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Cs to guide Press Complaints Commission Speaking at the inauguration of the PCC in Colombo on Wednesday, Mr. Wijesinha said that one of the key features the Commission would be concentrating on would be to provide redress to complainants and the institution concerned in a manner that the PCC feels is fair to both sides. The PCC which has been introduced as an alternative to the Press Council will function as a self-regulatory body. Mr. Wijesinha said that providing justice without delay and also at low cost would be possible through the introduction of the PCC, which has been set up on similar lines of the British Press Complaints Commission. Tracing the history of the printing industry and how measures were taken to control the press, Mr. Wijesinha said that the technique first developed in China and later spread to European countries where there was strict control over the printed word. He said that the death penalty was imposed in France for unauthorized printing while in England tough penalties were imposed on obnoxious publications against the state. He said that a fine of 10,000 pounds sterling had been imposed on such publications in Britain. He said that governments and the powerful were worried about publications. He said governments were scared of the printed word and wanted to control them and introduce one-sided legislation. He said that democracy is still in a stage of developing and is constantly being developed for the use of humanity. 'We sometimes tend to think that a particular aspect of governance has developed. But we must always remember that none of these things have reached finality. Democracy was introduced in the British Empire, in many countries. We have various forms of democracy - guided democracy, limited democracy, etc. But we must not run away with the idea that democracy itself has reached a final stage', he said. 'Democracy is developing, so is federalism. People ask what is a federal state. Nobody can define that. Even a federal state changes according to necessities', he said. Former Government Agent of Jaffna, Dr. Devanesan Nesiah who is a member of the PCC and Chief Executive Officer Manique Mendis also spoke. Consultant of the PCC, S. Dammulla said that the Press Council stands abolished after the PCC became effective and added that the 10 Press Councils which existed worldwide would now be reduced to nine. The PCC will entertain verbal or written complaints regarding any offending publication in any newspaper in the country, but verbal complaints will not be inquired into and will only be referred to the relevant newspaper. A specific form has been made available for written complaints. Complaints referred to the PCC will be resolved by way of conciliation, mediation or arbitration, depending on the requirement of the complainant. |
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