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Colombo denies 'militarisation' of state TV station
The appointment of a retired general to help run a Sri Lankan state television station is a sign of media militarisation not seen for decades, rights watchdogs said yesterday.
- Reuters
- Published: 23:54 March 20, 2008
Colombo: The appointment of a retired general to help run a Sri Lankan state television station is a sign of media militarisation not seen for decades, rights watchdogs said yesterday.
The government, engaged in a long-running war with Tamil Tiger rebels in the north, called the accusation a "fabricated lie" and said former army major-general Sunil Silva would help cure chronic management weaknesses at the station.
"How can you militarise a media organisation? Though he is an ex-army man, he is a good administrator. Even the ministry will help them to strengthen the administration," Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said.
Silva was named deputy director-general of Rupavahini, or SLRC, just days after the army sealed off the station to 200 staff threatening to strike over alleged government intimidation.
"For the last 20 years we haven't seen any military officer in a station or running administration," Free Media Movement spokesman Sunanda Deshapriya said.
"This is part of the general militarisation of the country. I would say that is part of the preparation by the government so that will have Slrc under their control under any situation."
Sri Lanka has intermittently censored media reports of the civil war since 1973, and it has restricted access to Tamil Tiger-held areas in what some see as a bid to avoid rebel propaganda being spread.
Staff at SLRC had planned to strike on Monday over a series of assaults since then on five workers by suspected hired thugs. The army and police sealed off the Slrc building, forcing staff to protest outside.
An international media freedoms watchdog demanded an explanation for police intervention.
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