(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 5 November 2005 FMM press release: FMM condemns assault on journalist covering election rally Free Media Movement (FMM) deplores and condemns the assault on Swarnawahini TV cameraman Indika Weerakoon on November 3 at Hiniduma, Galle, while covering an election rally of presidential candidate Prime Minster Mahinda Rajapaksha. The incident […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 5 November 2005 FMM press release:
FMM condemns assault on journalist covering election rally
Free Media Movement (FMM) deplores and condemns the assault on Swarnawahini TV cameraman Indika Weerakoon on November 3 at Hiniduma, Galle, while covering an election rally of presidential candidate Prime Minster Mahinda Rajapaksha. The incident began when the Swarnawahini reporting team were threatened which led to Weerakoon being singled out and assaulted by party supporters.
A day before this incident, the Prime Minister’s media spokesperson, Minister Mangala Rajapaksha, told media representatives that the airwaves were public property. He added that those private TV stations, which he said were supporting the opposition candidate, should be careful because their broadcast licenses might not be automatically extended.
The tone of the Minister’s speech was threatening. FMM deplores the implication in the Minister’s indirect threat.
Senior figures at the privately owned Swarnawahini TV station have taken a decision not to invite or show any coverage of the JVP (Peoples Liberation Front) – the main ally of the Prime Minister’s election campaign. The reason for this ban was an allegation the JVP leadership made against Swarnawahini TV station. This ban could have provoked both of the incidents mentioned above.
Whatever the reasons, FMM believes that during an election, the responsibility of the media is to offer a public information platform for dialogue among the contending political parties. The responsibility for presenting information from all sides in the campaign becomes the paramount duty of any media. FMM urges all media organizations not to restrict but rather expand the space for public debate at this time.
The FMM’s view is that political leaders, journalists and journalist’s employers should be able to tolerate critical views.
