Sunday Times 2
Misinformation in the media playing havoc in the country
View(s):A spate of misinformation in the media, including on-line media, is playing havoc in the country. No doubt there have been far too many incidents of violence, and the Police too are allegedly involved in several of them. One would even conclude that there is no law and order at all in this country.
Media demonstration demanding the right to safety in discharging their duties following the death in Embilipitiya.
Yet, there is nothing so volatile as misinformation and rumour, especially in connection with incidents of violence involving student demonstrations, trade union demos, political and religious demos and the Police. The Police of course has always been the bashing boys of the media.
It is very saddening to see even the reputed newspapers publishing misinformation and rumours giving them the air of admissible evidence. Experienced media officers would know only too well how the rumour mill works overtime in Sri Lanka. Many a catastrophe has been the result of rumour and misinformation.
True, misinformation and rumour attract public attention and the newspapers are quick to grab them without checking on the evidential value of the misinformation, with a view to promote their sales. But one would expect the media to be more helpful to the public.
As a case in point I take the news item published at page A8 of the Daily Mirror dated 26th January 2016 titled “Social activists cast doubt over transparency in Embilipitiya probe.” The news item goes on to quote attorney Udul Premaratne having stated that, “Handing over the investigation to the CID when all evidence was available to prove that this case was a murder has created a genuine doubt in our minds.” This matter is still under investigation by the magistrate and the magistrate has called for CID reports of further investigations. The magistrate has not yet concluded the magisterial inquiry and come to a finding. While this is the position of the magisterial inquiry, wherein did the attorney obtain all the evidences to prove that this is a murder? Is this not contempt of court?
The same news item carries: “Attorney Lakshan Dias said that it was high time that the Police Commission also learnt to maintain an impartial and independent stance with transparency when conducting investigations.” It is clear that this attorney and possibly the newspaper do not know that the Police commission is not mandated to investigate complaints and it does not even have investigating officers attached to the commission. If one wishes to know the powers of the Police commission, one has only to go to its web site and one will find everything there.
Apart from media institutions, it is a matter for great regret to read misinformation in ‘on line media’, spewed out by some retired chiefs of police. May I repeat my plea asking the media to be more helpful to the public.
(Tassie Seneviratne is a Retired Senior Superintendent of Police)