Media Secretary Charitha Herath yesterday told The Island yesterday that those who had been constantly accusing the Sri Lankan government of undermining free media should examine the circumstances leading to the US Justice Department raid on the Associated Press.
The raid was prompted by fears that ongoing US intelligence operations could be jeopardized due to the AP having access to those involved in clandestine operations, Herath quoted news agencies as having reported. The Western powers wouldn’t hesitate to act the way they deemed fit when they felt their security interests were threatened by the media, he added.
Herath pointed out that the recent seizure of data on incoming and outgoing calls of five journalists and one editor of the Associated Press by the US State Department meant that the Obama administration wouldn’t abide by rules it was seeking to impose on other countries.
According to international media reports, the US State Department hunting for a senior official or officials responsible for leaking information pertaining to a joint CIA, British and Saudi intelligence operation to thwart an Al Qaeda bomb plot in Yemen, has seized telephone records of more than 20 phone lines belonging to the Associated Press. The State Department has obtained two months’ records of AP offices in Washington, New York, Connecticut as well as its bureau in the US House of Representatives.
The Media Secretary said that obviously the US Justice Department must have had some valid reason to launch the investigation. Unfortunately, the US would persistently interfere with investigations undertaken by some other countries facing major security threats. “Ours is a case in point,” Herath said, adding the raid on the AP was a glaring case of US double standards.
Responding to a query, Herath said that the US attempt to identify those passing information to the media should be examined against the backdrop of whistle blowing WikiLeaks releasing hundreds of thousands classified diplomatic and military cables originating from US missions abroad, including Colombo.
The Media Secretary said that since the conclusion of the conflict here in May 2009, the country had been under heavy media attack with some working at the behest of those still pursuing the eelam project. “Just imagine the reaction of those promoting media freedom here if the GoSL had sought access to telephone records of media organizations perceived to be hostile to it!”
Island 17.05.2013/ Shamindra Fernando