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.   

Sri Lanka government's circular may not prevent information flowing into international community, NGOs say

The representatives of the Non Governmental Organizations of Sri Lanka say that the government's move to restrict the NGOs may result the people of the country lacing access to information.

Lawyer J.C. Weliamuna said that the government's order to the NGOs not to hold press conferences, not to issue press releases and not to train journalists may not prevent the information flowing to the international community. It will only prevent information transfer to the local people.

He said that the foreign countries have many other channels to obtain information. NGOs are a critical part of the government, he pointed out.

Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri of the Federation of University Teachers' Associations (FUTA) said that the move was a blow to democracy. He said that the government had no right to restrict the public organizing lawfully.

Dr. Nimalka Fernando of the International Movement Against Racism and Discrimination pointed out that the NGOs as well as the government are bound to obey the UN international conventions for which the nation have ratified. The order has been issued without proper knowledge about this, she said.

A number of other representatives of civil society organizations addressed the press conference held in Colombo on July 09 to protest the government circular to restrict the NGOs.

No killings, abductions, arrests and assaults against journalists but threats in June in Sri Lanka

(July 12, 2010, Colombo - Lanka Polity) Following is the report regarding press freedom in the month of June in Sri Lanka issued by a media organization and we believe this report is sent to international organizations to base on these facts in lobbying for freedom of expression. Although there are no killings, abductions, arrests and assaults, the report is full of other incidents.

Monthly report No 06; period covered June  2010

Killings:

1.     June 2010                     -  No killings of media personal reported

Abductions:

2.     June 2010                     - No abductions of media personal reported

     

Arrests:

3.     June 2010                     - No arrests of media personal reported

Assaults:

4.     June  2010                    - No assaults of media personal reported

Threats:

5.     28 June 2010      - Political witch hunt launched against CEO of Lankaenews

State media launched a political which hunt against CEO ofwww.lankanewsweb.com  Chandima Withanaarachchi. The web site publishes critical content has been banned by Government of Sri Lanka for past year.

http://sunandadeshapriya.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/political-witch-hunt-launched-against-ceo-of-lankaenews-web/bbb

6.     27 June 2010      - TU leader forced to resign

Trade union leader Sanjeewa Samarasinghe of Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited resigned form his job due to threats coming form higher authorities. Sanjeewa Samarasinghe is the secretary of Jathika SevakaSangamaya, a trade union affiliated to main opposing party UNP.

http://www.lankanewsweb.com/Sinhala/news/2010_06_28_005.html

7.     25 June 2010      - Rivira Editor becomes victim and loses job and salary

Rivira Editor, Upali Tennekoon, who fled to the US with his wife following a brutal attack on him it to be sacked from his job by the new administration at the newspaper organization.

 http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_06_26_001.html

8.     24 June 2010      - A mad slinging journalist gang against Sri Lanka – state media

It has been reported that ten media personal, who have left the country on many pretexts and applied for political asylum are engaged in a conspiracy against Sri Lanka.These persons are in close contact with INGOs which are trying to instigate UN against war crimes in Sri Lanka. They have received many privileges because of these contacts.

read the original story here : http://www.silumina.lk/2010/06/20/_art.asp?fn=aa1006204

9.     22 June 2010      - Sinhalese with LTTE leader photo further remanded

Puththa’lam Magistrate Monday ordered further remand till June 30 for a Sinhalese civilian Amarasingha Chandana when he was produced from prison on a charge that he was carrying a photograph of LTTE leader VelupillaiPirapaharan.

http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=32034

10. 19 June 2010      - Screen of the film hall torched

On 19th  an unidentified group torched the giant screen at the Shanthicinema, a day before the Tamil version of the movie Raavan (Raavanan) was screened. The movie’s main stars Abishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and its director Mani Ratnam were among those who did not attend the IIFA ceremony in Colombo.

http://sunandadeshapriya.wordpress.com/2010/06/20/iifa-row-hits-batti-in-dramatic-scene/

11. 08 June 2010      - Eknaligoda’s colleague under threat

A group of unidentified men had broken in to the residence of a colleague of missing Lankaenews journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, who was involved in media and propaganda activities with him, Disnendra Perera on the 31st. The group had broken in to the house with the intention of abducting Perera.

http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_06_07_006.html

12. 06 June 2010      - Threats to lankaenews

          The threats on the Lankaenews website have recommenced with the government       now receiving the cooperation of the landlord of the office premises rented out by the      website. http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_06_09_006.html

Censorships:

13. 26.June .2010     - Church demolished

About 100 police officers who had arrived at a Christian church in Rajagiriyaalong with officials from Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s Urban Development Authority (UDA) and had demolished the church yesterday (25).

http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_06_26_008.html

14. 20 June 2010      - Call to ban Tamil Nadu films

An unidentified group has called on theatre owners in Batticaloa to refrain from screening movies produced in Tamil Nadu in a move to hit back at Indian film stars who boycotted the recent IIFA awards ceremony in Colombo.

http://sundaytimes.lk/100620/News/nws_03.html

Exiled:

15. June 2010            - Two more journalist left the country

A Programme producer of state controlled TV station left the country because of  death threats. He has been receiving continuous threats since January.

A Tamil newspaper cartoonist form Jaffna left the country for  safetyreasons.

Both of them reached their destinations safely.

Releases:

16. 21 June 2010      - Safe Passage for Tissainayagam Just One Step Toward Free Media in Sri Lanka - IFJ

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is relieved that J.S.Tissainayagam is safe, following more than two years of an ordeal in which the Sri Lankan Tamil journalist was accused, charged and tried for terrorism for his journalistic reporting on human rights issues.http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/safe-passage-for-tissainayagam-just-one-step-toward-free-media-in-sri-lanka

17. 19 June 2010      - Freed Sri Lankan journalist Tissainayagamarrives in U.S.- CPJ

          The Committee to Protect Journalist welcomes the arrival in the United States of Sri   Lankan journalist J.S. Tissainayagam, who arrived at Washington’s Dulles   International Airport on Saturday morning.

          http://transcurrents.com/tc/2010/06/freed_sri_lankan_journalist_ti.html

18. 16 June 2010      - Journalist Escapes Abduction, Unidentified assailants tried to abduct - IFJ

Mawbima reporter Disnendra Perera at his Colombo home in Sri Lanka on May 31, according to local news reports. Perera, a close colleague of missing Lanka-e-News journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, reported receiving death threats from unknown people demanding he give them a file of documents they claimed Eknaligoda had given him. http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/colleague-of-missing-journalist-under-threat-in-sri-lanka

Protests:

19. June 2010           -  No media protest were reported during the month of June.

Notable developments:

20. 30 June 2010      - Visa's of Non Violence Peace Force staff terminated

On 26^th June 2010 Controller of immigration  ordered the country director and coordinator of Non Violence Peace Force (NVPF) Colombo office to leave the country by 30^th June 2010. No reasons were given for the termination of their visas. In recent past  NVPF played a vital role in providing in country safety for human rights defenders including journalists. Both of them were given one week more to hand over their responsibilities and both of them left the country on 7^th July 2010. Newspapers reported that both of them have been declared persona non grata by  government of Sri Lanka.

21. 24  June 2010     - POLICE OFFICER APOLOGISES TO MP ROSY SENANAYAKE IN SC-( Right to protest)

A chief police inspector apologized to the UNP parliamentarian Rosy Senanayake in the Supreme Court today.He was the first respondent named in a petition filed by Ms. Senanayake claiming that her fundamental rights had been violated.The petition stated that when Ms. Senanayake was gtakinpart in a protest campaign ‘Jana Bala Kahala Nadaya’, organized by the United National Party on June 03, 2008 against the escalating prices of goods, the police officer had insulted her in foul language.

http://www.newsfirst.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11566:police-officer-apologises-to-mp-rosy-senanayake-in-sc&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18  

22. 14 June 2010 `- NGO Secretariat under Defence Ministry now

The NGO Secretariat which was previously operated under the Social Services Ministry and thereafter the Internal Affairs Ministry now comes under the purview of the Defence Ministry, following the new Parliament taking office.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/front-page-news/13101-ngo-secretariat-under-defence-ministry-now-.html

23. 13 June 2010      - SUSIL KINDELPITIYA RELEASED ON SURETY BAIL

The Colombo High Court today ordered that journalist Susil Kindelpitiya be released on surety bail in Rs. 50,000.High Court Judge Deepali Wijesunderamade this order after taking into consideration the submissions forwarded by attorney at law Shanaka Ranasinghe, appearing for Mr. Kindelpitiya and the state counsels.( Susil Kindelpitiya is former news director of MTV/Sirasa TV channel)

 http://www.newsfirst.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11240:susil-kindelpitiya-released-on-surety-bail&catid=97:news-items-2&Itemid=294

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Successful launch of a mass movement to win back democracy in Sri Lanka

(February 04, Colombo - Lanka Polity) The opposition supporters of Sri Lanka took to the streets in Colombo yesterday and demonstrated against the 2010 presidential result and the government steps to curb democracy and freedom of expression. 

Police warned to take stern action against the street protests and rumors spread preventing the participation of many cautious activists. 

However, tens of thousands of people marched peaceful from Lipton Circus to Hyde Park chanting slogans against polls rigging and suppression of freedom of expression without serious police intervention. The Hyde Park, the venue of the protest rally was filled with enthusiastic opposition supporters while the roads surrounding the venue were also blocked by throning crowds. 

Almost all the leaders of the opposition coalition were seen on stage sans the leaders of the Tamil National Alliance based in Northern and Eastern Provinces. Left Front presidential candidate Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratna that campaigned against both the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the opposition common candidate Sarath Fonseka also addressed the rally. 

The crowds treated the defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka with a rousing welcome.  

The opposition has not still substantiated their allegations regarding the polls rigging. 

However, the 2010 presidential was the most corrupt election of the history given the level of manipulation of public property for supportive propaganda of incumbent and for slinging mud at the opponent. The Election Commissioner Dayananda Dishanayaka said yesterday that he was not happy about the pre-election scenario in which the public officials and media disregarded his directives. 

The police cancelled the loudspeaker licence for the rally without valid reasons in an apparent unproductive bid to disrupt it. 

The rally and the march was mainly organized by the leftist People's Liberation Front (JVP). Disciplined cadres of the JVP actively participated in the protest awakening the disgruntled supporters of the major opposition United National Party (UNP). 

It was a successful launch of a mass movement to win back democracy in Sri Lanka.

Newspaper sealed in Sri Lanka

(January 30, Colombo - Lanka Polity)  Sri Lanka government under the President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was swept to the office for the second term with an overwhelming majority sealed an opposition newspaper office today.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID), said to have taken a court order to enter the newspaper office, sealed the office and a journalist attached to the newspaper meanwhile said that CID officials at the scene had said to Daily Mirror that the premises were being sealed off because an article published by the newspaper posed a threat to national security.

Lanka Truth, a sister website of Lanka newspaper said that the officials said they took the steps on powers they have been bestowed with under Prevention of Terrorism Act.

President's brother and Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said to The Divaina Sinhala newspaper yesterday that an article published in Lanka insulted him.

The editor of the newspaper Chandana Sirimalwatta was arrested by CID yesterday when he reported to give a statement on the request of the CID.