Channel 4 controversy:

Govt intelligence uncovers several cropped video clips - Minister Keheliya

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

Media and Mass Communication Minister and Defence spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday said the government’s intelligence network has found several cropped video clips and multimedia files from sources that enabled the making of controversial Channel 4 video footage.

Minister Keheliya Rambukwella

‘We are investigating these clips to understand the outsourcing of the jigsaw puzzle and show how these bits and pieces were doctored and remastered into a single slide show to be telecast all over Europe, while a UN human rights meeting was held in Geneva,” he said.

According to intelligence reports, the controversial Channel 4 footage is an improved version of similar footage they have telecast two years ago accusing the government of war crimes and human rights violations.

‘The video is clearly doctored and designed to discredit the Sri Lankan Security Forces right from the start to the end. There are no doubts about it, Rambukwella said.

”The sequence of events, the background commentary and the timing of its telecast in the background of the unrest, release the controversial Darusman Report, stands to prove that it was an organized attempt to discredit the Sri Lankan government,” he explained.

Much of the damage has been done by the commentary,” he said.

Asked if the video material under investigation were real and whether their authenticity has been established to be good enough for investigations, Rambukwella said, “we are talking about half a million persons and a legitimate Army whose valiant efforts, bravery and sacrifices have freed the country.

”We are concerned about their dignity,which they richly deserve, he added. The video tapes are only worth looked into to reveal the truth against a handful of people who are on a role to paint a different picture about them under the cover of human rights in an international conspiracy,” he explained.

There are less than 10 people being shot dead in the video telecast by Channel 4.

After creating such big controversy, the Channel cannot establish the authenticity of their video leave aside the identity of those allegedly killed, he said.

”Sri Lankan security forces have liberated 300,000 Tamil civilians from the grip of LTTE terrorism.

Of them 98 percent have been resettled in their places of origin.

They are now leading a normal life,” he said.

”The Army arrested over 7000 proven LTTE cadres who have been rehabilitated and reintegrated into society,” he added.