Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding the information from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on the politically motivated interference in the state-owned media in Sri Lanka before upcoming general election scheduled on 2 April 2004.
According to the information, on 18 March Mr. Laskman Gunasekara, chief editor of the Sunday Observer was temporarily suspended from his editorial responsibility. Also, on 11 March 2004, Mr. M. Asif Hussein, senior journalist with the Sunday Observer was dismissed by ANCL management. In a separate incident, Mrs Kusum Weeratunga, manager a community radio station, in Uva province, was transferred and replaced by the other staff. The three people above have maintained the opinion that media should maintain a neutral position during election periods.
IFJ afraid that these incidents are politically motivated steps to ensure that the state-owned media is used in the Government’s election campaign. Your urgent action is required to correct this matter immediately.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact IFJ.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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23 March 2004
IFJ protests politically motivated interference in Sri Lankan media
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the global organisation representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, is outraged over increasing levels of political interference in the state-owned media in Sri Lanka in the final two weeks before the general election on 2 April 2004.
According to our information, on 18 March Mr. Laskman Gunasekara, chief editor of the Sunday Observer was temporarily relieved of his “editorial responsibility.” He was replaced with the ‘Daily News‘ editor.
Though Mr Gunasekara was given no formal reason for his suspension, it is believed that Mr Gunasekara’s editorialising that state-owned media should maintain a neutral position during election periods led to his dismissal.
In a separate incident, on 11 March Mr. M. Asif Hussein, senior journalist with the Sunday Observer was dismissed by ANCL management. Management argued that he “had caused irreparable damage to the reputation of the entire organisation by way of hurting the feelings of the world Buddhist community. And by such actions he had further brought disrepute to the leadership of the Sunday Observer, of which the majority is Buddhist.”
The dismissal is attributed to an indictment on 6 January 2002 for an article written on the Tooth Relic, held sacred by the Buddhist community. Mr Hussein was later exonerated of all charges and reinstated at the Sunday Observer. On 5 March 2004, after the presidential takeover of the media ministry, Mr Hussein was indicted by the new politically appointed management.
In a separate incident, Mrs Kusum Weeratunga, manager a community radio station, in Uva province, was transferred and replaced by Mr Pradeep Weerasinha. The action resulted in protests from staff members of the radio station and claims that the management change was to enable political propaganda programming to be launched during the election campaign.
“These are clearly politically motivated steps to ensure that the state-owned media is used in the Government’s election campaign,” said IFJ President Christopher Warren in a letter to the President of Sri Lanka today.
“The IFJ has called on the Government of Sri Lanka to immediately stop interfering in the state-owned media through pressure and manipulation of management and staff,” the IFJ said today.
For further information, please contact Christopher Warren on +61 411 757 668.
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 100 countries.
The IFJ has protested to the President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in the following letter:
23 March 2004
Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
President
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo-1, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 11 2 333 703
Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghae
Prime Minister
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Cambridge Place, Colombo 7
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 682905 / 575454
Secpm@sltnet.lk or bradmanw@slt.lk
CC.
Mr. Kesaralal Gunasekara
Sunday Observer
Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited
Fax: +94 11 2 429240/ 449069
CC.
Mr.Hadson Samaraisnghe
Chairman
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
Fax: +94 11 2695488/ 698576
E mail: slbc@sri.lanka.netnet
Dear President and Prime Minister,
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the global organisation of journalists representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, is deeply concerned over the level of political interference in the state controlled media in Sri Lanka.
According to our information, on 18 March Mr. Laskman Gunasekara, chief editor of the Sunday Observer was temporarily relieved of his “editorial responsibility.” He was replaced with the daily news editor.
Though Mr Gunasekara was given no formal reason for his suspension, it is believed that Mr Gunasekara’s editorialising that state-owned media should maintain a neutral position during election periods, led to his dismissal.
In a separate incident, on 11 March Mr. M. Asif Hussein, senior journalist with the Sunday Observer was dismissed by ANCL management. Management argued that he “had caused irreparable damage to the reputation of the entire organization by way of hurting the feelings of the world Buddhist community. And by such actions he had further brought disrepute to the leadership of the Sunday Observer, of which the majority is Buddhist.”
The dismissal is attributed to an indictment on 6 January 2002 for an article written on the Tooth Relic, held sacred by the Buddhist community. Mr Hussein was later exonerated of all charges and reinstated at the Sunday Observer. On 5 March 2004, after the Presidential control over the media ministry, Mr Hussein was again indicted by the newly appointed politically appointed management.
In a separate incident, Mrs Kusum Weeratunga, manager of a community radio station n Uva province, was transferred and replaced by Mr Pradeep Weerasinha. The action resulted in protests from staff members of the radio station and claims that the management change was in order for political propaganda programming to be launched during the election campaign.
The IFJ has called on the Government of Sri Lanka to withdraw from interfering in the media through pressure and manipulation of management and journalists.
Yours sincerely
Christopher Warren
IFJ President
Recommended Action:
Send appeals to the Government of Sri Lanka
– Condemning the dismissal of Laskman Gunasekara, Mr M. Asif Hussein and Mrs. Kusman Weeratunga.
– Calling for the reinstatement of Laskman Gunasekara, Mr M. Asif Hussein and Mrs. Kusman Weeratunga.
– Condemning political interference into the state owned media in Sri Lanka
– Urging the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure a free and unbiased press especially during the crucial election period.
Appeals:
Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
President
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo-1, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 11 2 333 703
Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghae
Prime Minister
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Cambridge Place, Colombo 7
SRI LANKA
Fax: +94 11 2 682905 / 575454
Secpm@sltnet.lk or bradmanw@slt.lk
Please copy appeals to the IFJ Asia Office at ifj-asia@alliance.org.au
For more information please contact IFJ Asia at ifj-asia@alliance.org.au
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Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
