FMM disturbed at Army Chief’s statement

The Free Media Movement (FMM) has said it is deeply disturbed to note that Army Commander Lieut. General Sarath Fonseka has named sections of the media and journalists as traitors. The FMM said that in an interview published in the State controlled Sinhala daily Dinamina on January 2, 2008, Lieut. General Fonseka had said that this was the only obstacle the military could not surmount in its fight to defeat the LTTE.

The Commander had said,“The biggest obstacle is the unpatriotic media. I am not blaming all journalists. I know 99% of the media and journalists are patriotic and doing their job properly. But unfortunately we have a small number of traitors among the journalists. They are the biggest obstacle. All other obstacles we can surmount.”

The FMM said Lieut. General Fonseka does not go on to define who the treacherous and unpatriotic journalists are. Based however on a series of abominable statements and actions against media personnel, particularly in the embattled Jaffna peninsula, by sections of the Government and the Sri Lankan Army, the FMM believes this pointed reference is made against journalists who question Government war propaganda and report in the public interest aspects of the ongoing conflict through investigative reports,” it said.The FMM said it has repeatedly noted that media has a responsibility to report critically on policies and actions of those in power, especially at a time of war. It noted with regret that reports of significant corruption and gross lapses in security, have deeply embarrassed the Government, resulted in the naming and shaming of courageous and professional journalists as traitors, pariahs and supporters of the LTTE. For example, in October 2007, in a lengthy article captioned “Mr. Iqbal Athas, stop insulting our soldiers’ sacrifices” and posted on the Defence Ministry website, the Government charged that “Mr. Athas’ recent work raises doubts whether he has been assisting in the psychological operations of the LTTE terrorists.” It further says “Whoever attempts to reduce public support to the security forces or attempts to damage the loyalty of the soldiers towards their commanders at this moment can only be considered as those who serve the cause of the terrorists.”

“In the context of wanton violence across Sri Lanka and the culture of impunity, the FMM is gravely concerned that this latest statement by the Commander of the Sri Lankan Army is an open warrant to incite hate and harm against journalists in Sri Lanka.” “ We firmly urge the Government and the Sri Lankan Army to desist from such statements and respect the rights of journalists, the freedom of expression and media freedom,” the FMM said.

Since imprecise statements and veiled threats are easy to make and harder to justify, the FMM urgently requested Lieut. General Fonseka to provide names of the media institutions and journalists he considers “traitors” and the criteria he used to come to this understanding.