Defence Secretary Gotabhaya has once again raised a hornet’s nest

This time, Rajapaksa, in an interview with the Lankadeepa newspaper, is calling for a blanket press censorship on reporting military matters.

Worst still, he wants to bring back the archaic criminal defamation legislation – removed from the statute books six years ago. This is a clear indication that he is trying to turn the clock of media freedom back to colonial times, when the law was introduced.

When Rajapaksa calls for such action, one needs to stand up and take notice. After all, he is not just a Secretary, but a ‘Super Secretary’ whose word invariably becomes law. It was only a month back, when the Defence Secretary called for the abrogation of the CFA, and it was done, pronto.

In June last year, the issue of re-introducing criminal defamation came up before the cabinet. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said that the re-introduction of criminal defamation laws will be another terrible setback for press freedom in Sri Lanka where human rights abuses against journalists and unfair censorship is imposed.

“The IFJ is firmly opposed to criminal defamation laws, which are so often abused by those in power to silence journalists and stifle dissent,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

In the face of stringent criticism last year, SLFP General Secretary Minister Maithripala Sirisena reassured the people that the government would not re-introduce criminal defamation laws.

“We are a government and a political party which always stands for the rights of journalists,” said the SLFP General Secretary who would have to eat humble pie if the Defence Secretary has his way this time.

Minister Sirisena said President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his government were committed to ensure media freedom and the safety and dignity of journalists.

Before the country could come to grips with the slashing of the wrists of Rupavahini Senior Producer Lal Hemantha Mawalage last week, Thinakaran Associate Editor Suhaib M. Cassim was stabbed at his Maligawatte residence.

The country and the world have seen and heard how safe journalists have been in Sri Lanka during the tenure of this government, particularly during the past year, when nine journalists have died and dozens more have fled the country.

The way the senior media men at Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation have been treated – shabbily and brutally, after the Mervyn Silva fiasco, speaks volumes of this government’s commitment to uphold the dignity of journalists.

Never before has state media personnel being subject to such cruel and inhuman treatment.

During then past 17 months, the government and the military have used subtle forms to stifle the media, including veiled threats and strong arm tactics, but never resorted to blanket censorship.

If this happens, it is a clear indication that the military is going flat out to wage war. We are not against the prosecution of war, per se. After all, it was the LTTE that pulled out of peace talks during the previous government and did not pursue peace with this administration, despite efforts of the international community.

But, if the proposed censorship is meant to conceal the true casualty figures and prevent reporting of excesses by the security forces, then it is a serious situation that warrants comment and condemnation by any journalist worth his salt.