The poem of father Martin Neelamore that came to the stage in 1988, 89, has come up again these days. We could see his poem highlighted over and over again in some feature articles and columns. This was also voiced loudly during the funeral of Mr. Lasantha Wickramatunge who was assassinated quite freely. The reason is by then the media freedom one after the other was being subjected to serious danger. This time these threats has gone beyond mere frightening of the media where it was obvious that some terrorist act that would make anyone think that their lives are more important than anything else no matter how brave they are, taking place. Assassins did not just throw a bomb and run away. The assassinations looked more organized and free. They also made sure that death is certain and the assassins also did not show any fear of their own safety. Hence what has happened here is not mere frightening, but terrorization.
Most of the media reports that appeared from the 18th to 22nd January have obviously tried to say something in this regard irrespective of the serious threats that came their way. Attempts were made by the Sinhala newspapers to educate their readers about the danger using news opinions, column letters, ideas, editorials and cartoons. Analysis of the danger was made with Lasantha assassination and the attack on Sirasa TV studio as the main theme. Among them there was also a report of law not being activated where the media men are concerned, inability to track the killers and numbers of journalists killed world wide. The Sihala newspaper of Lasantha’s publishing company allocated many pages about the Lasantha assassination and the dangers faced by the media. In one of the govt newspapers there was a report of three suspects of the Sirasa attack surrendering to the police.
Meanwhile “Ravaya” newspaper had the statements and allegations made against the media by Defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse in a TV interview in one of their head lines pointing out the danger of his allegations and statements. In some other articles they have also pointed out the considerable danger the media is faced with now. It also said in one of the front page news slots that the President, during an interview with media owners, saying that media should stop using ways that would encourage terrorism. Although the media field was quite upset over the serious allegations made by the defence secretary on TV we could not see any other newspaper making an effort to express their views with it as the subject. However facing this terrorization head on in five days Sinhala newspapers published at least 60 articles, cartoons and editorials in this regard.
During this period the Tamil newspapers apparently paid a lot of attention to the harm brought on Tamil people by the war and incidents relating to Indian pressure with regard to the crisis of these people. They published a letter or two on Lasantha’s assassination and the attack on Sirasa TV while also publishing 12 reports about agitations made against media suppression. Right along the Tamil media, who had been subjected to most amount of suppression in recent times, has been refraining from analyzing situations in general. This stance is noticeable even at this juncture where media in common seem to be frightened.
Although the English newspapers did not have extensive coverage like the Sinhala newspapers, they did publish a minimum of 25 reports. One of the newspaper articles had a different view than others that reveals the fact that many media men are forced to leave Sri Lanka as they are finding it too dangerous to live here. It also said of a request made from the Sri Lankan govt to ensure the safety of Sri Lankan media men who migrated abroad and get them down, using a statement made by the chief of Medicina Sans Frontiers Asia/Pacific as the basis.
Though not within the assessment period Rivira editor Upali Thennakoon has also been attacked by thugs on the 23rd of January and is now under treatment. The govt media expressed their sorrow by pointing out that he is a supporter of govt development program and operations. Many were badly perplexed over the fact that a person of this nature also had to face such a situation.
By now many signs have been sent out that all media should henceforth work according to the requirements of the govt. Many media men and journalists have left the country for safety. Meanwhile there are newspaper reports of the opposition, civil organizations and the media joining together to rise against media suppression. All this is happening while the govt propaganda machine is bringing forth the grandeur of war victories that can easily push aside other problems of the country. However if remained in silence the media freedom that is the basis of all freedoms of the country will get destroyed along with democracy. By ignoring the hand of suppression when it is aimed at all fields saying it is not relevant to us, there will be no one to speak for us when it finally points in our direction. The media men must loudly point out this danger to the society in the same way Father Neelomar wrote in his poem those days in Germany because if they do not do so it is not just the media that will be destroyed in the process but all other democratic structures as well.
