From Thalif Deen
at the United Nations
Responding to a question at a UN news conference on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama pointedly rejected an accusation made by one of his own colleagues that UN Humanitarian Affairs Chief John Holmes was a "terrorist" in the payroll of the LTTE.
Asked if the government had any concrete evidence, he said there wasn't. "Obviously, there is no foundation to the charges," he added. In his explanation, Bogollagama distanced himself from the controversial remarks when he said "this was not the position of the government of Sri Lanka." He said he had met Mr. Holmes and explained the government position.
The accusations were made by Highways Minister and Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle who attacked Mr. Holmes for saying that Sri Lanka was one of the world's most dangerous places for international aid workers."In a democracy, politicians tend to come up with certain remarks to suit their own thinking," Mr. Bogollagama said. "I have not associated those remarks either with the government's position or my own position."
Asked about the harassment of Sunday Times Consultant Editor Iqbal Athas, for his expose of a reportedly corruption-ridden MiG fighter deal, Mr. Bogollagama said: "This story is very much in the news because the focus is on a journalist."
He said the government's position is very clear: "there have been no threats against the journalist concerned". The minister said, "everyone is enjoying press freedom in Sri Lanka." The Sunday newspapers are a reflection of the diversities of a free and liberal press. "They can attack the government, they can criticise the president, they can criticise ministers -- and still life goes on."
He assured "there is no persecution of journalists". "If that was the case, the Editor's Guild could take up this matter strongly.""I know these allegations are being levelled against the government, and that this journalist (Athas) is being persecuted. He is in Sri Lanka and he continues to be in Sri Lanka. And he is a friend of ours."
The minister also said the government had responded to a letter by Senator Joe Biden, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who expressed his concern "about the personal safety of Mr. Athas, a respected journalist whose reporting appears to have exposed him to serious and disturbing threats."
The government's response to Mr. Biden's letter has not been made public so far. |
