stated
in recent interviews with the press about journalists and the citizens
have no time for the rattles created by the FMM, the FMM says it believes
that it would be the responsibility of the Government to make it’s
position clear – clear on the statements made by the Army Chief
to the Sunday Observer published on 20th July 2008, and Sinhala language
weekly Lakbima. Otherwise, FMM fears, their silence or indifference
would only pave the way for more journalists to be killed, brutally
assaulted, intimidated and harassed.
Among the other things, what worries the FMM most is the statement
attributed to the Army Chief where it is stated that the Army chief
said:
"We know that journalists are being bribed, given 'drinks', treated
in restaurants and they have their own vested interests.. . We know
very well about those media people who take bribes, write and voice
their opinion for some personal gains.
These so called media guys are not responsible to the people and they
are not entitled to such media freedom.
So, especially the media people should behave well and set an example
to others. To me, those who stage protests with unshaven beards, long
hairs and wearing costumes like in fancy dress competitions are not
scribes who are clamoring for media freedom but a gang of thugs".
Notwithstanding the fact that I am not domiciled in Sri Lankan at current,
my association with the Sri Lanka Press and journalism can be traced
back since 1964, both in respect of Freedom of Press advocacy against
the Press Bill of the late Hon. Sirimavo R. Bandaranaike influenced
by the late Dr. N.M.,Perera of the LSSP and my direct involvement in
true journalism with Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd., in around
1966. Some of my mentors were the giants of the like of late Mr. Esmond
Wickemasighe, late Mr. Lal Gooneratne and the late Hon. Ananda Tissa
de Alwis. The deep respect and passion for true Journalism has today
made it possible for me to develop my abilities as a writer and now
a teacher of Communication Studies in a leading University in Canada.
It is with this longstanding relationship with the press, media and
journalists that I feel it is the right time to stand up as a native
of Sri Lankan and support the truth of facts about the profession of
journalism and the “way of life” of the so-called journalist
in Sri Lanka, still giving respect to the good creed of journalist who
still are in the arena, but not shouting loud, doing there profession
with good ethics and morals of the profession.
What the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General Sarath
Fonseka has stated (which is quoted above) is the truth and nothing
but the truth. I wish not to indulge in making any comments about the
present military actions or in it’s engagement by the Chief of
the Army, but one has to stand to defend the truth and the army chief
has told the sincere truth that is not common news to the ordinary citizens
of Sri Lanka.
“We know very well about those media people who take bribes, write
and voice their opinion for some personal gains.”
“These so called media guys are not responsible to the people
and they are not entitled to such media freedom”.
If the FMM can prove that the Chief of the Army is making false statements,
let the FMM open up it’s coffers and show from where it receives
funding to undertake all their Freedom of Press/Media advocacy protests
and the big media member’s bashes arranged by interested parties
such as that the Army Chief has mentioned in his interviews. The FMM
should also show the number of foreign trips that have been arranged
for the category of media personnel and also give a list of the names
and countries visited by journalist since the FMM was founded in 1991
and convened in 2000. Prior to 1991, the press scribes were tolerated
by the diplomatic missions with similar give-outs if a particular foreign
diplomatic representative needed to publish some articles/news about
the ideology or betterment of “public image promotion” in
Sri Lanka of their country of origin. Some of the East European countries,
the then GDR, Iraq , Norway , Cuba , North Korea , Taiwan , China ,
India , West Germany and France – to name some, offered free trips
to individuals and groups of journalist to visit their countries by
invitation and all expenses met by the host nation. They were not influenced
to create “protests” or write “false news” against
the State of Sri Lankan or against the Government or make accusations
against senior government officials or elected representatives of the
people, but to promote the PR aspect of their nations.
Yet the modern day funding of the journalist as stated by the Army
Commander is contradictory to the above. It is not the sovereign states
that sponsor these journalists or give them gifts etc., or entertain
them, but it is done by suspected INGO’s, NGO’s, International
Funding Agencies and even individual diplomats, the like of those who
work in certain foreign Scandinavian embassies in Sri Lanka. They call
themselves the saviors of the Freedom of Press, HR and Freedom of Expression,
but indeed they are the betrayers of the Sovereign state of Sri Lanka
who want to divide the Sinhalese, Tamils and the Muslims of Sri Lankan
who have lived in Peace and harmony for generations.
The warning that the Army Chief has stated should be an eye opener
to the Nation at large and especially to the journalists in common.
The FMM accusing the Army Chief further will be like opening the “Pandora’s
box” of the evils of journalists.
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