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Police must have good rapport with journalists - Minister Amaratunga

Minister of Interior and Christian Affairs, John Amaratunga yesterday directed the Inspector General of Police T. Anandarajah to direct all police stations to have a constant dialogue with all media personnel and journalists of their areas and develop a healthy rapport with them and keep them updated with the crime situation in the area.

This follows a discussion the Free Media Movement had with the Minister at the Interior Ministry yesterday November 26th. The delegation of the FMM comprised Victor Ivan, Secretary, Sunanda Deshapriya, Convenor and Sunil Jayasekera. Associated with the Minister at the discussion were M. N. Junaid, Secretary, Ministry of Interior, the IGP, T. E. Anandarajah, Director of CID, SSP Lionel Goonatilleke and Mr. Rienzie Perera, SSP, Police, Public Relations.

The meeting was held following representations made to the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe by the FMM regarding instances of harassment of journalists at the hands of police and the progress of investigations in to some prominent instances of deaths of journalists and assault on some others over which the FMM had agitated for justice in the past.

IGP T. Anandarajah said that he had always prevailed upon all grades of policemen to have healthy relations with the media personnel. He will inquire into certain instances of harassment brought to their notice by the FMM and take appropriate action. He said that there were certain instances when all the details pertaining to a case could not be given as it would harm the investigations.

However he would send a circular to all the OICs of Police Stations to have cordial relations with media personnel in their areas and give them their fullest co-operation in regard to inquiries made by them.

The Minister suggested it would be a good idea if the OICs of the police stations get a list of journalists of all media organisations in their areas and meet them at least once a month and keep them updated with the situation in the areas and get their assistance as well in tackling crime and vices in the area. The IGP said he will give the necessary instructions in the circular he would send to the police stations. He said he had already told all DIGs, SSPs and SPs of the need to keep cordinal relations with the media personnel and not to brush them off when inquiries are made from them. Of course there were certain confidential information which in certain circumstances could not be divulged lest it would jeopardise investigations.

The IGP said that any journalist who face harassment or facing any problem could complain to him direct or contact SSP Rienzie Perera, Director, Police Public Relations who will co-ordinate matters to attend to their grievances.

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