Uphold national security

President tells media heads

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa called on the media to act with responsibility and restraint in covering issues concerning national security, as he wished to maintain the media freedom the government has preserved so far.

He said, with the unfolding developments in the North and East it was important not to get carried away or give undue recognition to a terrorist organisation.

The President was addressing the heads of the print and electronic media to familiarise them on the prevailing situation in the North East,at the President's Office yesterday.

The President noted that although some media institutions are quite aware of their grave responsibility at this moment in time there were some others who were trying to introduce terrorists as freedom fighters.

He requested all media institutes to desist from such attempts.

"Supporting terrorism is a national crime," the President stressed calling on the media heads to act with responsibility in the coverage of events, particularly on the dissemination of news which might create hatred among ethnic groups or that which would be advantageous to the enemy resulting in the jeopardising of national security.

President Rajapaksa said the State cannot tolerate actions that would jeopardise national security although it would welcome and uphold the freedom to criticise the government, its members and the ministries.

He denied false propaganda carried out by certain media institutions to the effect that presently there is a war in the country. "We are only retaliating to attacks launched by the LTTE and are always ready for a negotiated settlement.

The President said he never interfered with the freedom of the media and regretted the way some media institutes behave and distort facts.

"I have so far worked freely with the media. You can criticise the Government. But national security is of utmost importance. This is not a tug-of-war among political parties. Therefore it is the responsibility of media personnel to have a clear understanding of what is to be published and what should not be published," the President stressed. He stressed that the media should not publish or telecast news reports that would lead to civilians or for that matter envoys of friendly nations being singled out as targets.

He said his duty was to protect all communities in the country be it, Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim. "We are not for war" President Rajapaksa explained adding that all their attempts to continue a dialogue with the LTTE on the issues at hand failed miserably thus forcing the government to resort to this difficult path.

"I'm ready for talks anytime. We will go for negotiations not because we are afraid but because we need peace."

"I will not pull out forces from the North and East and betray the nation," said the President. He commended the media organisations which had so far been responsive to the national interests.