Do not arrest and remand people for offences that can be severely warned for the first time - Journalists for Rights

Journalists for Rights organization urges the government not to arrest and remand people for offences that can be severely warned for the first time. 

Journalists for Rights issued this statement while a number of social media users have been arrested by police for the alleged spread of fake news. Meanwhile, the opposition MP Imitiaz Bakir Markar accused the government of compiling a list of 200 journalists and social media users who criticize the government.

Following is the full statement of the Journalists for Rights: 

Journalists for Rights thoroughly believe that even ordinary citizens who use social media must act wisely and responsibly. However, we request the authorities not to manipulate errors committed by some of the social media users to terrify social media users, journalists and citizens in society.  

We extend our fullest corporation to act against fake news and hate speech. However, we emphasize the need for being unbiased and unselective. We re-emphasize that the responsibility of the state is to implement law equally without specialization.

The government has a responsibility to increase the media literacy of the citizens. Citizens must be educated on the laws and ethics related to the use of new media like social media. We earnestly request the authorities not to arrest and remand people for offences that can be severely warned for the first time.

None of the actions of the government must negatively affect the freedom of speech and the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of Sri Lanka and media freedom. We highlight that the responsibility of a democratic government is to encourage the journalists and citizens who communicate information and opinion ethically and legally.