‘Media have to play vibrant role in peace effort’

 In an interview with Manjula Fernando of the Daily News, Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa outlines the Government’s vision for a free media culture and elaborates on the importance of the Media’s role in bringing peace to the country

Q: Handling Media is a very challenging task and it has been the case in the past that the Media Minister is never a popular character. How do you face this challenge ?

A: I don’t consider it as a challenge. I became the Deputy Minister of Media around 1997-1998. From then onwards I have learned the art and craft of handling media. I usually maintain friendly relations with journalists. It is very vital for me.

We see many youngsters coming to the field now. That is a welcoming trend.

There were difficult times. During the escalation of the conflict in the Jaffna peninsula, by end of 1999 and 2000, for me that was one of the challenging periods.

The Government is playing a complex role at the moment, trying to find a political solution to the North East problem while fighting to eliminate terrorism on the face of the country. It is a trying period.

I don’t consider my job as a challenge but I would like to execute my job to the satisfaction of everyone. That I think as a challenge.

Q: Good journalists and media workers are vital for a vibrant media. What is the Government doing in this respect ? Any future plans ?

A: What we experience here is a free media atmosphere. We have so many electronic media stations and print media houses operating freely, despite being a small country. We are second only to India.

The Government plans to ensure a high standard of training for media so that they will be more professional in their thinking and dealings with the tasks involving their job. Rs.75 million has been set aside to provide necessary tools and equipment like computers for media personnel. This is part of the State’s plan to help uplift their standards.

Q: The country is now at a crossroads, with the Government trying to free the nation of terrorism while pursuing a political end to the quarter century old ethnic issue. How vital you think is the media’s role in this quest ? Are you satisfied with their contribution thus far ?

A: The terrorists are suppressing the Tamils living under their rule. There is no freedom for them. The government is trying to liberate those people from the LTTE’s fascist control. They are living in conditions worse than the tribals in the worst parts of Africa.

Our intention is not to get them under our control. They must be freed to lead a normal life in their areas with their own identity. When you consider the role of the media in this backdrop, one way I’m satisfied and another way I’m not. I am satisfied because many media organisations have understood this stance of the Government and had been very responsive and responsible.

But there are instances where some have tried to portray a misleading picture giving prominence to the LTTE cause and in turn bringing up opinions harmful to the nation.

We are trying to bring prosperity to the country ending the decades old conflict. Our concept is one country and one nation. In this struggle media has a bigger role to play.

We sincerely hope they will take up this responsibility and challenge in a positive note. However, even after much explaining, some media are not prepared to comprehend our stance. We must not play politics with the North-East issue.

Q: There are allegations the media, Tamil media in particular, is being suppressed by the State. That they are being deprived of Government advertisements and the allocation of newsprint restricted. How do you respond to this ?

A: I totally deny this allegation. If you closely observe, Tamil papers enjoy the same freedom they have enjoyed for the past so many years. We have not changed a thing.

We have noticed that certain Tamil papers show bias towards the LTTE, probably out of fear. If they criticise the LTTE, there will be problems the next day. We are aware of that. The freedom should come from that side not from us. Can they ever interview Douglas Devananda or Anandasangaree without offending the LTTE !

From our side they enjoy so much of freedom as to publish anything they like. When they approach me I do everything possible to heed their representations. Even the President has made it a habit to meet the Tamil newspaper representatives once a month to listen to them.

I was told there was a newsprint scarcity in Jaffna. We have taken steps to send the required stocks. You all know there was a problem with sending foodstuff to Jaffna due to the LTTE’s actions. We have overcome that challenge now and are able to think about sending other goods. We are aware that newspapers are important for people as much as food and water.

Q: Human rights groups have charged that the Emergency and the PTA are being used to harass media institutions and media personnel. They cite the arrest of Maubima’s Parameswari and some of its directors as an example ?

A: Emergency regulations are there to safeguard people and property. We have laid down many conditions when it comes to the arrest and detention of media personnel. We are not trying to harass anyone. There are Muslims, Sinhalese and Tamils in custody irrespective of their nationality.

We have not taken any media person into custody simply because they are with the media. In one instance a female journalist was arrested with a LTTE suicide cadre. She was arrested for that, not for the things she has written or what she was going to write. The other three journalists were arrested with hard proof that they were terrorists.

Likewise, some Army, Police and Government officers have been arrested, simply because they were aiding and abetting the terrorist movement. We are open about the arrests and those in custody have access to legal support and visits by their relatives. No one is above the law.

Q: Have you responded to the report by ‘International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission’ which was issued recently after a fact finding mission in October last year ?

A: I read that report. I’m not in favour of most of their findings. While this report has openly accused the Government over certain incidents, they have not bothered to name the LTTE for the atrocities which they have committed.

They have not taken note of the number of television stations, radio stations and print media houses operating in this country. There is no reference to the number of new TV and radio stations started within this year, as well as the mushrooming news websites.

If you collect all the Sunday papers, the whole week is not enough to read them. Most of them are run by private owners. I can only say this Mission has been misguided and given a totally different picture.

If they were on a fact finding mission they should have spoken to all stakeholders.

Q: Will you be responding to the report ?

A: Yes. At the moment, our officials are going through every paragraph of the report. There will be a response soon.

Q: The draft law of the proposed Freedom of Information Act received Cabinet approval in 2003. What is the progress now ?

A: The draft law of the Freedom of Information Act, is still under study. The research unit of the Ministry is further studying the proposed law. We need to understand how it is being practised in other countries.

Pictures by Sudath Nishantha