It was about three weeks ago that President Rajapaksa, on his return from London, set up a six-member ministerial committee to which the media could turn in the face of problems. During his discussions in London with British politicians, both government and opposition, and others, they expressed deep concern at the problems encountered by the media in Sri Lanka, including the threats and assaults they had been subject to with increasing frequency.
One of the main themes of the demonstrations mounted here by international human rights watchdogs and sections of the Sri Lankan community concerned media freedom and the abuse of journalists. Though President Rajapaksa maintained that ill-considered writings by the media on military matters were perceived to help the enemy his government was fighting, meaning the LTTE, the observations of the British government and the opposition seemed to have had what they would consider the desired effect. On his return he not only met with media owners and journalists and cautioned them on revealing information that would help the LTTE , he also took cognizance of the comments he had heard by appointing the ministerial committee. It was seen at the time as a first step in trying to come to terms with the growing criticism at home and abroad and mend fences with the media.
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The questions that arose when the ministerial committee was established concerned its mandate and how much teeth it would have. If the committee was merely a reactive body than one that would play a pro-active role looking into the grievances of the media-surely they do have problems even with regard to such simple matters as the non-recognition of the media accreditation card- then its effectiveness would be extremely limited. Such a committee would be one that is activated “post facto”, almost when it is too late to be of much tangible benefit. While there is a need to rethink the powers, functions and responsibilities of this six-member ministerial committee in order that it is not seen within media circles and by observers outside as mere window dressing, what happened within days of its appointment have surely raised more eyebrows than one.
The trailing of an official of the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) and a journalist and the subsequent attack on him that led to his hospitalization must cause serious concern not only in media circles at home and abroad but surely within the government itself. It should particularly concern Mahinda Rajapaksa himself as head of the government and president of the country. As it was put to me here in London following the assaults last week, “the buck stops with him.” Quite rightly that is how it is perceived here. The ultimate responsibility, they say, lies with the head of government.
This really is the dilemma for President Rajapaksa. While he realises that there is increasing trepidation abroad which could even impinge on Sri Lanka’s hopes of retaining the GSP Plus trade concessions later this year, and fear in local media circles, his efforts to build bridges with the media are being undermined by acts of violence and defiance that reverberate well beyond our shores. It is well to remember that one of those who was assaulted last week, Mahendra Ratnaweera, is a local employee of the British High Commission in Colombo. The High Commission itself might not press the matter too vigorously apart from lodging its strong protest, for obvious diplomatic reasons. But the British Government will not forget because there is a larger issue involved here than the assault on one of its local employees. That is the issue of the physical abuse of journalists and the threat and intimidation of the media.
While in continental Europe some governments are already lobbying against the extension of GSP Plus to Sri Lanka, continued acts of violence against the media could add another considerable voice to questioning the justification of extending the trade concession to us. One would not be wrong to expect the British politicians and media organisations to raise the issue with the Gordon Brown government before long thus bringing Sri Lanka into unnecessary focus again. That could be an unfortunate baptismal for Sri Lanka’s new High Commissioner to London, former Supreme Court Judge, Nihal Jayasinghe who has just assumed office here. No doubt when he pays his courtesy calls to the Foreign Office and to some of his colleagues the issue is likely to come up. But he is not the only one who would find himself in an embarrassing situation.
The foreign minister and our diplomats abroad will have to bear the cross for the ill-advised actions of some at home. The embarrassment to the Rajapaksa government comes on top of a sustained attack, rightly or wrongly, by international organisations and watchdogs on Sri Lanka’s human rights record.
If the attack on journalists is because of what they write on military matters which is said to be useful to the LTTE, then those who are responsible for these actions are handing the LTTE and critics of Sri Lanka a major propaganda weapon on a platter. That to my mind could be much worse, in the long term, than whatever information is inadvertently passed on to the LTTE by defence writers and analysts. The question that must be asked at the highest levels of government then is whether that is a situation they want. In order to silence what is perceived as some recalcitrant journalists or those whose probity have exposed some flaws, are we creating a much more dangerous situation?
It is important to consider the overall impact of these actions on the image of the country and the president as head of government.
It might not matter to some at home but the brunt of image-crushing actions have to be borne by those who represent the country abroad, particularly the ministers in charge of relevant subjects such as foreign affairs, human rights and trade and investment, and our diplomatic missions.
I’ve just read a statement by the newspaper publishers in Sri Lanka who, while urging President Rajapaksa to take action to bring the culprits to book, welcomes a remark by the president that there is a conspiracy to discredit the government by assaulting journalists. If there is one, and the president should know better as he is privy to more information and intelligence than any of us are, then it is a very serious matter and should be acted upon.
As I have said earlier, President Rajapaksa, given his long standing relationship with the media from the days when he was a young MP ( I am one who has gone to him for news on discussions at Government Parliamentary Group meetings and other political stories over 30 years ago) and his more recent attempts, has tried to establish a dialogue with the media.
Are the intimidation and assaults we are witnessing now with increased frequency an attempt to destroy that relationship? Even if that is not a conscious motive, the effect is the same.
It is driving the media more and more away from the president and creating a poor image of the country among the media abroad that are the most powerful weapons in influencing world opinion. If President Rajapaksa has any intention of having a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at No 10 before or after the extraordinary Commonwealth Summit in New York in late September, that is in grave danger of not materialising because of the mindless acts now happening.
It is not enough for the media ministers to make statements condemning assaults and intimidation every time it happens. Such statements would have meaning only if they eventually produce results and those who commit these acts receive their just desserts Perhaps these are the acts of persons very low down in the pecking order and unknown to those in authority, done hoping that this will impress authority and silence journalists.
They forget that though they might intimidate the local media they cannot silence the foreign correspondents in Colombo and the international media, which is to make the situation immensely worse. Whatever it is, the undeniable truth is that this is not doing the country or President Rajapaksa any good. He should take a personal hand in protecting his own image and not leave it to others. |
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