Western media chided for biased reporting

Manjula Fernando and Uditha Kumarasinghe

COLOMBO: The UNP, JVP and other political parties yesterday condemned the Western media, especially the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for its biased and inaccurate reporting of recent events including the air strikes on selected LTTE targets in the East.

"As far as we can see the BBC had been incorrectly reporting and what they say is far from truth. They are violating all accepted norms of media ethics and culture," said UNP MP Hemakumara Nanayakkara.

The BBC has been reporting that more than 40,000 people have been fleeing the air strikes in the East, which was a limited operation that followed an LTTE attack on naval craft off Sampur.

These operations have now been concluded. "It is sad to note that the Sampoor incident where the three forces were involved in defensive attacks in retaliation to the LTTE offensive towards the military and the innocent civilians were totally distorted and blown out of proportion. The report that 40,000 were fleeing the areas was a diabolical lie."

Government statistics show that less than 18,000 people live in the area, which was corroborated yesterday by the LTTE itself. Its Eastern political chief S. Elilan told reporters that only 4,700 families - 17,858 people - live in the area.

"It is a serious concern for the Government as well as the United National Party as the main opposition, that a reputed news service such as the British Broadcasting Corporation creating such problems," Nanayakkara said.

He urged the Government should summon those responsible for this act which led to havoc and deal with them after giving them a chance to explain themselves.

These type of misreporting is a threat to the international image and the sovereignty of the this country, Nanayakkara added.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) also vehemently condemned the false and diabolical news telecast over the BBC channel misleading the world community that nearly 42,000 people in Sampoor areas have been displaced due to Air Force aerial bombardment.

JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa told the Daily News that this is a diabolical lie telecast over the BBC which he alleged has turned into a channel giving publicity to the LTTE propaganda campaign.

According to Weerawansa BBC is also spreading rumours that the Tamil community is going to be annihilated through such attacks. These are completely fabricated news items telecast by the BBC favouring the LTTE, he said.