Army Chief demands censorship on media

Five Media has strongly condemned a reported warning by the Army Commander against the continuation of defence features of 'Sunday Lankadeepa'. <p>

In a statement, they said Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka had told staff journalist Indika Ramanayake that he would not cooperate with the newspaper if did not stop the two articles.<p>

The features in question are a defence analysis by Duminda Sanjeewa and a translation of the security situation by Iqbal Athas.<p>

Lt. Gen. Fonseka had made the statement when staff journalist Ramanayake had called him this morning (Aug. 05th) to seek his permission to obtain certain information from another officer.<p>

The Five Media says in a statement that they treated this incident as an indirect intimidation aimed at media censorship.

The Army chief's request, or rather order, is a breach of the people's right to information as well as a threat to the media.<p>

They urged Lt. Gen. Fonseka to change his hostile approach towards the media, pointing out that changing the manner of reporting at the whims of those in power amounted to a control of the media.<p>

The statement has been signed by the Free Media Movement, the Working Journalists Association, the Federation of Media Employees Trade Union, the Muslim Media Forum and the Tamil Media Alliance.