The Case For A Free Press
This is an article for the latest Montage, should be on stands soon. Perhaps relevant because the lovely editor of that magazine is herself under threat.
If you read the newspapers in North Korea or Zimbabwe, everything is going fine, and everything pretty much stays the same. If you read the papers in America or Europe everything is falling apart, and things get better. Right information is the first step to right action, and that is why a free press is so important. Freedom of expression is not some vague academic concept, no Constitutional garnish. Free speech gives a nation the eyes and ears to see itself, see the world and see its enemies. Clearly. Sometimes you may not like what you see, but at least you can do something about it.
Right now the Sri Lankan war must not being going well, because the Secretary of Defense is desperately trying to poke out our nation’s eyes. The MinDef issued a statement saying that any ‘baseless criticism’ of the military leadership is treason, any discussion of arms procurement or promotion of said leaders is treason, and talking to the troops… also treason. This is by no means a unique definition of treason, but it is a bit antiquated. The Rajapakse’s seem to want a royal crier to read proclamations and they don’t appreciate what a great tool we already have. Sri Lanka has diverse press that enables us to perceive our environment better and make better national decisions. It even, God forbid, shows us when things go wrong.
However, a free press certainly can make you look and feel bad, especially if you’re the one in the news. It all depends on whether your goal is improving the nation or covering your ass. Right now the statements from the Ministry of Defense point to the latter. They are outraged (outraged!) at coverage of opposition to the war, procurement, promotions and any opinions at all from the troops. This seems to serve the interest of those few public servants more than the nation. The rationale is that the military needs space outside of the Constitution because the war is so important and besides, they can certainly be trusted.
Except, of course, they can’t. The Ministry of Defense has been releasing body counts all year. In May 2007, Sarath Fonseka said the LTTE had less than 4,000 cadres (Hindustan Times). However, by their tally, about 5,000 LTTE cadres have been killed between now and January 1st. That is, we’ve killed every LTTE cadre, and a small zombie contingent as well. So something is obviously wrong. We are not perceiving the war clearly, and that is hurting the nation.
In order to improve the nation and win the war we need to see clearly what’s going on, even if that hurts the Secretary of Defense’s feelings. Client servicing is hard in any industry, but every professional swallows their pride and does it. The Ministry of Defense serves us, and we have a right to know what’s going on. Not because of any abstract principle, but simply because it makes our nation safer and stronger. And that is a case for a free media. This is a war for our nation and our security, and it requires the effort and support of every Sri Lankan. A free press gives us information, free expression gives us input, and free elections give us power. Called democracy. It’s great. And it helps us win.
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Indi, while I agree with the spirit of your post, and the proper place the media deserves in society (just thought I’d say that before Aadhavan pops out of the woodwork to call me dirty names), it’s this cavalier analysis of the situation (example: your conclusion about casualty figures) that attracts the MoD’s ire. I pointed this out on another post, where the Leader came up with a totally bizarre conclusion, all based on counting ambulances. In your comment that according to MoD stats, the security forces have killed more than the estimated strength of the LTTE (and therefore are lying) doesn’t take into account LTTE recruitment figures. It’s like me saying I have 40 litres in my petrol tank, my car does 10kmpl, I have driven 600km, and have 20 litres left, and you calling me a liar without realizing I topped up on the way.
I’m sure the MoD is telling us many porkies (LTTE strength, KIAs, estimated time of victory, etc) as do all governments, but its this general ignorance of the subject matter, lack of maturity, and analytical incompetence that makes it very hard for people like me to have much sympathy for the media.
For decades the media has cried wolf and criedbaby without really doing anything to change its own faults. Now that actual attacks have happened against journalists, there’s something to cry about, but before that, we saw frontpage columnspace dedicated to how journalists weren’t given tickets to a cricket match, how their seats were uncomfortable, or they were scolded by Mervyn Silva.
Sri Lankan journalism is generally irresponsible and criminally negligent of the facts, not to mention arrogant. While I’m all for their RIGHT to be such, I’d like to see some attempt at regaining their credibility.
Sooooo, the excuse is that the LTTE recruited well over 5,000 people this year. Thank you for the citation documenting that. I think I did mention their zombie reanimation campaign. I’m sorry I ever doubted MoD bodycounts, and the ‘technical difficulties’ encountered by their helicopters.
“Sooooo, the excuse is that the LTTE recruited well over 5,000 people this year.”
Er… no. Where did I say that? But in your calculation, you haven’t added recruitment figures. You’ve given Sarath’s estimate, the declared KIAs, and come up with an analysis that doesn’t include recruitment. Sort of like wondering how come 2+2+2=6. The figures are not the point, Indi. The point is the media’s inability (and today it seems your inability too) to analyse the facts under your noses. There’s no point whining about not being told the true facts, when you can’t even analyse the facts you have. Pearls before swine, I guess.
And your knee-jerk reaction to my comment, mirrors some of the BS in the papers, where editors and journos are simply reacting to the MoD without seeing what a sorry arsed bunch they already are.
The figures kinda are the point. 2+2 is an interesting allegory, but I still fail to see any substance in your comment beyond calling the media ‘sorry-arsed’. Why don’t the body counts make sense, even by internal metrics? Is the LTTE recruitment level really so high, or can we just follow Occam’s Razor and conclude that the MoD is lying?
I can get that you personally dislike the media, but I don’t get how you see any even internal logic in MoD statements. I also fail to see how the MoD calling them traitors or you calling the media ‘cry babies’ is the vaunted factual analysis you’re calling for.
Let me get this right — you fail to see any substance in my comment that the media (and in this case you) conveniently ignore a part of the truth in order to reach a slanted conclusion. “Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story”, eh?
I never said that the bodycounts make sense, or that the MoD isn’t lying. But if the media wants the respect (and rights) due, they need to start behaving like national media and not paparazzi rags.
I’m not trying to validate the MoD stats with LTTE recruitment figures. What I’m trying to do is point out that the media is as guilty as the MoD of deceit. The MoD lies, the media ignores the facts.
I don’t particularly dislike the media. What I do dislike is inefficiency and unprofessionalism which is defended with arrogance and childish whining.
Also, I never said that the MoD’s name-calling is factual analysis. The MoD and the DefSec is voicing what is widely felt within the Army and in many armies worldwide. The fact that the GoSL is allowing this to be stated as policy is wrong and I’ve already said so. If you disagree with my calling the media crybabies, that’s cool; I think it’s factual, but if it isn’t, hey, I’m just a blogger, and as you’ve demonstrated quite ably, we’re allowed some hysteria ;)
“its this general ignorance of the subject matter, lack of maturity, and analytical incompetence that makes it very hard for people like me to have much sympathy for the media.”
If the press is incompetent and reports something that is false, the Govt should take action through the courts to punish them for lying, and provide the correct facts for all to see.
Instead they call up some journalists and threaten their lives, harass and intimidate other journalists, and say that nobody other than the MoD can hereafter report on defence matters.
If the press reports are inaccurate, let the Govt prove them wrong! Why instead is the MoD trying to hide information? If the press is reporting lies, it should be easy for the MoD to show them up for the frauds they are. Take your example of triage, which was a good point, and one I found very eye-opening. I have to then ask the question – if it is so easy to show that the Leader’s report on that day was incorrect and irresponsible, why didn’t the Govt prove it wrong, and take legal action against the paper? Should’ve been simple enough to prove that the Leader’s report was based on misinformed assumptions.
I’m sorry to say that intimidation, covering up of the facts, and imposition of censorship makes it look to most impartial observers that the Govt has something to hide. I would like to see more transparency from the Govt. If we are winning as they say we are, why all the secrecy? The secrecy casts doubt in my mind as to whether the picture given by the Govt is true or not.
I fully agree with what you say, SF. My comments to Indi were more on trying to understand how the media is often perceived by the GoSL and their supporters. This government doesn’t understand the principle of managing the truth, so instead it just tries blanket security.
right on!
When there is no information , rumour will take its place.
Govt tries to keep things under wraps, people want to know and rumours step in to fill the gap.
Allow people to investigate and report freely and there will be less issues with quality of info.
Like many currupt power mongers, Mugabe has to be removed by force by international community. Mgabe wants to be eternal chief of Zimbwabe. Oh No. Mgabe’s economic policies have bankrupted the country. Socialism does not work in Africa because Africans are not traditionally socialists.
Blacker is right that the quality of journalism in the local press is not great. It has become so thanks to suppression by successive governments, the nationalisation of Lake House and the closure of the Times of Ceylon, Sun group etc. Like a lot of other institutions it has suffered from a flight of people.
It was not all that long ago that the media was controlled entirely by the state and our only source of independent news was the BBC, on shortwave radio.
Th press for the past two decades I have known them for have always been politically motivated. ALL OF THEM. Either by the simple fact that the owners of the media groups are directly associated with a political party or government goons appointed politically to enjoy the benefits and spread propaganda.
Suddenly they have taken the mantle of ‘holier than thou’ with the current scenario of white vans. Hiding under ‘press freedom’. If they were always unbiased and not motivated politically they would earn the governments respect. Any governments.
The behaviour of the international media and the respect they receive fully reflect that.
It’s always the general public who suffer as they quite don’t understand the ‘power politics games’ that govern Sri Lanka’s media.
No human being deserves physical abuse. I am sure any government or whoever who organises ‘white van’ tactics will think twice about attacking any media person if they commanded the right full respect they deserve through factual, unbiased reporting.
Which in the current Sri Lankan political scenario is sadly lacking – if not totally missing.
DD
what are you saying?
The press is biased and politically motivated. Therefore they are not respected. If they are respected they will not be attacked.
Convoluted logic at the very least.
Who has a holier than thou attitude? Who says that things must not be criticised? Who abuses its critics – be they NGO’s, the media , the international community ? Who all but called Desmond Tutu and Jimmy carter terrorists?
Who exactly is taking this “holier than thou attitude”? Who is it who is untouchable? Unquestionable?
The press is being hit because they are exposing things the government does not like. The press is far from perfect but who bears the greater fault?
No doubt free speech hence media freedom is something essential in a democratic society. Everyone points finger at the government for violating media freedom. But I have never heard of those media gurus protesting against the ownership of the organizations they are serving for.
For an example , it’s a known thing Sirasa media group use a pro-UNP and pro-LTTE approach in their news reporting and other programs related to politcs/war/economy. Just because of the ownership’s afflictions, all journalists working are forced to follow this approach.
In Leader publications case, it’s known thing all their publications are serving as unofficial publications of UNP.
On the other hand there a few media houses practice pro-government reporting and all working for them are suppose to follow the same stance.
My questions is “are these people entitled to have all the privileges an independent media people are entitled for?†.
For me these people are small and medium size wheels of a giant political machinery and should be dealt with accordingly.
Indi, you can easily understand this , if you study a bit the big newspaper company you used to serve couple of years ago. How their publications served the interests of their preferred parties, people is so obvious to anyone who has been reading them for a while
I think y’all are misunderstanding a free press. The relevant section of the Consitution reads
Wijeya, the Leader, the Island, etc are private companies with private owners and accompanying biases. They are well within their rights to publish stuff with a bias, though a newspaper needs to maintain objectivity for broader market reasons. Private companies and citizens don’t have to comply with some vague concept of objectivity in order to publish, and they certainly should be able to do so without random yakkos dragging them out of their cars and beating them on the streets. It is totally OK for a publication to have political biases, and they don’t need the ‘respect’ of any government to get basic civilian protection from that government.
I repeat, freedom of the press exists regardless of the ‘quality’ or bias of said publications. Freedom is funny like that.
Yes, you’re right, and no one here is contesting the media’s right to lie, slant, fabricate, ignore facts, misspell, publish obscene material to children, etc. But if they didn’t do all of the above, maybe the public would be more vocal in standing up and demanding that the GoSL leave ‘em alone.
I already said, “Sri Lankan journalism is generally irresponsible and criminally negligent of the facts, not to mention arrogant. While I’m all for their RIGHT to be such, I’d like to see some attempt at regaining their credibility.”
When a lying bullshitter is being beaten up in the street by other lying bullshitters, I doubt that upstanding bystanders would do anything to prevent it. With rights come responsibilities — or as your favourite neighbourhood wallcrawler said, “With great power comes great responsibility”, and this applies to the media as well as the authorities.
It is up to the law to decide what is reportable by the press or not, and the courts are there should anyone (the Govt included) wish to challenge the accuracy of a press report. The only way that the press will stop reporting irresponsibly and become more credible is if action is taken against shoddy reporting through the courts.
I absolutely agree with you that the standard of press reporting in SL is vastly inferior to most other countries I have been to – but nothing will make them change and improve other than being challenged in the courts for stupid reporting. Asking for the press to ‘regain credibility’ is impossible, as there are many who think they are credible as things are, because their irresponsible reports are not being challenged by the pen, only by the sword.
What we need is for the Govt to give solid facts to prove them wrong whenever a press report is inaccurate. Then the press will improve their standards and regain credibility amongst people who do not have respect for them.
It all comes down to law and order – the Govt has a mechanism to combat bad press reporting, and that is by using the facts to display clearly who is right and who is talking BS.
In the absence of Govt facts refuting the press’ ‘baseless allegations’, the general public has no option but to consider the press as credible. They are innocent until proven guilty, n’est ce pas?
Of course I agree that the truth is the best defence against lies, but that isn’t always practical for the military or government. The Sunday Leader for example has a long list of court cases pending against it, but that hasn’t changed anything, given our court systems. Also, governments and militaries can’t really afford to have everything out in the open, even if it’s all true and above board. Which is the reason for things like official secrets acts.
For example, an incompetent Army officer could go to the press (they’re already going to court) when passed over for promotion. Politically motivated newspapers then carry the story, and even if the government sues the papers, it takes years to be resolved, and the damage is done, not just to the military but to the competent officers too.
There’s no simple solution, and I agree that the media’s mostly in the right in this, and the GoSL’s mostly in the wrong, but it’s taken awhile for a government to go this far in action against the media, and while it’s still wrong, I think the GoSL has been provoked by the media.
just a couple of observations.
1. Sri Lanka does have an Official Secrets Act. Defamation isn’t really the only lawful remedy available to the government so all those extra legal measures like assault, kidnapping/abducting and killing aren’t really necessary.
2. I really doubt any of the Chandrika era defamation cases against the Leader are still pending. Most of the those were criminal defamation charges which were either withdrawn or dismissed. There wasn’t a single conviction. There was a case filed by the incumbent Foreign Minister against the Leader which was dismissed recently.
3. The media does provoke the government. That’s their job, to provoke the government to action/change/respond. That the government is provoked into terrorizing the journalists says more about the government than it does the media,
1. I’ve already agreed that terrorizing the media’s wrong. I think all observers would prefer that the GoSL use constitutional and legitimate action instead. But as I already pointed out, it isn’t always practical, given our pedestrian judicial system. No government on earth is totally transparent, especially not during a war, and it’s often in the interests of governments to have secrets — even if the contents of those secrets are totally legal and above board. It’s unrealistic to expect that all things can be handled within the legal system. So governments resort to other measures, often questionable, to throw doubt on the media, spread disinformation (lies), and disrupt the reputations of those in the media. This is common practice internationally. Sadly, the GoSL lacks this subtlety and sophistication and, often against spook advice, resorts to thuggery.
2. I don’t know about Chandrika, but I have it from good sources, that pending cases against the Leader will soon top three figures, and these run back several years. Not all of these are by the government, though; many are individuals from the government or past governments.
3. If the media is provoking change by revealing actual corruption and ineptitude, that’s great. But if they’re willing to mash together hearsay, skewed statistics and outright lies simply to reach a political agenda, then I think that’s a bad thing.
1. yes, Government do questionable things but where a government illegally terrorises journalists, that’s on a another scale altogether. There’s no comparison between using a hack to write a hit piece on a critical journo and ordering a thug/soldier/paramilitary to perform a hit on a journo. Also, wherever you have a government ignoring law because it considers it to be the sole arbiter of what is acceptable using its definition of ‘practical’, then I think what you have is what is called a breakdown of the rule of law. And that’s why analogies to Pakistan are more apposite than ones to Great Britain.
2. There’s no judgement to date against the Leader. Anyone can file a case. It means nothing that there are hundreds or even thousands of cases pending. If you think the fact proves that justice is slow in SL and therefore the govt has the right to take the law into its own hands, then there shouldn’t be a problem letting civilians do the same using the same logic. You’d have anarchy of you followed that logic. It’s still not clear whether you are seeking to justify or only explain the government’s terror tactics. As an explanation, it makes sense. I think you describe accurately how the government views things. Justification is an entirely different matter.
3. The media here is putrid. My point was that it says more about the government than it does of the media that the government terrorizes them.
1. Certainly you can’t compare blackmailing an American journo to killing a beating up a Sri Lankan one, and I wasn’t trying to. As you yourself say, it’s on a different scale. However, it stems from the same point of view. Governments will ALWAYS ignore the law if they can get away with it. When they can’t, they circumvent it, as Bush did. The GoSL too, isn’t ignoring the law, it’s circumventing it. When the GoSL evicted the Pettah Tamils, it ignored the law, and the SC pulled them up. Perhaps similar action should be taken against the GoSL now.
2. Aadhavan, I have stated several times that I am NOT justifying the GoSL’s position, and that their actions are, in my view, wrong. I said this in the very first post, and I pointed out that I was doing so before you appeared to accuse me of things. It seems I was wasting my time. :) However, I think the journalists are also wrong, though not to the extent of the GoSL. I wasn’t saying that because justice is slow the GoSL can take the law into its own hands, and I think that’s clear. I was responding to your intentionally naive implication that all the GoSL needs to do is take legal action. My point was that the courts cannot be used to prevent rubbish journalism.
3. The thing is it isn’t any easier to legally control a putrid media than a good one.
1. Sorry, I don’t get this distinction between circumventing law and ignoring it. Breaking thew law is breaking the law.
2. Good. I’m glad you’re becoming clearer. I’m not the only one to reply to your comments on this and the last thread on this blog assuming that you were seeking in some way to justify GoSL’s terrorizing journos.
3. To the extent that you see some causality between the attacks on the midia in SL and putrid standards in the media, you are wrong. This government would go after all journos who are a threat to them, whether those journos are competent or otherwise. And there’s very little a conscientious, competent media can do when they are being terrorised and threatened. In fact, if the media woke up and actually did their job here, there’d probably be far more attacks on them than you’re seeing now.
1. Sorry, I forgot that nuance is something alien to you, Aadhavan. It’s been a while since we have had a discussion. I know you prefer things in black & white (like Sittingnut); the world’s an easier place that way (especially online). Are you aware of the distinction between bending and breaking the law, or should I explain that as well?
2. I’m glad that after having repeated the fact several times, and addressed the point directly to you, that it’s finally dawning on you. No, you are not the only one to reply, but you seem to be the only obtuse one.
3. “This government would go after all journos who are a threat to them, whether those journos are competent or otherwise” An interesting theory, but since most of them are of the latter category when it comes to governmental issues, we won’t really know.
“In fact, if the media woke up and actually did their job here, there’d probably be far more attacks on them than you’re seeing now.” I don’t think so. It’s hard to suppress a widespread wave of truth, whereas inconsistent lies and rumour are easier to crush because the public sees it for what it is.
1. You silly boy. Geeting worked up all over again huh? To the extent that ‘circumventing’ doesn’t mean breaking the law, merely using a loophole, yes there’s a distinction. But when you say “the GoSL too, isn’t ignoring the law, it’s circumventing it” when it attacks, kills and regularly terrorises journalists, normal meanings fly out of the window don’t they?
2. Given your problem with comprehension of some rather elementary English words (refer para 1), asking for clarity of expression from you just seems a little too demanding. You are forgiven ;-)
3. “It’s hard to suppress a widespread wave of truth, whereas inconsistent lies and rumour are easier to crush because the public sees it for what it is”
At least two problems with that one. 1)Truth cannot be crushed yada yada, sure, but the journos carrying that truth can. The more damaging to the govt a journalist becomes, the more the govt wants to silence him. 2)A public outcry is possible, but don’t count on it. Even if it happens, much blood will be shed in the meantime.
1. “Geeting worked up all over again huh?”
Not at all, Aadhavan. But if it’s easier for you to profile me, then go for it. It’s always easier to defend against an argument you yourself create, rather than an actual one, isn’t it? Slow day at the office, I guess? I’m glad to see that you agree that there’s a distinction between circumvention and breaking of the law.
What are you here for, Aadhavan — to argue semantics and split hairs, or address the issues? I’m disappointed with you, machang. You seem to be following Sittingnut down the blinkered road where you argue about a word rather than the topic. The GoSL is accusing the media of treason, and suggesting that treasonous behaviour will be punished. So until an attacker of a journo is tried in court and linked to the GoSL, the latter won’t have broken the law. They have however circumvented it by bending the definition of what is treasonous. It’s a pity that I’m forced to debate this in the dry terms of a court, ignoring what we both know but can’t prove — but then you seem to want that with your constipated adherence to legal definition. Running out of cases at work?
2. I’m afraid it’s you that haas comprehension issues, Aadhavan. It’s taken several days for you to understand that there’s a difference between circumvention and breaking. Do I need to remind you as well that forgiveness requires repentance — or do you need a couple of days for that too?
3. I think the “yada yada” part was the best thought through portion of your third para.
1)It shouldn’t take a lawyer or even a schoolkid to tell the difference between flagrantly breaking the law and then breaking it some more so that you don’t get punished by court and ‘circumventing’ the law through a loophole and never really violating it. The law is broken when you violate it machang, not when the judge hands down the judgment 3 years later. When you circumvent the law, it isn’t broken and courts and the authorities don’t have the right to intervene. This should be common sense but if you think it’s legal or semantic hair splitting, then I really don’t know how to help you. I thought you were being disingenuous but now realise you actually believe you’re right. I’m sorry but I just can’t help you. I wish I could.
2)i really don’t know whether to laugh or to cry.
3)ok
“1) It shouldn’t take a lawyer or even a schoolkid to tell the difference between flagrantly breaking the law and then breaking it some more so that you don’t get punished by court and ‘circumventing’ the law through a loophole and never really violating it.”
My point exactly. Which is why when you say things like “I don’t get this distinction between circumventing law and ignoring it”, it makes me wonder what you’re smoking in your tea breaks. First you tell me you don’t understand the distinction, then above, you give me those distinctions. Which is why I believe, Aadhavan, you’re just here to pick a fight ‘cos you’ve had a slow day or whatever.
“When you circumvent the law, it isn’t broken and courts and the authorities don’t have the right to intervene.”
Exactly. And the courts are not intervening to stop the DefSec’s threats against the media, which is why I said he was circumventing it. He hasn’t exactly broken it.
“I thought you were being disingenuous but now realise you actually believe you’re right. ”
Perhaps if you try reading at a slower pace, things might become clearer to you and you won’t put your feet in your mouth. Should I use shorter words?
“2)i really don’t know whether to laugh or to cry.”
You should stop buying your grass from Pilawoos.
You are talking about an highly ideal model. And I don’t understand why we have to adopt theoretical models developed to meet the requirements of some other societies. May be because I don’t believe in universal standards and these models should be extended or remodeled to suite our context.
While agreeing to the argument that these people should not be subjected to abuse/beating just because they are not in the same camp as you are, it’s hard to look at them as “independent journalists” and say they are entitled to all the privileges of media freedom.
For an example , I believe there is a difference between civilian doctors those military doctors. These two types have different set of privileges though they seem to be doing the same.
[...] ie. A bunch of bigots/racists who go running around killing people for fun). Some like indi is outraged at the MOD’s outrage towards [...]