National security: Media must act responsibly

Rafik Jalaldeen

COLOMBO: Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday that the responsibility of the media is vital when they report on national security and other important issues affecting the country.

Addressing the media at the weekly security news briefing, Minister Rambukwella said certain media institutions had sought to discredit Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka by portraying him as making political statements.

The Minister read out extracts from a weekend English and Sinhala newspaper on the Army Commander viz ?Last year he said that he will be capturing Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mannar, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu and now he is saying that he will be destroying the terrorists.

The real objective of these articles is to project the Army Commander as having made political statements?.

The Minister said the Army Chief is not a politician and that he is a person who loves the country and is fighting terrorism.

The Army Commander is absolutely truthful in his statements. The two statements were the same but certain media failed to understand him. Therefore, the media should practise their media freedom with responsibility when they report on national security or other issues relating to national interests, the Minister explained.

Referring to another article on the death count of the LTTE where it was reported that only around 600 LTTE cadres are left and the Military should capture LTTE controlled areas soon after the remaining Tigers are killed, Minister Rambukwella reiterated that one should be aware the LTTE is continuously recruiting cadres to their outfit forcefully including child soldiers.

This was also revealed by UNICEF, he said.