Hearings of the Commission to Inquire into the Complaints regarding Missing Persons

by  Groundviews 

-  On  02/13/2014 

The letter I send you is from a Collective of Families of Disappeared Persons who engaged in the Sri Lankan government's disappearences commission. It highlights a number of problems in the commission process. The government has promised to carry out a number of LLRC recommendations, including a "critical" recommendation to establish a commission to investigate disappearances. The information in this letter indicates that the commission's investigative process is seriously flawed. 

Hearings of the Commission to inquire Into the Complaints Regarding Missing Persons by nelvely

Mosque in Dehiwala ordered to close down NSC dismayed 

By Aisha Nazim -February 13, 2014
 
The National Shoora Council (NSC) Comprising prominent Muslims and religious organizations, has expressed dismay at the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs, directing the Divisional Secretary, Dehiwala, and the Police, to Close down a Mosque in Dehiwala, eases the Divisional Secretary having no authority to do so.
 
"Some foreign Governments at the United Nations Human Rights Council have openly threatened action (UNHRC) in Geneva Sessions scheduled for March 2014, When the allegations against Sri Lanka, which are said to include alleged violations against minority religions and their places of worship, are taken up. We are terribly dismayed that the actions of the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs would only prove that these allegations against our country are true, "Head of the NSC, Tariq Mahmoud, said.

Meanwhile, addressing a letter to the Assistant Divisional Secretary for Dehiwala, Thanuja Fernando, the Secretary of the NSC, Ismail NM, Fernando talpa out if that carries out the illegal request made ​​by the ministry, would IT Impact On Peaceful coexistence between the the different Communities.

ordering The letter further stated that the Police would Mosque Approved to shut down an unwarranted interference in the religious practices of a Community tantamount to. IT also emphasized the Importance of the Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Ministry of the duties, One of which should be to provide leadership for Unity and peace, and also to desist From creating religious or ethnic Lines On Divisions.

NM also cited a Previous correspondence between Fernando and the Religious Affairs Ministry, pointing out that, in that instance, Fernando had clearly stated that she was furnished with the appropriate documents of approval for the mosque by the trustees of the said mosque.

Sri Lanka Blocks Two More Tamil Websites

  Feb-12-2014

Sri Lanka is tightening avenues of free speech of Tamils ​​as Resolution for War Crimes at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council nears.

(COLOMBO, Sri Lanka) - The Sri Lankan Government has blocked two more Tamil Websites, signaling a crackdown on media freedom in that island.

Websites are the Two BLOCKED: httpwwwputhinappalakai. com / and httpseithycom   

Several Tamil websites have already been blocked and there are several incidents of physical attacks on Tamil journalists and Tamil media offices. During the conflict scores of Tamil journalists were killed and disappeared.

"The war has ended five years ago, but the attack on Tamil media points to continuing crackdown on media freedom and the Sri Lankan Government's determination to intimidate and silence Tamils ​​ahead of UN Human Rights Council Session" said Minister for Media of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), Mr. Sutharsan Sivagurunathan.

With the a Sri Lanka Resolution for War Crimes at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council Resolution in the horizon, Sri Lankan Government is tightening all avenues of free speech of Tamils ​​in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has been classified as a "country under surveillance" in the Reporters Without Borders report on "Enemies of the Internet". Sri Lanka is also ranked 158th out of 178 countries in the Reporters Without Borders annual press freedom index.

Source: Media TGTE (Trans National Govt. Of Tamil Eelam)

Mass held at killing field, Mannaar Bishop demands international investigation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 February 2014, 10:43 GMT]
We should never give up the struggle seeking the truth, said Bishop of Mannaar, Dr. Rayappu Joseph, attending a special mass and prayer service held on Wednesday at the St Lourde's church at Maanthai, just across the spot where excavations of a killing field have so far brought out 61 skeletons. The mass was dedicated to the disappeared. Speaking at the mass, the Bishop demanded international investigation on the disappearance of people in the war and he was specific about the Maanthai killing field. He also reminded the crowd on the number of the disappeared [146, 678], which he had earlier brought out at the LLRC. Intelligence sleuths of Colombo were present at the mass, recording the Bishop's speech. 

The government can't go on with producing lies. We have lost faith in any local mechanism that investigates the killings. Instead, we need independent international investigation that has no political affiliation, and we should witness the investigation, the Bishop demanded.

The local mechanism is like the perpetrators investigating what happened, knowing fully well that they did it. The government can't fool us. It is our right to know what happened to our kith and kin.

We should not keep our mouths shut, the Bishop said, quoting Fr Jeyabala Croos, who in turn had quoted a poem of Martin Niemoller that there would be no one if we all keep our mouths in the face of what happened and what is happening in our land.

Families of the disappeared and some NPC members were among the attendees of the mass.

Continuation of the exhumation of skeletons in the mass grave, takes place for the 24th time on Thursday.

திருமலையிலும் மனித புதைக்குழி: பாதுகாப்பு நடவடிக்கையில் படையினர், ஊடகவியலாளர்கள் உட்பிரவேசிக்க தடை

(சேனையூர், மூதூர் நிருபர்கள்)- Thu, 02/13/2014

 

திருகோணமலை மக்கெய்சர் விளையாட்டரங்கில் இடம்பெற்று வரும் புனரமைப்பு பணிகளின் போது மனித புதைக்குழியொன்று உள்ளமை தென்பட்டுள்ளதாகவும் இதனை பார்வையிட ஊடகவியலாளர்களுக்கு தடைவிதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாகவும் தெரிவிக்கப்படுகின்றது.

திருகோணமலை மக்கெய்சர் விளையாட்டரங்கை மறுசீரமைப்பு செய்துவரும் நிலையில்  அப்பகுதியில் கிணறு ஒன்று அமைப்பதற்காக நேற்றிரவு குழியொன்று வெட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதன்போது மனித எலும்புக்கூடுகள் தென்பட்டதாக உறுதிப்படுத்தப்பட்

தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன. 

இதனையடுத்து குறித்தப் பகுதியில் பாதுகாப்பிற்காக படையினர் வரவழைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதோடு  ஊடகவியலாளர்களுக்கு உட்பிரவேசிக்க தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாகவும் தெரிவிக்கப்படுகின்றது.

UN RESOLUTION AGAINST SRI LANKA ‘COUNTERPRODUCTIVE’ - MCSL

February 13, 2014 

The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) today expressed deep concern regarding the media furor over the proposed United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution on Sri Lanka in Geneva next month.

“In view of the Sri Lankan Government’s stated commitment to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) which has been accepted by Sri Lankans and the International community, it is unclear how the proposed resolution will productively bring about the much needed changes in our country,” the MCSL said in a statement today.

It may in fact be “counterproductive” as it is currently “deflecting attention away” from reconciliation and reconstruction work on the ground, it said.

The MCSL stated that it hopes that a process would be fast tracked to assist and encourage Sri Lanka to find its own mechanisms to address the concerns of all stakeholders affected by the three-decade-old conflict.

“In this connection, The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka appeals to the members of the International Community supporting the Resolution to initiate a dialogue with the Government of Sri Lanka on a mutually agreeable timeframe to strengthen and implement a lasting reconciliation process as recommended by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.”

The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka offered its wholehearted support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Government of Sri Lanka to initiate a consultation process with the International Community to reach consensus on a time frame for complete implementation of the recommendations of the LLRC. 

“The MCSL also welcomes the President’s proposal to initiate a Truth and Reconciliation Commission as per the South African model to address the grievances of all persons and communities affected by the long drawn ethnic conflict.”

“One of the main challenges the country faces today during a difficult transition from war to peace that is still barely five years old is the erosion of tolerance of minority communities by certain extremist groups with vested interests. This is a key factor undermining the efforts of the Government to move towards a united Sri Lanka,” the statement said. 

The MCSL pledged to support all efforts by the President to reign‐in such elements and establish the rule of law for a truly egalitarian Sri Lanka. 

The Muslim Council also said it is confident that Sri Lanka’s commitment for the full implementation of the LLRC recommendations as well as the outcome of a Truth and Reconciliation commission will steer the country to lasting peace and stability  

Engagement With Diaspora, Accelerated Provincial Development: The Way Forward

By C.V. Wigneswaran -February 13, 2014

C.V Wigneswaran

Gurur Brahma ……

Honourable Chairperson, distinguished guests, my dear brothers and sisters!

I am indeed flattered that the Sri Lankan academia, under the leadership provided by the University Grants Commission, has thought it fit to invite me today to deliver the keynote address on “Accelerated Provincial Development – The Way Forward”. I am mindful that there is probably more value ascribed to my career of barely half a year as a politician than my career of half a century in the legal profession or quarter century as a judge!

The theme of the conference is Post War Socio – Economic Development and Constructive Engagement with Sri Lankan Diaspora.

I consider the theme very relevant and timely for the Northern Provincial Council (NPC). There are four aspects of the theme that I find to be extremely pertinent and wish to highlight at the outset.

Firstly, you have correctly identified the context as ‘post-war’ and not ‘post-conflict’, as the political settlement to address the root causes of the conflict is yet to be found.  Unfortunately, the dominant rhetoric in the South today on the political solution appears to be regressive and intent on rolling back to conditions that were the spawning ground for violence in the first place.

Secondly, the emphasis on economic development in the post-war context is particularly apt, as there is a critical need to adopt a holistic view of the prevailing context of the war torn society of the Northern Province, which was the most affected by the war, and their multifaceted needs such as psycho-social issues, loss of livelihoods, socio-cultural issues, environmental issues and rule of law and human security issues.

Thirdly, the emphasis on constructive engagement between Sri Lanka and the Diaspora is a prudent one. The Government of Sri Lanka does not have the financial resources, professional technical input and knowledge capital to contribute towards post war recovery on its own. It is important to have partners who have an emotional interest in developing war-torn societies.

Finally, I would also like to commend the organisers for the thrust on ‘Accelerated Provincial Development”.I see the use of the phrase “accelerated provincial development” as being reflective of the understanding of the differentiated needs of a war-torn society.  It is imperative that government leaders and policy makers should clearly capture the prevailing context in the NP, especially the post-war phase and its peculiar needs and characteristics, without adopting a one size fits all national approach for post war rebuilding and reconstruction.

                                 Read More

UN to address challenges to Northern development

Haoliang Xu-February 12, 2014,

While the Lankan state has made ‘impressive progress’ in addressing the development needs of the Northern Province, it is a priority for the UN and the UNDP to ‘address further challenges to human and socio-economic development’ in the province, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Assistant Administrator & Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific Haoliang Xu said yesterday, referring to a visit he had undertaken to Northern Sri Lanka.

"UNDP has had a strong partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka, providing support during the conflict, early recovery and now in the longer-term development phase. Moving forward, while building on this strong partnership, we will continue to support the work on local economic development, empowerment of communities, strengthening access to justice and the rule of law and providing support for environmental sustainability and climate resilience," Xu said.  

A UNDP press release said: The visit to the North, which saw Xu travelling to Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, was aimed at gaining a first-hand understanding of UN and UNDP’s work on the ground, the development priorities in the districts and further support needs. During the visit, Xu met and engaged in discussions with the Governor as well as the Chief Minister of the Northern Province.

‘This was followed by a meeting with the Government Agent/District Secretary of Kilinochchi. During the discussions, Xu acknowledged the efforts of the government of Sri Lanka in addressing the recovery and development needs of the district, and the strong partnership with the UN/UNDP. Xu was also briefed about the development priorities in the districts and the remaining challenges that needed to be addressed.

Subsequent to the meetings, Xu visited a UNDP supported resettled village in Piramanthanaru in Kilinochchi District where he engaged in discussions with community members. Thereafter, he travelled to Mullaitivu District where he visited the ice plant of the Fisheries’ Cooperative Union. A joint initiative between UNDP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, with the financial support of the government of Canada provided through Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) and European Union, the ice plant has helped local fishermen improve their income and production, while women from local communities have also been trained in processing dry fish.  The Government Agent/District Secretary of Mullaitiv was also present on the occasion.

After War Comes Peace, Not Prosperity

Education has been boosted in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, but with few jobs to follow.

© Amantha Perera / IPS

By Amantha Perera0- 12 Feb 2014 

COLOMBO, Feb 12 2014 (IPS) - Sri Lanka's war-battered Northern Province had reason to celebrate when the results of a countrywide exam were announced last December. Of the 16,604 students from the province who sat for the exam, 63.8 percent secured the required marks for entry into prestigious national universities.

After War Comes Peace, Prosperity Avalable by nelvely

4 members of Sinhala paramilitary squad detained in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 February 2014, 22:47 GMT]
Following information and pressure from the public, four Sinhala members of a paramilitary squad were arrested by SL Police on Wednesday from a ‘safe-house’ at Kokkuvil in Jaffna, news sources in Jaffna said. One of those detained was a former Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) person. Two of the arrested were from Ja-Ela and the remaining two were from Angkoda and Kottawa from the South. Legal action was not taken despite the news of their detention was exposed by the local press, Tamil legal activists said adding that most of the members of a similar squad, known as ‘Avaa’, arrested last year at Thalaiyaa’li in Kokkuvil have now been either released or bailed out. The remaining three persons, including the leader of the squad, are waiting to get bailed out of police detention this week. 

The Avaa group was affiliated with the occupying Sri Lankan military in Jaffna. 

The SL military intelligence ‘outsourced’ a section of its covert operations to the Avaa group. The squad was deployed to carry out assaults, harassments and threats on student leaders of Jaffna University, civil activists and politicians.

The identity and the modus operandi of the ‘Avaa’ squad was exposed after a clash in Moo’laay. 

The SL police had recovered military uniforms and ammunitions (2 hand grenades). 

Initially, the SL police attempted with a false propaganda that former LTTE members were behind the squad. However, the public was well aware of the group as many people had witnessed SL military officers openly visiting the ‘safe-houses’ of the Avaa group. 

The latest arrest of the ‘Dillu’ group also comes after pressure from the public.

The people of this country need not pay for the actions of a few politicians-Special Statement by UNP

(Lanka-e-News-13Feb2014, 5.30pm) Sri Lanka is at a fire-god and the Rajapaksa administration bears responsibility for Full our country's current Plight. 

After years of insisting that the Sri Lankan government carryout a credible internal investigation into the alleged human rights violations, especially in the final phase of the war, the international community seems poised to demand an international investigation. This is a situation which could have been easily avoided had the ruling regime heeded the calls of the UNP and many others who have been insisting that the rulers respect the rights of its citizens, irrespective of race religion or place of origin and address the serious allegations levelled against them in a manner that is acceptable to the people of this country. Instead we have witnessed further deterioration in the rule of law, accountability and credibility of the Sri Lankan State. 

Pay Avalable for the People of This Country Need a Few politicians-Special Statement by the actions of UNP by nelvely

An Open Letter To Central Bank Governor

By  Nihal Sri Ameresekere  - February 13, 2014 

Nihal Sri Ameresekere

Mr.  Ajith Nivard Cabraal

Governor

Central Bank of Sri Lanka

30, Janadhipathi Mawatha
Colombo 1.

Dear Nivard,

In the context of urgings by several parties in the public interest, As you are aware, are conducted was a Seminar On Friday, January 31, 2014 On the subject ' Repetitive  Debacles of Finance Companies' .

To be honest, I do not have much dealings with finance companies, except in the past, when assets of Directors were sold in one instance, and in another instance where property of an Associated Company was sold, to settle all Depositors under the supervision of the Central Bank. I am also aware of another instance, where certain Directors and Staff were sentenced to jail. Curiously, such did not occur in all instances?

Whilst prior to the Seminar, on a mere perusal of the Finance Business Act No. 42 of 2011, I came across certain Sections, some of which I thought ought be brought to your kind attention.

1. Section 31. (6) (j)

"31. (6) (j) direct any shareholder of the finance company to divest or transfer the ownership of the shares owned by him, to a person nominated by the Board, on payment by such person of compensation as follows: -

(I) where such shares are quoted, at the market value thereof; or

(Ii) where such shares are not quoted at a price to be determined by a valuer nominated by the Board. "

Identical provisions are there in Section 36 (2) in the instance of vesting of a finance company.

I Cite attributed to the following extracts to ME Reported in the  Mirror Business  of yesterday February 5, 2014

. Read More

WikiLeaks: President's Brother Throws Hat Into Ring

February 13, 2014

"Late March 2, Anura Bandaranaike, a senior SLFP MP and brother of President Kumaratunga, announced that he wants to be the next SLFP presidential candidate. Bandaranaike's announcement was an early one: Sri Lanka's next presidential election will take place in either late 2005 or late 2006. (The exact timing of the election depends on how a complicated dispute concerning the length of President Kumaratunga's term is settled - see Reftels.) In a lengthy interview with the English-language DAILY MIRROR newspaper published on March 3, Bandaranaike also stated that he would be 'the last of the Bandaranaikes to be in politics and the dynasty will end with me.' He also characterized himself 'a ruthlessly honest politician.' "The US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

The  Colombo Telegraph  Cable Found From the related leaked the  WikiLeaks  Database. The "Confidential" Cable is Signed by the U.S. Ambassador to Colombo  Jeffrey J. Lunstead  On March 09, 2004.

The ambassador wrote; "Bandaranaike, 55, would seem to be a leading contender for the SLFP nomination. First, he is the brother of the President, and both his parents were SLFP prime ministers, which counts for a lot in the SLFP (his father founded the party). He has huge political problems, however. While affable, he is not considered a serious thinker and some even consider him a bit of a buffoon. It is also not clear whether he has the support of his sister, who is thought to distrust him for defecting from the SLFP years ago (he returned to the party fold in 2001). In throwing his hat into the ring, Bandaranaike also has a major rival: senior SLFP MP and former Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse is thought to maintain considerable grassroots support in the SLFP. "

CAFFE'S INTERVENTION PAYS OFF : LET'S JOIN HANDS TO PREVENT ELECTION LAW MANIPULATION

2014-02-13

Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) wrote to the Registrar General today (February 12) asking him to take a stand on two candidates changing their names to obtain a top preferential number.  The Registrar General's Department has begun an inquiry into the matter and we hope a firm decision is made to prevent such manipulation of election laws in the future.

Inquiries regarding candidates changing their names; Government considering legal amendment 
 
The Registrar General’s Department has initiated special investigations into the premeditated changing of names by two election candidates intending to obtain top preferential numbers on the voting card.

Senior Deputy Registrar General T.M. Premasiri told our news team that he received information about two candidates contesting for the Gampaha and the Colombo districts who had changed names in their birth certificates intentionally to gain top numbers on the voting card.

The two candidates who allegedly altered their birth certificates are UNP Colombo district contestant Shivanka Wijegunawardana and UPFA Gampaha district contestant Kuruppu Arachchige Kamal Nayanakantha Kurupppu.

The CAFFE organization stated that both candidates have prefixed the first and second letters of the Sinhala alphabet to their names in order to be printed on top of the voting card.

CAFFE Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon stated that his organization complained with regard to this name change to the Election Commissioner and the Registrar General today.

However Senior Deputy Registrar General T.M. Premasiri stated that inquiries will be made from the relevant Divisional Secretariats to which the two candidates belong.

At the same time, our news team contacted Registrar General E.M. Gunasekera to comment on whether any prefixed letter or letters to a candidate’s name is accepted.

In response he stated that confirmation needs to be obtained regarding the identity of a person who is changing his or her name and that the new name he or she uses need to be used in documents that is accepted and recognized in society.

Pro-SL Tamil protestors besiege UNICEF office

 Thursday, 13 February 2014 

Hundreds of people belonging to various Tamil nationalist outfits, led by the May 17 Movement, were arrested after they attempted to besiege the UNICEF office in Adyar condemning the UN for not ordering a transparent international inquiry into the genocide of Sri Lankan Tamils during the final stages of conflict in the island in 2009.

The protesters condemned sending of cricket bats and black boards rather than life saving medicines to the affected civilian areas in the island nation which led to further loss of lives.

The protesters began gathering in the service lane leading to UNICEF office in Kasturibai Nagar in Adyar at around 10 am while the police protection was strengthened at the venue by South Chennai joint commissioner of police S Thirugnanam.

The police barricades prevented the protesters from marching past the service lane and laying siege. The protesters burnt flags bearing the symbols of the UN besides holding placards condemning the continued inaction of the UN over the genocide.

Thirumurugan Gandhi, Coordinator, May 17 Movement, said the UN’s failure to prevent the war was exposed by the Petrie Report released during November 2012. “However, the UN continues to be a mute spectator and party to the crime. The human rights violation in Sri Lanka and the deliberate ignorance of UN officials including UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon, his then Chef de Cabinet Vijay Nambiar and Under secretary for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes should be investigated”, he said.

He said the proposed international independent investigation recommended by UNHRC was neglected by Ban Ki-Moon, who denied justice to Tamils. He also urged the UN to implement the recommendations of Panel of Experts on accountability in Sri Lanka. The demand comes barely two months after that of the Permanent People’s Tribunal, based in Rome, which concluded its last session at Bremen, Germany, indicting Sri Lanka for the genocide.

Courtesy - New Indian Express

Economics taking primacy over human lives 

February 12, 2014, 8:21 pm

Steeply mounting civilian deaths are also a feature of the politico-military crisis in Iraq, where the US has thinned its military presence, but there is no question of the US leaving the morass which is Iraq completely. Mounting civilian deaths in Iraq's sectarian violence notwithstanding, there is, apparently, no intention on the part of the US to completely disengage itself from the Iraqi political leadership. US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq Brett McGurk did the explaining: 'In Iraq, whether you like it or not, oil, Al-Qaeda, Iran, vital US interests are at stake.'

Economics taking primacy over human lives by nelvely

Osborne to Scotland: sharing pound 'not going to happen'

Chancellor George Osborne says he would not sign up to a currency union with an independent Scotland, saying such a deal would "not work" and was "not going to happen".

The chancellor made a rare trip to the Scottish capital to give a speech on the financial implications of Scottish independence.

Alex Salmond's Scottish government has proposed a "sterling zone" with the rest of the UK if there is a Yes vote in the referendum. But George Osborne poured cold water on the plans.

He said: "The SNP says that if Scotland becomes independent, there will be a currency union and Scotland will share the pound.

"People need to know that is not going to happen. Because sharing the pound is not in the interests of either the people of Scotland or the rest of the UK."

Treasury advice

The chancellor published the latest Treasury analysis on the impact of independence on Sterling, which concludes that a union would not work with an independent Scotland.

Mr Osborne said: "Listening to that advice, looking at the analysis myself, it is clear to me I could not, as chancellor, recommend that we could share the pound with an independent Scotland.

"The evidence shows that it wouldn't work, it would cost jobs and cost money. It wouldn't provide economic security for Scotland or for the rest of the United Kingdom."

He added: "I don't think any other Chancellor of the Exchequer would come to a different view."                                        Full Story>>>

Press freedom under threat in Hong Kong and Taiwan

Photo journalists put their cameras on the ground during a protest in Hong Kong in 2011. Pic: AP

Watchdog voices concerns over Beijing’s influence, reports Asia Sentinel

By Asia Sentinel Feb 13, 2014

The press in Hong Kong and Taiwan is under unrelenting pressure from local and Chinese governments, oligarchic owners and thugs employed to beat up reporters and editors, according to an exhaustive 4,500-word report released today by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

The picture the report paints is one of slow but relentless erosion of what has long been regarded as not only the freest and most diversified press in Asia outside Japan but what has traditionally been the most important listening post on China itself. That is critical today with the Chinese government cracking down on the New York Times and Bloomberg for reporting critically on the vast riches amassed by members of the families of China’s top leadership. A long period in which western reporters could roam relatively freely in China and report critically appears to be coming to an end, renewing the importance of Hong Kong as a window into the mainland.

But, the CPJ report says, more than half of Hong Kong’s media owners have accepted appointments to the main political assemblies of China and are being absorbed into China’s political elite. They include Charles Ho of the Sing Tao news group, Richard Li of Now TV and the Hong Kong Economic Journal, and Peter Woo of i-Cable television. Meanwhile, in Taiwan, many media owners have close business ties to Beijing, which they are loath to jeopardize by drawing disfavor on the mainland. An attempt to take over Next Media gadfly Jimmy Lai’s Taiwanese media interests was barely thwarted last year.

(MORE: RSF index shows another dismal year for press freedom in Asia)

While in the past Beijing relied on discreet ways to carry messages to Hong Kong media owners, such as asking middlemen to speak with newspaper editors, today they are contacting editors and journalists directly, the CPJ says, with the propaganda chief of China’s representative agency calling to complain about critical coverage of Chief Executive candidate CY Leung during last year’s elections. Three reporters at the Journal told CPJ that since the Liaison Office’s phone call, they were ordered to write fewer critical reports about Hong Kong’s leader and to back up any negative statements about Leung or his government—even in opinion pieces—with substantive supporting evidence.

Next Media publisher Jimmy Lai’s publications have endured a boycott by China-based advertisers since 2003. Next publishes the critical, widely circulated Chinese-language Apple Daily as well as newsmagazines in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

In broadcast, meanwhile, Beijing exerts an even stronger influence because the high cost of news operations is prohibitive to independent media. The government also tightly controls broadcast licenses, and can reject applications without providing a reason.

A journalist at Television Broadcasts Ltd (TVB), which was until recently one of only two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, told CPJ that it is difficult for staff to challenge signs that the station’s managers voluntarily censor coverage.

Nowhere have issues of self-censorship been more pointed than at the South China Morning Post, which has had a series of chief editors since Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation sold it to Chinese-Malaysian tycoon Robert Kuok in 1993, and which in 2006 lost the English-language competition, The Standard, which used to hold its feet to the fire before it cut back to becoming a free paper and a throwaway.