WikiLeaks:‘There Will Be No Investigation, No One Will Be Able To Find Out What Happened To Keith’ – Gota
June
27, 2012
By
Colombo Telegraph-
“Rajapaksa
reportedly went on to say that the investigation of the Noyahr incident would
lead nowhere. ‘There will be no investigation. It will reach a certain point and
stop. No one will be able to find out what happened.’ He castigated journalists
in general for focusing attention on Sri Lanka’s human rights record. ‘Human
rights mean nothing. We do not want to be bothered about it while we’re fighting
a war. Because of the international campaign, we can’t arrest anyone. But I
don’t care; I will do what I want. The military will campaign for criminal
defamation laws to stop all this. The fundamental rights provisions of the
Constitution have to be repealed.’”the US Embassy Colombo informed
Washington.
‘Human rights mean nothing. We do not want to be bothered
about it while we're fighting a war. Because of the international campaign, we
can't arrest anyone. But I don't care; I will do what I want.
Secretary
to the ministry of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa made above remarks with Sanath
Balasooriya and Poddala jayantha , the president and the secretary of Sri Lanka
Working Journalists Association.
The Colombo Telegraph found the
related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database
dated June 2, 2008. The cable is classified as “CONFIDENTIAL” and written by the
US Ambassador to Colombo Robert Blake. The cable details the media suppression
situation just after the abduction and beating of defense journalist Keith
Noyahr. The cable also details a meeting Secretary to the ministry of Defence
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and two media workers Sanath Balasooriya and Poddala
jayantha has had with.
Related
posts:
Below
we give the relevant part of the confidential cable;
REF: COLOMBO 507 Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT O. BLAKE, JR. REASONS: 1.4(b,d).
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Defense Secretary summoned two media workers from the government-owned publishing house. He reportedly harangued them for over two hours for participating in a rally to protest the abduction and beating of defense journalist Keith Noyahr. The journalists told us that Gothabaya told them that "groups that revere Army Commander Fonseka" would kill them if they persisted in their campaign for media freedom. Five media organizations released a letter to the Defense Secretary deploring his actions. Several other journalists reported surveillance, harassment and intimidation by shadowy groups likely linked to the Defense Ministry. The CEO of the independent newspaper Noyahr works for has fled the country. The paper's editor told us he fears for his life and for his family and may seek temporary refuge abroad. The paper's majority owner is reportedly negotiating to divest his shares in the company. Government spokesmen have generally been dismissive of the threats to the media. The Defense Ministry will reportedly seek draconian censorship and criminal defamation legislation to shut down any criticism of the government's conduct of the war. The campaign against media critics of the administration appears aimed at discovering their sources within the military's disgruntled officer corps and is likely linked to the Army Commander's effort to gain another extension of his term beyond the normal retirement age. End summary.
¶6. (C) Rajapaksa reportedly went on to say that the investigation of the Noyahr incident would lead nowhere. "There will be no investigation. It will reach a certain point and stop. No one will be able to find out what happened." He castigated journalists in general for focusing attention on Sri Lanka's human rights record. "Human rights mean nothing. We do not want to be bothered about it while we're fighting a war. Because of the international campaign, we can't arrest anyone. But I don't care; I will do what I want. The military will campaign for criminal defamation laws to stop all this. The fundamental rights provisions of the Constitution have to be repealed."
BLAKE
