Editorial

21st November 1999

Censors reborn

The government's sudden sensitization to election law, and the blitzkrieg against the so called advertising campaigns carried out by Presidential candidates looks more like the work of a political party on the defensive than one that is confident of carrying the day on the 21st.

Former censor (Competent Authority) Sarath Amunugama, with his considerable authoritarian experiences with the scissors (a born again demagogue shall we say?) has made some weighty statements invoking election law and stating why "no political advertisements will be allowed.''

If the government is feeling conscientious about the laws governing elections, may be an analysis should be made of the spirit of the law from the brass tacks upwards. The state media is an advertising carnival for the government, whether the news carried therein is called ''advertising'' "commercials'' or by any other name.

The influence of the ruling party over the state media is overarching and is a stupendous advantage considering the very broad reach and coverage of the Rupavahini and the state radio. This advantage is not about to be abdicated by the state, through the suddenly conscientious Mr. Amunugama or through any other sudden complacent impulse.

But, the government, meaning the People's Alliance dispensation, then steps out to obliterate any advertising allowed to the other Presidential candidates over the private media as well.

Considering the advantage already enjoyed by the People's Alliance due to the monopoly over the state controlled airwaves, this move to exercise control over the privately owned media looks more like a paranoid reaction on the part of the PA than an act of fair-mindedness, propriety or rectitude. That's more than a bit ironic, considering the President's confident boast in public that she is already ahead in the race and is virtually assured of winning the December 21st elections.

It must be a nervous candidate and a nervous dispensation that is running scared of the concept of a level playing field, which is a precursor for any electoral toss up. The controversy about how the government chose the elections commissioner adds to the suspicion that the Chandrika government is determined to win the polls by hook or by crook, which flies in the face of the President's stated position that she by far enjoys the people's confidence.

Dr Amunugama, a media guru who now appears to be a self styled Goebbels more than a Marshall Mac Luhan avatar and communications expert, has said that "we have evidence most of the talk shows in private television channels have been rigged by the UNP.''

So, what's new, Mr Media Czar alias Censor born again, when the state media rigs the news, and the talk shows and the advertisements and the behind – the - news and perhaps all but the weather report , or maybe that as well, all the time?

If Dr. Amunugama or anyone in the state wants a lily white media land, as the elections approach, they should perhaps be told that they can't do it even if its decided that all the media establishments in Sri Lanka are pasteurized.

As long as the private electronic media establishments are willing to carry government advertisements as well, there is every reason to say that the laws of the free market that operate in other spheres of activity should operate when it comes to election advertising? .

That's the way it happens in other truly democratic countries where any candidate who can raise the funds is free to go to any television station and air his spots.

In case anybody did not notice the inanity of the state arguments against affording air time to Presidential candidates, they should be referred to the state of affairs that obtains in the private print press.

Candidates are free to advertise in the newspapers the extent to which their budgets allow it; if that's the case with the print media, the government's effort to do it differently when it comes to the electronic channels speaks for itself. The government – and the Censor – are indubitably in an election funk.

The Political Column

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