Keith Noyahr: An asset to the nation and to defeat terrorism

We are saddened and shocked by Keith Noyahr’s abduction, brutal assault and subsequent release. A lot has been said about media freedom and also about the risks that journalists face in today’s world.

Keith is special to us because we all belong to the larger Rivira Media family of journalists and it is natural that, we feel particularly wounded by this incident.  And so, both The Nation and Rivira wrote at length of the incident and the issues thereof. 

Writing about Keith is not a mere doing-our-duty-by-our-colleague affair. We write not only because we take it very personally but, because it is all this and more. 

We know that there are journalists and journalists and we know that, like any other tribe, we too have our bad eggs. Not so Keith. He is different. He has his opinions like anyone else, but always stood for a democratic editorial policy, where all views, including those he disagreed with, gets space.  He is a great defender of media rights and is well known for his in fearlessness in articulating the truth, as he saw it. He never wrote for personal benefit.

Yes, he was and probably, will be critical of that which requires objective criticism. That’s what journalism is all about, after all. He subscribed to a nationalism that is not satisfied with flag-waving and anthem-singing but, which strived to make the nation better at every turn. Thus while relentlessly opposed to terrorism, like all of us at Rivira Media Corporation and all other key media organisations in Sri Lanka, he was not averse to pointing out shortcomings and revealing errors committed by others who are equally nationalistic and equally intent on defeating terrorism.

How can a journalist support a counter-terrorist offensive?  He/she can employ writing skills and analytical ability to; (a) keep the morale of the fighting forces high (b) counter false propaganda by the enemy and (c) do his/her utmost to ensure that the effort stays on track, without being distracted by petty personal agendas and equally petty politicking. On all counts, Keith Noyahr’s contribution has been exemplary. By the same token, the perpetrators of this most dastardly act and everyone who has remained silent over it, have done a grave injustice, not just to Keith Noyahr, but to our men and women who have put their lives on line and to all our peace loving citizens, who deserve only the best from the powers that be.  

What is Keith Noyahr’s crime? Keith has never been malicious in his writings. He has never been personal in his criticism. He took issue with what he perceived to be wrongdoing or error in judgment and design, and has always had the humility to admit when he’s been proven wrong.  We are confident that President Mahinda Rajapaksa appreciates all this. We are, therefore, justified in expecting the President to use his executive authority to ensure that justice is done to Keith Noyahr, Sri Lanka and all Sri Lankans, whose future he is custodian of. 

Keith, let us repeat, is an asset to the nation, i.e. the political entity that is larger than The Nation and Rivira, because he is fearless, self-effacing, humble and not handicapped by even an iota of malice. The Keith Noyahr’s of this world must be protected, must be given the freedom to express themselves, and must be allowed to breathe, because, if they are asphyxiated one way or another, it is the nation that will suffer suffocation.

Keith Noyahr is every single one of us who loves this country.  What happened to Keith can happen to any of us.

The State must clearly enforce the rule of law and create an environment where democracy could flourish. This is what Keith stands for and what we stand for as well.

Harassments, abductions, torture in whatever form, should not happen again. Not to Keith, not to any other journalist, not to any other citizen.  It is a serious breach in terms of law and order, and we expect that a full, honest and impartial investigation is carried out to bring the perpetrators to book, in the name of truth, justice and peace, which Keith espoused through his writing. Nothing else will appease the nation or make it happy.

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