Archives

by Ranga Jayasuriya

Prabhakaran's press conference was one of the biggest media events so far this year, with over 300 journalists making the gruelling trip to Kilinochchi to see and hear the LTTE leader in person after a lapse of 12 long years.

The tough security measures imposed by the LTTE were a tormenting experience for most of the journalists. They were subjected to rigorous checking from morning to afternoon.

The LTTE cadres went on apologising for the inconvenience. "The security of our national leader is very important," they said. All equipment the journalists wanted to take to the conference room were checked and kept by the LTTE. Only when they got into the buses were they given back the equipment.

The journalists were frisked thoroughly. Even the shoe heels were not spared. From the body checking counter, they were escorted to buses which took them to the conference room.

At a meeting in the morning to brief the procedures for the press briefing, foreign journalists clashed with the organisers when they were told that they could not bring their satellite phones with them to the conference room.

The tense situation further intensified when a mediaman from a pro-LTTE radio station in Australia said: "We are here because of our national leader. His security is vital". An annoyed foreign journalist was heard saying "we are here, because he invited us here. If we cannot report, the press conference will be useless". The next dispute arose when local and foreign TV station representatives were told that they could not telecast the proceedings live.

While making repeated apologies for inconvenience due to security procedures and poor accommodation facilities, the LTTE tried to give journalists their best. But in the war ravaged city with no electricity or running water, journalists had to sleep on the floor. They were shocked to see the city devastated by aerial bombing and shell fire in the two decade long conflict. Except a few newly constructed buildings belonging to the LTTE nothing has been left unhurt by the destruction of the war.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager