(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 19 August 2001 FMM press statement: Assault on Hiru radio journalist Udaya Wijesingha by Air Force personnel FMM considers the assault on Hiru radio staff reporter Mr. Udaya Wijesingha by air force personnel on 18th August, who was covering the crash of an air force Mig training jet close […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 19 August 2001 FMM press statement:
Assault on Hiru radio journalist Udaya Wijesingha by Air Force personnel
FMM considers the assault on Hiru radio staff reporter Mr. Udaya Wijesingha by air force personnel on 18th August, who was covering the crash of an air force Mig training jet close to Katunayaka, not only an uncivilized act of violence but also an undue and serious attack on journalists’ right to obtain information, which is necessary for and protected in any functioning democracy. Government officials are expected to facilitate journalists to perform their duty and not to hinder it. But FMM is dismayed to note that the government has failed to stop members of the security forces obstructing and even assaulting media personnel again and again, in recent times. It should be noted that one of the reasons for this behavior is the anti media – hate attitude of the ruling sections of this country. It seems that members of the security forces are merely following the examples set by political leaders of this country.
This incident shows us that in a society like ours, where intolerance of other opinions and other points of view is taking root instead of a democratic culture of tolerance, it is not enough to have freedom of expression established by law but rather it is necessary to develop a free media culture as a behavioral pattern. FMM takes this opportunity to reiterate that in Sri Lanka, not only the state and the government but political as well as civil society has to develop an attitude of tolerance with regard to developing a free media culture.
While emphasizing that holding an immediate inquiry and punishing the wrongdoers of the assault on Hiru radio journalist Udaya Wijesingha is an important step in preventing the recurrance of these ugly incidents, FMM requests that the government and air force make the inquiry report public, as soon as possible, so that the transparency and accountability of governance is established in this issue.
