Restrictions and intimidation on journalists covering resettlement process in the Vanni
From Lines Magazine
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“The Government should ensure the freedom of movement of media personnel in the North and East, as it would help in the exchange of information contributing to reconciliation” (Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, recommendation 9.115-d)
After more than 11 months of the LLRC report being handed over to the President, the above recommendation remains far from reality, despite the National Action Plan to Implement Recommendations of the LLRC reaffirming it by committing to identify and remove impediments to free movement of media personnel in the North and East.
A few days ago, I accompanied a crew from a local TV station to the Mullativu district to do a story on the life of the last batches of people who left Menik Farm before its closure in late September 2012.
First, our team met the Government Agent for Mullativu, who told us we could go and film the resettlement and relocation areas, and in fact, encouraged us to give maximum coverage to avoid misrepresentation of facts. Considering restrictions imposed by the military on journalists who had visited before[1], our team asked whether the GA could give us a letter granting us permission to go to Seeniyamottai[2]. He however told us that there were no restrictions, no necessity to obtain approval, and hence, no requirement for any letters.
“The Government should ensure the freedom of movement of media personnel in the North and East, as it would help in the exchange of information contributing to reconciliation” (Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, recommendation 9.115-d)Sri Lanka war on words continues
Page last updated at 13:47 GMT, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 14:47 UK
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The issue of Sri Lankan press freedom has triggered protests at home and around the world
One month after Tamil Tigers rebels were defeated in Sri Lanka with the death of their leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, the working environment for journalists shows no sign of improving, as this correspondent, who prefers to remain unnamed, reports from Colombo.
Independent journalists in Sri Lanka say they still feel threatened and intimidated.
A journalist union leader was recently abducted and assaulted on his way home in Colombo within weeks of the government announcing the end of combat operations against the Tamil Tigers on 19 May.
State run media, particularly the Sinhala language electronic media, have continuously accused those who criticised human rights violations and other excesses during the last stages of war as either supporting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) or being paid by them.
Those accusations have not diminished with the end of the fighting.
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