“Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedara asked, “what is all this fuss about media freedom?”
“Why, Bindu,” Bindu’s father Percy said, “who is fussing about media freedom?”
“Well,” Bindu explained, “it is the media itself...”
“And why are they doing that?” Percy wanted to know.
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “I would expect them to fuss because of the recent events that have happened...”
“Why do you say that?” Percy inquired.
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “at first, several journalists were threatened or assaulted, then a television station was set on fire, thereafter an editor of a newspaper was assassinated and now another editor has been assaulted...”
“That sounds strange...” Percy observed.
“Why do you say that, thaaththa?” Bindu asked.
“There are so many incidents that it is hard to believe they are a series of co-incidences...” Percy declared.
“But thaaththa,” Bindu pointed out, “if they are not coincidences, it means someone is staging them...”
“Yes,” Percy said, “that is a possibility...”
“And that is what the media chaps are also complaining about...” Bindu said.
“Why,” Percy demanded, “what are they complaining about?”
“They seem to point the finger at the usual suspects...” Bindu said.
“And who are these usual suspects?” Percy wanted to know.
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “whenever the media is under assault, it is usually the government of the day that is the usual suspect...”
“That is certainly so...” Percy agreed.
“So, thaaththa,” Bindu asked, “are we to believe these allegations, then?”
“But what does the government say about them?” Percy queried.
“Well,” Bindu said, “they are asking why they would want to spoil their high popularity at this point in time by staging attacks on the media...”
“And what makes them believe that they are so popular now?” Percy retorted.
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “aren’t they popular because of the military victories in the north where a new area is being liberated every day?”
“There is some truth in that,” Percy conceded, “but that wouldn’t mean that everybody in the government is popular, although Mahinda maama might be, because he is the one responsible for continuing the military campaign in the north when there was so much international pressure to stop it...”
“Still, thaaththa,” Bindu persisted, “doesn’t that bring us back to the initial question?”
“And what is that?” Percy asked.
“Why would the government spoil its popularity by staging attacks on the media?” Bindu asked.
“Remember, Bindu,” Percy cautioned, “there is another side to that argument...”
“And what is that, thaaththa?” Bindu wanted to know.
“Why, Bindu, isn’t it possible that if the government really wanted to stage all these attacks on the media, there would be no better time to stage them than when it is at the peak of its popularity?” Percy suggested.
“I suppose someone could argue that way too...” Bindu conceded.
“So, it will be really difficult to find out who is responsible for all these attacks...” Percy observed.
“I am not so sure about that, thaaththa...” Bindu said.
“Why, Bindu,” Percy was puzzled, “how could you say that?”
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “someone has already explained that the attacks on the television station were staged by the television station itself to claim the insurance money...”
“So,” Percy asked, “what are you suggesting?”
“If that is indeed so, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “then, maybe that editor got himself assaulted to get some publicity and increase the circulation of his newspaper and the others who were assaulted staged it themselves so they could seek asylum somewhere, and we are all making much ado about nothing...”
Percy didn’t quite know what to say to that.