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Alleged assault of journalist at H’tota port: Govt. stays mum
The now infamous incident between the Navy Commander and a journalist
Despite local protests by local journalists and condemnation by international media rights bodies, the Government remains unmoved over any action against Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne.
He physically assaulted Rohan Pradeep Kumara, a provincial journalist, who was covering the strike by workers of the Hambantota Port. About ten journalists had turned up to cover the event. They said no areas were designated “no go zones.”
Vice Admiral Wijegunaratne wearing T-shirt and shorts held Pradeep Kumara and allegedly assaulted him. A Naval rating on duty shouted “umbata gahanney umba media hinda” – you are being assaulted because you are from the media.
Later, several television stations broadcast video footage in which obscene language was heard being uttered by Navy personnel against the journalist. “I was assaulted despite identifying myself as a media person and even displaying my media accreditation card issued by the Government Information Department,” Mr. Kumara told the Sunday Times. He said that he had named Vice Admiral Wijegunaratne as the person who assaulted him when he complained to the police.
In the absence of any action, a group of 200 journalists gathered outside the Colombo Fort Railway Station on Thursday for a demonstration – the first since the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Government took office. They chanted slogans saying the Government had reneged on its promise to protect media freedom. Among the many placards they carried, one asked “President Sirisena. Is this the way you treat the media?”
Adding insult to injury over the attack was a statement by Dr. Ranga Kalansooriya, Director General of Information saying that according to preliminary inquiries, ‘the concern journalist had violated basic ethical practices when covering sensitive conflict situations’.
He later told the media that he regretted that if a wrong interpretation had been given to his statement and that he was trying to emphasize on the measures to be taken in covering situations during conflicts.
There were no signs yesterday that any action would be forthcoming. Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiaratchchi said he was still studying a report sent to him by the Navy. The Navy Chief had also handed in a report to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Deputy Minister Karunarathne Paranawithana said there will only be a police inquiry on the complaint lodged by the provincial correspondent who was allegedly assaulted by the Navy Commander.
Journalists protest against the Hambantota incident in Colombo Fort on Thursday. Pic by Amila Gamage
“The Government expresses regrets about the incident. Yet the law of the country applies to all including the journalist. No one can enter a high security zone without permission, especially when international ships are held hostage. The situation then was akin to an act of piracy.”
“The Navy Commander’s duty is to free the ships and even has the power to shoot anyone who does not allow that to be done.
Media personnel were not allowed to be at the jetty.”
“The Navy Commander’s quick response could be admired but the Media Ministry does not approve of his behaviour towards the media correspondent.”
The attack on the journalist also drew reactions from international media organisations. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) the world’s largest organisation of journalists with around 600,000 members in 140 countries was among them.
“The assault of a journalist by the Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy was a condemnable act. The IFJ is seriously concerned by the assault of a journalist by the head of a security force and demands immediate action against him by the Sri Lankan government”, the IFJ said in a statement.
“Such an incident, if allowed to pass will not only undermine press freedom and the rights of the media but also have a chilling effect on the free press.”, the statement added.