The Situation Report

7th June 1998

President Kumaratunga censored by Military censor

Censorship again

By Iqbal Athas

The two paras that were not censored

Ranil's comments in Pelmadulla

The Sunday Times regrets the Situation Report for this week has been fully censored by the Military Censor. He has even deleted previously published statements made by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at a public function in Colombo. Only a single paragraph of what she said has been approved though President Kumaratunga is also the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. It read:

"Speaking at the National Convention of Tea Smallholders she emphasised the need to ensure requisite measures are adopted to end the war and implement the political proposals before the crisis gets out of hand."

Whilst doing so, the Military Censor has chosen it fit to approve for publication only another paragraph from the Situation Report copy. (See box story below on this page)

In the Situation Report last week I reported that "Operation Jaya Sikurui" (Victory Assured) had resumed. I said:

"The operation began at an auspicious hour after 5 a.m. on Thursday but the fullest thrust of the offensive is yet to commence. The immediate objective is to seize Mankulam junction. Troops were advancing on two fronts in what appeared to be a move to encircle Mankulam."

I said: "Details of the operation were being clouded in top secrecy with no reports reaching either Army Headquarters or the rear headquarters in the Wanni. The authorities have decided on a news blackout until substantial gains are made. Hence there will be no regular news releases or announcements."

In this backdrop, Deputy Defence Minister, General Anuruddha Ratwatte, who is directing the Government's military campaign against the LTTE, held a top level conference at the Joint Operations Headquarters (JOH) in Vavuniya on Thursday.

On Friday, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, issued a proclamation under the Public Security Ordinance promulgating the Emergency (Prohibition on Publication and Transmission of Sensitive Military Information) Regulations No 1 of 1998. These regulations imposed a total ban on reporting "any operations carried out or proposed to be carried out by the armed forces or the Police force (including the Special Task Force), the deployment of troops or equipment, including aircraft or naval vessels, or any statement pertaining to the official conduct or the performance of the Head or any member of any of the Armed Forces or the Police Force."

The text of the new Emergency Regulations clamping down a censorship was delivered to newspaper offices with a letter from the Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mr. Chandrananda de Silva.

The letter said Major General Jaliya Nammuni, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army has been appointed as the Competent Authority for the purposes of the said Regulation.

The Emergency (Prohibition on Publication of Sensitive Military Information) Regulations No 1 of 1998 says:

The Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40)

Regulations made by the President under Section 5 of the Public Security Ordinance.

Colombo

05 June 1998

Regulations

1. These regulations may be cited as the Emergency (Prohibition on Publication and Transmission of Sensitive Military Information) Regulations No. 1 of 1998.

2. No Editor or Publisher of a Newspaper or any person authorised by or under law, to establish and operate a Broadcasting Station or a Television Station shall whether in or outside Sri Lanka print, publish distribute or transmit whether by means of electronic devices or otherwise or causes to be printed, published, distributed or transmitted whether by electronic means or otherwise, any material containing any matter which pertains to any operations carried out or proposed to be carried out, by the Armed Forces or the Police Force (including the Special Task Force), the deployment of troops or personnel or the deployment or use of equipment, including aircraft or naval vessels, by any such forces or any statement pertaining to the official conduct or the performance of the Head or any member of any of the Armed Forces or the Police Force.

3. Where any person prints, publishes, distributes or transmits or causes to be printed, published, distributed or transmitted whether by electronic means or otherwise, any matter in contravention of the provisions. of Regulation 2, the Competent Authority may, after issuing such directions as he considers necessary to effect compliance whith the provisions of such regulation make order the press or equipment used for such printing, publication, distribution or transmission shall for such period as is specified in that order not to be used for the purpose of printing, publication, distribution or transmission of any matter referred to in regulation 2 and the Competent Authority may by the same order authorise any person specified therein to take such steps as appears to the person so authorised to be necessary, for preventing the printing, publication, distribution or transmission of any such material.

4. The President may for the purpose of these regulations, appoint, by name or by office, any person or body of persons to be the Competent Authority.

5. Any person who prints, publishes, distributes or transmits. any material in contravention of the provisions of regulation 2 shall be guilty of an offence.

Emergency (Prohibition on Publication and Transmission of Sensitive Military Information) Regulations, No. 1 of 1998.

By virtue of the powers vested in me by Regulation 4 of the Emergency (Prohibition on Publication and Transmission of Sensitive Military Information) Regulations, No. 1 of 1998, i Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratuga, President do by this Order appoint Major General J. Nammuni, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army as the Competent Authority for the purposes of the said Regulation.

Colombo

05 June 1998

The two paras that were not censored

Speaking at the National Convention of Tea Smallholders she emphasised the need to ensure requisite measures are adopted to end the war and implement the political proposals before the crisis gets out of hand.

.......These developments during a week prompted the authorities to clamp down a total censorship for the first time appoint a Military Censor. The last time a censorship was in force was during the conduct of "Operation Riviresa" for the re-capture of the Jaffna peninsula. This six month long censorship where civilian officials functioned as Competent Authority was withdrawn on October 6, 1996.

Ranil's comments in Pelmadulla

UNP and Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told a party meeting on Friday that the Government has imposed a censorship to prevent The Sunday Times Defence Correspondent Iqbal Athas and others reporting the war at Mankulam.

Addressing UNP cluster organisations at Pelmadulla Mr. Wickremesinghe called upon those responsible for conducting the war against the LTTE to resign rather than prevent the people from getting to know the truth about the war.

Fifth Column

Editorial/Opinion Contents