Courtesy - Daily Mirror By Sumaiya Rizvi
The celebration of World Press Freedom Day 2011 includes a conference on “21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers”, the Award ceremony of World Press Freedom Prize, and a special event in the UN premises to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration.
Every 3 May World Press Freedom Day represents an opportunity to commemorate the fundamental principles of press freedom around the globe and to pay solemn tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
World Press Freedom Day was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December, 1993, as an outgrowth of the Seminar on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press.
This Seminar took place in Windhoek, Namibia, from 29 April to 3 May 1991, and led to the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting Independent and Pluralistic Media. The Windhoek Declaration called for the establishment, maintenance and fostering of an independent, pluralistic and free press and emphasized the importance of a free press to the development and maintenance of democracy in a nation, and for economic development.
more“Freedom of expression is conditioned by self-censorship”
President of National
Peace Council Dr. Jehan Perera
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Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of democracy. This is well recognized internationally, though practised only in some parts. In the United States, the First Amendment to the Constitution enshrined the freedom of expression which has been taken virtually as an absolute right and that has shaped the whole of American law. Americans are justifiably proud of the First Amendment. In Sri Lanka we too have the freedom of expression enshrined as a Fundamental Right in our Constitution.
Unfortunately there is a huge gap between words and deeds. The media has become the happy hunting ground for those who want public opinion to go their way. The case of Lanka E News website is an example. Its owner has fled the country, its editor is on bail on a bizarre charge, the website itself is shut down temporarily pending another court case and one of its journalists has been made to disappear for over a year, and is presumed dead.
This one example in post-war Sri Lanka is sufficient to make all media institutions and all journalists think twice before dissenting. Freedom of expression is conditioned by self-censorship. This is not the way things should be if Sri Lanka is to be a true liberal democracy like the countries to which many of us would like to emigrate to if we could, or at least send our children to study.
“Right to information act will help to champion the interests of the public”
President of the Sri Lanka Muslim
Media Forum (SLMM) and Editor
of Navamani N. M. Ameen
It has been two years since the end of the war. Therefore it is a good opportunity to introduce the right to Information Act which is widely accepted and practised in other regional countries. The Government is requested to bring an act that is similar to the acts in countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is an important tool to media freedom. During President Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaratunga’s time Minister Milinda Moragoda tried to pass it in parliament. During the war the Sri Lankan media reported responsibly and some times came under self-censorship and censorship therefore it should be rewarded by passing the Information Act. It is timely and will help to champion the interests of the public. People and the industry should come together and fight for the Act which will help fight corruption in the best way.
“ Many journalists have sacrificed their lives”
Free Media Movement
secretary Sita Ranjanee
We are marking the press freedom day with a lot of problems at hand. Many media personnel have sacrificed their lives in war reporting since 1981. I did a research and found that more than 114 journalists and media workers perished since 1981 to now. Due to violence against media from 2007 to 2009 period 33 media workers and journalists were killed. In the past two and half years the assassination of the late Lasantha Wickramathunga and various attacks on media institutions remain a mystery although years have gone by and no justice served. Investigations have failed to bring the culprits to justice.
“A free press is at the very core of the right to free expression”
Chairman, Sri Lanka Press Institute,
Kumar Nadesan
Today May 3, World Press Freedom Day is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of freedom of the press. A free press is at the very core of the right to free expression. The public in any democratic country depends on a free press to protect and uphold their rights, and to provide credible information that will impact on their lives, and on which decisions will be made. Today we will also remember the journalists who lost their lives in course of carrying out their vocation.
“Opportunity to celebrate the limited success of the media community”
South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) Sri Lanka chapter President Lakshman Gunasekara
World press freedom day is an opportunity to celebrate the limited success of the media industry and professionals in the media community in contributing towards better understanding amongst our audiences about the intense challenges of national governance inter ethnic understanding and justice and the mounting threats to democracy.
The media industry over the past several years have responded to all these challenges by building its own training and standards setting infrastructure on one hand and supporting all those media personnel who have risked careers and their lives in bringing the facts of the country’s problems to the audience.
It is also a moment to appreciate unity amongst media personnel in defending freedoms and capacities of the Sri Lankan media to fulfill its societal role. On this press freedom day the Sri Lankan media as a whole both in the North and South continue to struggle to survive in a very hostile environment with intimidation and physical harassment from various political forces.
“Trade Unions are a rarity in the Sri Lankan media community.”
Editor in Chief Ravaya Victor Ivan
The big issue with the community and most prevalent problem is the responsibility. This is also a problem tied with the new culture of journo- politicians. They cannot simply write or make comments.
The media people should not use their freedom for the wrong reasons like to write gossip stories etc. This should be discussed at large. Trade Unions are a rarity in the Sri Lankan media community. Why is that? If you look at India their TU’s are a movement to be reckoned with. If only we were organized we could fight for an issue like the Right to Information Act. If not what can we do? In Sri Lanka we are able only to report general sittings of the parliament but in India the journalists are open to report on meetings at committee level while we are restricted to the general sittings.
“Media going with the flow rather than doing ground breaking reporting”
Presidents’ Counsel and Institute for Constitutional
Studies Director Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne
Press freedom is part of our constitution which guarantees freedom of speech and expression. And it is also linked to one’s freedom to receive information. Press has a duty to report matters of public interest without fear and fervour. Citizens need correct information but also differing views on various subjects to make their decision. And for them to make representations, protests and agitations to ensure freedom of press is a very important element to civil and political rights. It is also part of the International Covenant on civil and political rights (ICCPR).
Unfortunately today one finds that media has come under severe pressure. Also we find many media organizations and persons are kind of taking their powers for granted and are simply going with the flow instead of doing groundbreaking investigative reporting. Sri Lankan media in reluctant to cover events taking place outside of Sri Lanka in places like Syria, Bahrain and the Arab world.
There isn’t proper coverage since media organizations think that the government may disapprove of it. So they are in self imposed restraint in terms of reporting.
“A diversity or media views and ownership is a culture that encourages freedom”
Free Media Movement Convener Sunil Jayasekara
The media community of the country marks the Press Freedom Day when the media community has come under tremendous pressure. This was the cause behind the deaths of many media personnel who came under attack.
Most of the media persons that were spared their life fled the country while the others are still reported missing. There is a huge threat to editorial freedom of media houses and persons. Especially the electronic media where many channels that received their licenses have been friends or allies of the governing few and their reporting meets the various political demands. Meanwhile editors of mainstream newspapers hold positions in the Government. Therefore the news is not served in the best interest of the public but the politician.
In this climate the problems of the common man is forgotten and self -ensorship is the rule of the day. A diversity or media views and ownership is a culture that we encourage which is inter linked to the freedom and rights ensured in the constitution.
