(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Editor Suspended, Journalist Dismissed, Management Changed at Community Radio Station The Free Media Movement is disturbed at the alarming levels of political interference taking place in the state-controlled media in Sri Lanka, just two weeks prior to the 2 April 2004 general elections. On 18 March […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release:
Editor Suspended, Journalist Dismissed, Management Changed at Community Radio Station
The Free Media Movement is disturbed at the alarming levels of political interference taking place in the state-controlled media in Sri Lanka, just two weeks prior to the 2 April 2004 general elections.
On 18 March 2004, Mr. Laskman Gunasekara, chief editor of the Sunday Observer, the weekend English-language newspaper of the state-owned Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL), was “temporarily relieved of his editorial responsibility”. The same newspaper’s daily news editor was appointed in his place. In his recent editorials, Mr. Gunasekara had taken the position that state media should not take sides in the election campaign, unlike the non-state media. The president controls the Media Ministry, and her political alliance has taken the position that state media have the right to be partisan. Although no reason is given in the letter relieving him of his editorial responsibility, media circles believe that the reason for Mr. Gunasekara’s suspension could be his position on state media. He has served as editor for more than three years, under the tenures of both main political parties.
In another related development, on 11 March, ANCL management dismissed a senior Sunday Observer journalist. Mr. M. Asif Hussein was dismissed on the grounds 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 readership of the Sunday Observer, of which the majority is Buddhist.”
Mr. Hussein was previously interdicted on 6 January 2002, as a result of an article written on the Tooth Relic, which is held sacred by the Buddhist community. He was later reinstated after being exonerated of all charges. However, on 5 January 2004, following the presidential takeover of the Media Ministry, he was again interdicted by the newspaper’s new, politically-appointed management. Now he has become the victim of religious intolerance, which has been gaining ground during the election campaign.
In another related development, on 18 March 2004, the management of a community radio station in Uva province was changed in order to enable the launch of political propaganda programmes. The radio station was set up with the support of UNESCO, approximately two years ago, and was functioning as an independent voice of the people. Today, the government transferred the manager, Mrs. Kusum Weeratunga, and appointed Mr. Pradeep Weerasinha in spite of protests by staff members of the radio station.
FMM considers all these steps to be politically-motivated, and believes they were taken in order to use state-owned media in the political campaign led by the president. FMM registers its strongest protest against these anti-democratic actions.
FMM urges the world press freedom community to take a closer look at these incidents and take appropriate steps to stop this dangerous trend.
Sunanda Deshapriya
FMM Spokesperson
