Thoughts from London

Oh no Bermeo, not again please!
Remember the old story about the fish with the big mouth? Well in case you have forgotten it let me repeat. That fish would not have got caught if it had not opened its mouth. Would someone please remind Miguel Bermeo, the UNDP’s resident representative in Colombo about this pearl of wisdom.

Last Sunday this newspaper reported Bermeo’s thoughts on journalism and journalists. He was the chief guest at the first “graduation ceremony” of the Sri Lanka College of Journalism. I always thought that one graduated from a university. At least it was so when we studied.

But education in Sri Lanka being what it is today and international schools - some American ones too - sprouting like mushrooms from Kayts to Kataragama, I suppose anything is possible. Scant wonder Miguel Bermeo thought he could divert attention from the sins of international agencies and institutions operating here by expatiating on the ills of Sri Lankan journalism.

“During the period of the tsunami, the need for good journalism was indispensable,” Bermeo reportedly said. I hope that in the meantime Bermeo has not written to the editor of this newspaper denying the words attributed to him like Peter Harrold, the World Bank’s Colombo director who was struck with a bout of amnesia.

After all, what better occasion to fault the media than after an event organised by the local media bosses themselves. Since this event was held almost a week before last Sunday’s news report I don’t really know whether any newspaper or media outlet has commented on Bermeo’s speech of which I have seen only the few paragraphs carried last Sunday.If they haven’t, they have been remiss. By vilifying the Sri Lankan media Bermeo is trying to turn the spotlight away from his own diplomatic faux pas, partisanship and lack of respect for the government of the host country (whichever government it is) and the gaffes of other international civil servants and their ilk.

Bermeo says that during the tsunami the need for good journalism was indispensable. Is he really serious or talking through his sombrero? Are we to understand from this remark that only during a tsunami (or other natural disaster) that good journalism is needed, or indispensable to use his word?
Surely good journalism should be the norm at all times. Unfortunately it is not immediately clear whether Bermeo was referring to the post-tsunami performance of Sri Lanka’s journalists or of journalists in general, especially the hordes from the foreign media that descended on the country like locusts.

Those who were not in Sri Lanka at the time but followed the tragic events on their television screens might well be inclined to tell Bermeo that his remarks might have been more appropriately addressed to them at the time.

I still remember Sky News repeating a one-sided story from their reporter Peter Sharp in Mullaitivu throughout the day. When the then Sri Lanka High Commissioner Faisz Musthapha objected, Sky reluctantly interviewed him.

Musthapha’s comments that corrected factual errors and misrepresentations, were briefly carried in one newscast in the afternoon and then dropped altogether while Sky News continued to air the Peter Sharp story.

But it does not seem that Bermeo was condemning such blatant displays of bias and irresponsible journalism by international news media. He prefers to pick on less powerful, local media just as his organisation has tried to bully Sri Lanka for not succumbing to its ‘diktats’. The other paragraphs quoted from his speech surely point to the fact that Bermeo was referring to Sri Lanka.

“The social responsibility,” he said, “of journalists is not to sensationalise the story or point fingers. Proper reporting reminds us of accountability. Sri Lanka needs good and fair journalists.”

In one fell sweep he condemned the entire journalistic tribe in the country.
Mind you, he is not saying Sri Lanka needs more good and fair journalists. Oh no. The implication is clear enough. There are no good and fair journalists in this country where Bermeo has made his nest and some have made a nest egg, to judge by how the US$167 million of UN flash appeal aid is to be spent.

All these years we have been waiting for somebody from the heavens to show us the light. And now Bermeo has been sent to us so he might pontificate on social responsibility, sensationalism and the pointing of fingers. True, all is not well with our media. But so is it with the western media too, perhaps worse.

Admittedly that is no excuse. Still that does not give Bermeo the prerogative to make ex-cathedra statements on the state of journalism.
If Bermeo’s concern for social responsibility is genuine he would not mind enlightening us on matters regarding UN aid for tsunami rehabilitation and how it is to be spent.

Let’s start with that flash appeal which, I believe, was prepared in the UNDP office in Colombo. Media reports I saw some months ago set out the different subjects for which money was required. We are not experts in preparing these aid appeals but could Bermeo say how much of the $166 odd million was really for the victims of the tsunami and how much of it would go to maintain expatriate officials already there and others flown in under the guise of the tsunami?

After all this is not Bermeo’s money. It comes from UN funds and UN funds come from contributions of member-countries and extra contributions. Social responsibility and accountability that Bermeo is so concerned with demands that such aid should go to those who need and deserve it, not to fatten expatriate officials who find disasters a lucrative ground.

If by social responsibility Bermeo means that charity begins at home and the first responsibility is to ensure the well being of UN staff and consultants, fair enough. Having had experience of how UN staff serve themselves when the serving spoon is in their hand, it comes as no surprise that a substantial share of the aid would never reach those for whom it is intended.

Bermeo deprecates finger pointing. Of course, he will. Sections of the media pointed the finger at Bermeo’s office as one of the culprits-if not the main one- for that unprecedented message of condolence his boss Kofi Annan issued at the killing of Kaushalyan, known to be a terrorist.
Was this, the UNDP’s way of getting back at the Sri Lanka Government for keeping Kofi Annan away from the Wanni though the Colombo office was keen on it?

Let Bermeo remember that he is just a servant of the UN and the UN is not an independent supranational body with power to act on its own.
We don’t need to mention all the rackets and irresponsible conduct in the UN and its agencies that has resulted in the resignations of senior officials, do we, Mr Bermeo? That would be finger pointing, no hombre?

Before Vicente Fox was elected President of Mexico, he was a provincial governor. When I interviewed him in Hong Kong he was confident of being elected president and even invited me to be his guest after the election. He had a small, colourful replica of a sombrero sent to me as a souvenir.
Unfortunately that is too small for Bermeo to cover his shame. Otherwise I would have gladly sent him that Mexican hat to cover his face. Anyway I’m sure he has one large enough for the purpose.

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