Another nail in the coffin: The open militarisation of State owned media in Sri Lanka

21st March 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Free Media Movement (FMM) is outraged that the government has appointed retired Army Major General Sunil Silva as Additional Director General (Administration) of the State controlled TV station Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation (SLRC).  Major General Sunil Silva retired in January 2008.

This appointment beggars belief, especially less than 48 hours after a key meeting with the President of Sri Lanka and SLRC Trade Union leaders and journalists on the spate of brutal physical attacks against colleagues who stood up against the brutish intrusion by Government MP Mervyn Silva into its premises late last year. No one at this meeting was consulted about or told of this appointment.

Though retired, the appointment of ex-military personnel to a key post in the SLRC is particularly revealing. The militarisation of State apparatus under this regime is not new, but this is the first time it has extended to the media. Not only does this set an extremely disturbing precedent, it irrevocably vitiates the independence of State media from regressive party political patronage, influence and coercion.

The FMM vehemently protests this appointment on a point of principle. We have nothing against Major General Sunil Silva. We are deeply concerned that the office of a civilian is now in the hands of someone from whom independence and impartiality is simply too much to ask or expect. This is a damning indictment of the President’s bona fides to support and strengthen media freedom and a chilling indicator of the regime’s duplicitous nature.

We believe that this appointment was made in the context of SLRC journalist unions threatening trade union action if the government did not take action to hold the deranged Government MP Mervyn Silva accountable for his actions in a court of law. Given that on the 17th of this month military and police cordoned off SLRC premises to prevent any trade union action we are in no doubt that this military appointment is directly linked to the emerging crisis situation within SLRC and intended to intimidate the institution’s journalists and other staff.

We demand that this appointment is immediately rescinded. The media community represented by our organisations will accept no alternative and will not negotiate on this matter. It is simply a point of principle – the militarisation of media institutions is tantamount to the curtailment of media rights. The President had, at the conclusion of the recent meeting with journalists, promised to look into the unprecedented intimidation of media personnel in Sri Lanka.

Sadly, this appointment is grossly incompatible with that promise.

Continuing attacks against journalists in Sri Lanka require Presidential intervention

14th March 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Free Media Movement (FMM) is outraged at yet another murderous attack on a journalist at the State owned Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) today. Journalist Arunasiri Hettige, Assistant Director (Supplies) of SLRC, was attacked early this morning on his way to work at a bus stop near Kottikawatta, a Colombo suburb.  A club affixed to a sharp object on his neck was used to attack him. He was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital for emergency medical treatment.

Journalist Hettige was a represented the SLRC Workers Union at a meeting held on 13th March with the Defence Secretary, Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapakse, the Police Spokesperson N. K. Illangakoon, the Chairman of SLRC Ariyarathna Athugala and other Union Leaders regarding the infamous Mervyn Silva incident in December 2007.

The continuing attacks against journalists who were part of a spontaneous resistance against the unprecedented and brutish intrusion by Government MP Mervyn Silva and his posse of thugs on 27th December 2007 at SLRC beggars belief.

It is quite clear that law enforcement agencies are unable and unwilling to stop these series of attacks or arrest the culprits. While the journalists who stood up against the outrageous actions of the Government MP have been attacked, questioned and detained by the Police – the chief culprit enjoys complete immunity from the rule of law.

This is an untenable situation. The FMM holds the President directly accountable for the actions of those in his Government and the safety and security of all media personnel, particularly those who took part in the agitations against MP Mervyn Silva at SLRC. Further, we hold the President directly responsible for the safety and security of these journalists given the inability and the unwillingness of the Police to bring the underworld gangs responsible for these attacks to book.

At a time when the such attacks are taking place with complete impunity and in broad daylight, it is laughably tragic and grossly inappropriate that the Government even contemplates a national media policy without first ensuring the security of journalists and through it, the freedom of expression and media freedom.

This is an open and urgent appeal for Presidential intervention in a situation already out of control. It is only a matter of time before another journalist is attacked and pays for standing up for democratic values and media freedom with his or her life.

We also call upon all journalists, especially those at SLRC, to unite and stand together in solidarity against those who seek to silence them through fear and intimidation. We note that it is only through the transformation of SLRC to an institution able to provide accurate, impartial and fair news and information without State control that incidents of this nature can be prevented in the future.

IFJ urges Sri Lankan Government to act on SLRC Attacks

Media Release: Sri Lanka
March 14, 2008

Sri Lankan Government Urged to Act on SLRC Attacks

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demands that the Government of Sri Lanka order the police to take immediate action against perpetrators of a series of attacks against staff of the state-owned Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), as the Free Media Movement (FMM) reported yet another violent attack on an SLRC journalist.

The FMM, an IFJ affiliate, said Anurasiri Hettige was beaten with an iron rod by an unidentified gang on March 14.

It was the fifth physical assault or attempted attack on an SLRC employee since Labour Minister Mervyn Silva assaulted SLRC news director TMG Chandrasekara in a melee at the broadcaster’s office on December 27.

“The attack on Anurasiri Hettige is a clear indication that all SLRC journalists and staff who protested against the intrusion into the station by Minister Silva on December 27 are facing a real threat,” the FMM said in a statement.

“The Government’s silence on this series of attacks and its failure to act to end the violence and threats allegedly linked to a member of the government must end now,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

Journalists and staff of SLRC have been targeted with threats and intimidation in an apparent link with media coverage of the Minister’s actions at the SLRC office on December 27.

January 25: Lal Hemantha Mawalage attacked by two armed men, suffered severe cuts to his arm; also received death threats on his phone on March 4.

January 29: Attempted attack on Duleep Dushantha by two armed men at his home; Dushantha’s mother threatened with death for informing of the incident.

February 27: Priyal Ranjith Perera, Assistant Director of News Camera, attacked by unidentified armed gang at his home.

March 5: Ranjani Aluthge, SLRC librarian, stabbed with razor knife on public bus.

As many as 10 journalists, media workers and journalists’ leaders from other television stations and media also have been reportedly targeted for their involvement in covering the December 27 incident and the subsequent media staff protests against Minister Silva.

Poddala Jayantha, a senior journalist with Silumina and the secretary of the Sri Lankan Working Journalists’ Association (SLWJA), an IFJ affiliate, endured an attempted abduction by armed assailants at his home on January 7.

Death threats were made to leading personnel at the MBC TV and Radio network: MTV head Chevaan Daniel, Sirasa director Kingsley Ratnayaka and Sirasa news director Susil Kedelpitya. Kedelpitya reports that his house and whereabouts are being watched by suspicious people.

Threats also have been delivered to media activists including SLWJA president Sanath Balasooriya and Dharmasiri Lankapeli, the general secretary of the Federation of Media Employees Trade Union, also an IFJ affiliate.

The IFJ joined the FMM in calling for journalists and democratic forces to make a united stand against orchestrated violence and intimidation intended to prevent journalists and media institutions reporting in the public interest.

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries

Breaking news: Another Rupavahini employee assaulted! (Updated with initial FMM response)

As reported today by the Daily Mirror, the FMM is appalled to learn of another attack against a journalist at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation.

Another Rupavahini employee was assaulted today. Police say the employee, Anurasiri Hettige, was beaten by an unidentified gang using an iron rod. The victim was admitted to the Colombo National hospital a short while ago.

UPDATED WITH FMM RESPONSE

The FMM is appalled to learn of another attack against a journalist at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC). This is a clear indication that all SLRC journalists and staff who protested against the brutish intrusion by Government MP Mervyn Silva and his posse of thugs on 27th Dec 2007 are facing real threat.

This is the third journalist attacked, and at least 10 journalists who either covered or took part in the protest on 27th have received threats recently.

It is  quite clear that law enforcement agencies are unable and unwilling  to stop  these series of attacks or arrest the culprits.  Only united action by all journalists and democratic forces can stop these mercenaries and thugs in the government from undermining our security, safety and professional integrity.

Further, we like to note with dismay that SLRC didn’t give any converge on media protests against attacks on its own journalists held yesterday by all major journalists trade unions and media freedom organisations because of its partisan bias and political pressure.

This is the hour for SLRC journalists to not only stand together against these forces of revenge but also strengthen a campaign to make SLRC coverage accurate, impartial and fair so that all democratic forces can  stand behind the larger institution and its staff.

Underworld attacks on Sri Lankan media

From The Daily Mirror of 7th March 2008.

Adding insult to injury – Rupavahini journalist attacked by thugs removed from his post

As reported by the Daily Mirror today.

The News Director of state controlled Rupavahini T.M.G Chandrasekera who was allegedly assaulted by Minister Mervyn Silva and his security officials recently has been removed from his post.

Journalist cut with sharp knife – Joint Press Release

Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA)
Federation of Media Employees Trade Union (FMETU)
Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum (SLMMF)
Sri Lanka Tamil Journalists Alliance (SLTJA)
Free Media Movement (FMM)

Journalist cut with sharp knife

26th January 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka: We, the five media major media organisations in Sri Lanka are shocked and appalled by the knife attack on journalist Lal Hemantha Mawalage on 25th night at Athurigiriya, a suburb of Colombo. He was on his way home around 11.00pm when he was attacked by two men on motor bicycle who lay in wait for him. He received severe cut injuries in his right arm, was admitted to Ward 72 of the Colombo general hospital and had to be surgically operated on 26th morning. Journalist Mawalage is a Producer in the News Division of state controlled Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation (SLRC).

On 27th December 2007 Labour Minister Mervyn de Silva stormed into the State run television station Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation (SLRC) with group of his thugs associated with the under world  and assaulted its news director.  Journalist Mawalage was among those who spoke live on behalf of SLRC employees as whole SLRC staff protested against the minister’s intrusion.

Our organisations have received credible information that some Under- world criminal gangs were planning to attack journalists who played leading role in protest against the minister and his gang.  Three leading media personnel of the MBC TV and Radio network that covered the incident extensively – the Channel Head of MTV Channel One Chevaan Daniel, Sirasa Director Kingsley Ratnayaka and MTV/MBC News Director Susil Kindelpitya lodged complaints with the Maharagama police over death threats they received after the incident. Their complaints record the names of underworld persons who have been allegedly given contracts to kill them.

Journalist Mawalage received continuous death threats after his role in the SLRC staff protest.  He had lodged a complaint with the Cinnamon Gardens police station with regard to the death threats he received. Three days ago his vehicle was hit by another vehicle and sped away.

We strongly suspect that this knife attack could be retaliation for his role in SLRC staff protest. There has been no other threats to him by any other for any reason according to  our information.

This attack could send a strong message to the journalist community and create a fear psychosis if the perpetrators are not arrested immediately. Our organizations request police and the government to initiate an immediate and impartial inquiry in to this heinous crime against a journalist and the freedom of press and bring culprits to the book.

We hope that this will not be another attack on media in Sri Lanka which will be swept under the carpet as like what has happened to more than a hundred press freedom violations in recent times.

Journalist who stood up against Government MP’s thuggery attacked

Rupavahini drama takes another violent turn

Journalist attacked by knife-wielding thugs

A TV journalist who opposed Minister Mervyn Silva’s intrusion and abuse of a colleague at Rupavahini, the national television network, escaped murder on Friday night when he was attacked by two unidentified thugs on his way home after work. Lal Hemantha Athula Mawalage is lying in a serious condition at the Colombo National Hospital after he was attacked with a knife. The incident occurred at Shanthalokagama, Annasiwatte, when he was driving his van to his home in Athurugiriya. He was kept in the Intensive Care Unit and has just been transferred to a ward.

Mr. Mawalage at the National Hospital yesterday

Mr. Mawalage was one of the speakers who roundly condemned Minister Silva in a speech at the Rupavahini premises. Minister Silva and his bodyguards stormed the Rupavahini premises on December 27 last year, and allegedly assaulted News Director T.M.D. Chandrasekera. The minister was later held hostage in the chairman’s office by Rupavahini employees for over four hours. The Police and Army were deployed to extricate Mr. Silva to safety.

Whilst no Police action was taken against Mr. Silva, the CID has been detailed to probe how the non-Cabinet Labour Minister was held hostage and allegedly assaulted. Mr. Mawalage, who was writhing in pain, told The Sunday Times, “The men tried to pull me out of the vehicle and stab me. I managed to fight them. They cut my hands in several places. I managed to drive to the Athurugiriya Police Station to make a complaint.”

Mr. Mawalage said two weeks before the incident, a double cab had deliberately knocked on his vehicle and disappeared. “After Friday’s incident, I have been receiving calls on my mobile phone threatening to kill me,” he said. A motorcycle believed to have been used by the attackers has been found by the police.

The attack on Mr. Mawalage drew condemnation from media organizations. The Free Media Movement and the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association said they were condemning the incident and were due to issue statements. Non cabinet media minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told The Sunday Times he condemned the attack. He said he would call for a separate inquiry into the incident.

A three member-committee appointed by the Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party nearly three weeks after they were appointed is yet to hold a meeting.

From The Sunday Times, 27th January 2008

See also Journalist stabbing condemned on the BBC

Journalists face death threats for resisting Government MP’s thuggery

6th January 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka: A number of journalists in Sri Lanka have received credible information that underworld gangs have been ordered to threaten, harass and even kill them for their involvement in protests held in response to the outrageous behaviour of Government MP Mervyn de Silva recently.

Mervyn de Silva, the Minister of Labour, stormed into the State run television station Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation (SLRC) on 27th December 2007 with a group of thugs, that we now know included murderers and underworld drug dealers, and brutally assaulted its News Director, Mr. T.M.G. Chandrasekara. Journalists and staff of the SLRC and their colleagues from media organizations mobilized around the offices of the Chairman of SLRC to barricade the Minister and his motley array of thugs until the arrival of the Police and the Minister apologized for his behaviour live on camera. Though the FMM regrets that the situation escalated to the point that the Minister and one of his thugs were assaulted, we understand the enraged feelings of the journalists who had to face such an unprecedented attack on media.

The FMM is now deeply disturbed to hear that instead of immediate and stern disciplinary measures taken against the Minister, of which to date there has been none, underworld gangs in collusion with senior politicians are planning to intimidate and even murder some journalists involved in this incident.

Three leading media personnel of the MBC TV and Radio network that covered the incident extensively – the head of MTV Chevaan Daniel, Sirasa Director Kingsley Ratnayaka and Sirasa News Director Susil Kedelpitya  – have lodged complaints to the Maharagama police over death threats they have recently received. Their complaints record the names of underworld persons who have been given contracts to kill them. Even more shockingly, the FMM has received credible information that Sanath Balasuriya, President of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), Dharmasiri Lankapeli, General Secretary of the Federation of Media employees Trade Unions (FMETU) and a number for other senior journalists, trade union and media activists may be targets of assassination attempts related the SLRC incident.

This situation is exacerbated by the fact that the President has, to date, not taken any meaningful steps against the MP Mervyn de Silva’s reprehensible behaviour. As we note in our statement of 31st December 2007,

FMM, together with all Sri Lankans committed to liberty, human rights and democratic institutions, is appalled by the course of conduct adopted by the President in which he has now become the focus of attention in respect of bad governance, maladministration, and of defending the indefensible. We are at a loss to understand how the President can, with good conscience, persecute journalists of the SLRC whilst shielding his errant Minister, in blatant violation of every applicable democratic ethic.

We note with great concern that the SLRC incident and its aftermath proves beyond an iota of doubt the President’s and his government’s complete and utter disregard for the Rule of Law and democracy. This despicable culture of impunity and State sponsored terror places journalists who report on the gross abuse of power in untenable positions of having to fear for their lives and those of their loved ones.

We place the security of all those so threatened squarely in the hands of the Government and the President. The responsibility is theirs and theirs alone to ensure that all journalists and media personnel facing the threat of physical harm are afforded the fullest protection from underworld criminal elements and that MP Mervyn de Silva is urgently brought to book for his deranged abuse of power.

Recommended action
Please write to register your deep concern in light of these developments and to request that meaningful remedial measures are taken urgently to restore public confidence in the rule of law in Sri Lanka.

Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa
Minster for Mass Media and Information
Ministry of Mass Media and Information
163, Kirulapona Road, Polhengoda,
Colombo 05,
Sri Lanka.

Fax: +94 – 11- 2513500

FMM Statement on the continuing developments in the episode involving Minister Mervyn Silva at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation on 27th December 2007

31st December 2007

FMM expresses its serious concern and alarm at the incredible turn of events that have occurred in the aftermath of the episode in which Minister Mervyn Silva attempted to intimidate officials of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) through physical violence and verbal abuse on 27th December 2007. On that occasion Minister Silva’s well-known proclivity to threaten media freedom through the use of thuggery was resisted by the journalists and staff of the SLRC, in a spontaneous demonstration of solidarity against, and resistance to political violence against journalists and media personnel.

What has happened since then is cause for grave disquiet in respect of the freedom of expression, media freedom and independence, and the integrity of democratic institutions and democracy in Sri Lanka. FMM believes that Minister Silva’s behaviour, both on well-documented previous occasions as well as the instant, is prima facie cause for summary dismissal under any democratic dispensation, and in respect of which the responsibility lies squarely with the President. This is even more so given that apart from Mervyn Silva’s ministerial office, he also sits in Parliament at the pleasure of the President as a National List Member of Parliament appointed by the President in his capacity as the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

However, the President appears to have adopted an attitude wholly at odds with the public revulsion Minister Silva’s conduct has provoked throughout Sri Lanka. According to news reports and reliable sources, the President has communicated his displeasure in very strong terms to the senior management of the SLRC for having live telecast the events of last Thursday (leading to self-censorship by SLRC news management in reporting on the incident in subsequent SLRC news bulletins), and instigated an investigation by the Department of Criminal Investigation (CID) against the media personnel at SLRC. Astoundingly, the President has not shown the same commitment to accountability with regard to his own Minister, against whom no disciplinary action whatsoever has so far been taken, in a trend that would seem to indicate no action will be taken in the future either.

FMM, together with all Sri Lankans committed to liberty, human rights and democratic institutions, is appalled by the course of conduct adopted by the President in which he has now become the focus of attention in respect of bad governance, maladministration, and of defending the indefensible. We are at a loss to understand how the President can, with good conscience, persecute journalists of the SLRC whilst shielding his errant Minister, in blatant violation of every applicable democratic ethic. FMM emphatically calls upon the President to desist from the persecution of journalists and instead devote his efforts to discipline Minister Silva forthwith, in the discharge of his constitutional duty to uphold fundamental rights and the democratic way of life of all Sri Lankans. FMM hopes that disciplinary action against Minister Silva will accompany the necessary criminal investigations and prosecutions that must ensue from his behaviour, if the integrity of the Rule of Law and public confidence in democratic institutions are to be upheld.

In a broader policy context, FMM notes that this episode has once again shown in stark terms the wholly unacceptable level of politicisation that afflicts state-owned public media institutions. FMM strongly believes that neither the President nor indeed Minister Silva would have adopted the attitudes they have, had the independence and autonomy of the principal public television broadcaster in Sri Lanka been legally assured and guaranteed.

FMM is firmly of the view that even the current statutory scheme governing the SLRC contemplates a public service broadcaster, not an instrument of propaganda for the government in power for the time being. Unfortunately, the SLRC and other state-owned and operated media institutions have since their inception been consistently abused by all political parties holding power for partisan advantage. This episode therefore reinforce the calls made by FMM and partner organisations on the critical need for fundamental legal and constitutional reforms so as to divest state ownership of print media institutions and to re-establish state broadcasting institutions as truly public service broadcasters. FMM also notes that the President himself has acknowledged the need for reforms in these directions in discussions with FMM in August 2007, and calls upon him to implement the same. We are ready to assist the government with these reforms if the government is serious and sincere about undertaking them.

FMM calls upon all concerned here and abroad to stand in solidarity with the media personnel of the SLRC, and against the anti-democratic and unconscionable behaviour of politicians abusing public-owned and taxpayer-funded institutions for illegitimate ends.