| |
Police raid Sri Lanka Mirror and Sri Lanka X News Saturday, 30 June 2012 - 11:37 AM SL Time |  | |
Sri Lankan police have raided the shared office of two news websites, arresting nine people, mostly journalists.
Police say they were arrested for publishing anti-government material.
Computers and phones from the office of Sri Lanka Mirror and Sri Lanka X News were also confiscated by police, witnesses told the BBC.
The raid on the websites comes amid growing concern about media freedom in Sri Lanka.
Correspondents say the websites support the political opposition.
The office of the two websites has been sealed. Police have also raided the home of a senior journalist at the Sri Lanka Mirror.
Police say they found anti-government material in the websites` office.
`This is clear proof that media freedom is dead in Sri Lanka,` opposition MP Ravi Karunanayake told BBC Sinhala.
Earlier this week, five Tamil-language news websites were blocked.
In November last year, several Sri Lankan websites were temporarily blocked for `maligning the president`.
|
Source(s)
bbc.com |
Maninder
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6013
Member Profile
|
 30 Jun 2012 04:53:55 GMT Report for Abuse
|
It is interesting to note that Sri Lanka ranks at 163 out of 179 countries in the latest Freedom Of The Press index by Reporters Without Border.
Countries like Afghanistan Saudi Arabia and Iraq have better ranking!
Not really a sign of thriving democracy! |
AnuD
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 59412
Member Profile
|
 30 Jun 2012 06:35:35 GMT Report for Abuse
|
India's ranking in a global press freedom index has fallen significantly in the past year, putting it behind countries such as Liberia, Kyrgyzstan, South Sudan and Albania. India fell to 131 out of 179 on the Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, from 122 last year.
The index uses 44 different criteria ranging from censorship of news media to physical attacks on journalists, and the ability of the media to investigate and criticise and reflects the degree of freedom that journalists, news media, and netizens enjoy in each country and the efforts made by the authorities to respect and ensure respect for this freedom, the US organisation said.
On the list, the Arab nations of Syria, Bahrain and Yemen were the biggest fallers, reflecting the crackdowns on the popular uprisings. Crackdown was the word of the year in 2011. Never has freedom of information been so closely associated with democracy, said the organisation. Never have acts of censorship and physical attacks on journalists seemed so numerous.
The US fell 27 points to 47, as a result of the arrest of journalists covering the Occupy movement, while China fell to 174 because of a stepping up of Internet censorship and increased control of news outlets as a result of local protests. The top position was shared by Finland and Norway, followed jointly by Estonia and Netherlands. Eritrea remained at the bottom position, a position it has held since 2007.
In India, RwB pointed to the exposure of violence of journalist as a result of the ongoing conflicts in Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh, as well as intimidation of journalists by mafia groups in the country's biggest cities. However the authorities were no better, they warned, pointing to the dangerous implications of the Information technology Rules 2011 introduced last year and which requires Internet firms to remove harassing , obscene , libellous and other forms of content or risk prosecution. Foreign journalists were also impacted, with troubles obtaining visas, and pressure to give the country positive coverage, the organisation said. |
AMIGO
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7919
Member Profile
|
 30 Jun 2012 06:59:35 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Police say they found anti-government material in the websites' office
so writing and speaking against the corrupted government is banned in SL |
kaush
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3872
Member Profile
|
 30 Jun 2012 07:26:36 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Not really a sign of thriving democracy!
here is the shining example...lol....i thought it is only secular but its the beacon of media freedom as well.... monkeys and their logic...lol
India's ranking in a global press freedom index has fallen significantly in the past year, putting it behind countries such as Liberia, Kyrgyzstan, South Sudan and Albania. India fell to 131 out of 179 on the Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, from 122 last year. |
kaush
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3872
Member Profile
|
30 Jun 2012 07:29:10 GMT Report for Abuse
|
According preachers from the monkey land and the trend analysts, media freedom should be above the law..
The Defence Ministry said in its website that acting on a court order the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officials, yesterday (29th June) sealed an office in Rajagiriya where two websites involved in propagating false and unethical news on Sri Lanka were being operated from. |
AMIGO
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7919
Member Profile
|
30 Jun 2012 07:41:34 GMT Report for Abuse
|
The Defence Ministry said in its website that acting on a court order the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officials, yesterday (29th June) sealed an office in Rajagiriya where two websites involved in propagating false and unethical news on Sri Lanka were being operated from.
did they say what were the unethical and false news was? :)or it will remain as a secret?lol
Edited By - AMIGO - 30 Jun 2012 07:42:06 GMT |
SimpleMinds
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1902
Member Profile
|
30 Jun 2012 07:55:24 GMT Report for Abuse
|
This was yet another disgraceful project handled by the SERIAL KILLER Mr. WHITE VAN Aka Gota Sir.
We have FIVE STAR DEMOCRACY and Five Star Freedom of Expression as long as we are not against his effort to have the FULL CONTROL OVER His and His Injured Adopted Son's Drug Business.
Sri Lanka should be a Country where the Drug Business is a Monopoly of One Single Network headed by himself. All Other Drug Traffickers and those who are against his personal vendetta are awaiting White Van Deaths.
This is a Bloody Murderer who brings the disgrace to the Otherwise Good Rajapakshe Family.
Please remove Arrogant Non Qualified Revengeful War Mentality Driven Non Diplomatic White Van Murderer Gotabaya Rajapaksha from the Post of Secretary of Defense!
He is simply not suitable to handle the Defense Secretary Post. This Arrogant Murderer will ruin the Rajapakshe family in somewhat similar fashion to Saddam Hussein's Family.
Our Beloved and Patriotic King is not an Arrogant Saddam nor his Other Brothers Basil or Chamal. But this Murderer, who took brother's Power to his hand thinks that He is the Law.
Donkey, you are not the Law. You are a Disgrace to Rajapaksha Family and in fact you are significantly contributing to their downfall. Your Roll as a Respected Defense Secretary and a True Patriot is over.
Now, you started to show your cannibalistic instincts and you are becoming an uncontrollable head ache.
Donkey you should better know that the White Van Gang who takes the order from you will be the first ones to go against you and your other family members if your downfall started.
Why you take Law into your hand, Donkey ?
Do you think that you are the Law ?
Do you think that Sri Lanka is your SOUL PROPERTY just because your Heroic Performance and Contribution was the reason for eliminating the LTTE Terrorist Menace ?
We know that, you are a TRU Patriot and You are a True Soldier.
But, Donkey do not take that respect as Granted. You are not authorized to carry out White Van Rides.
Stop Killing, Donkey!
You are way too arrogant and becoming an uncontrollable frankenstein's monster with your much respected brother's power.
We have seen many other arrogant characters similar to you and now we remember them for their devil work only. Please do not get into that category and do not degrade you to the Level of Traitor Sarath Fonseka!
You were a True Hero and keep that respect and get away from the Gang who handles White Vans in behalf of you.
Arrogant Donkey, Don't disgrace the Rajapaksha Family!
He was a Good War Time Defense Secretary and his Roll is Over for Poat War Sri Lanka. The White Van Gang (Bloody Murderers around him) are like rabies infected stray dogs and this Low IQ Arrogant Defense Secretary is trying to take the Law into his hand using those Dogs!
Good Luck to Mother Lanka! His All Efforts is to kill every one who is against his adopted sons Drug Business!
White Van Killer Gotabaya and Batalanda Killer Ponil are two sides of the same Coin.
Edited By - SimpleMinds - 30 Jun 2012 08:13:46 GMT |
AMIGO
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7919
Member Profile
|
30 Jun 2012 07:57:13 GMT Report for Abuse
|
unethical news
where does the law says that the government can arrest a journalist for writing 'unethically' ?? |
kaush
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3872
Member Profile
|
30 Jun 2012 08:02:30 GMT Report for Abuse
|
did they say what were the unethical and false news was? :)or it will remain as a secret?lol
im sure it will decide by the courts..
where does the law says that the government can arrest a journalist for writing 'unethically' ??
have you read the all laws governing this scenario and the undermining order given by the law or this just another of those amazing trend analysis...lol |
kaush
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3872
Member Profile
|
30 Jun 2012 08:04:20 GMT Report for Abuse
|
According to a Supreme Court ruling all websites operating from Sri Lanka should be registered with relevant authorities. The prime objective of this is to identify information which could harm the country and its people and also to identify the extremist individuals behind these unethical operations. The Media Ministry is currently registering websites and most websites have complied with the court order have registered
Some websites, ignoring the Supreme Court order, are trying to bring disrepute and shame on the country and the people by propagating false and distorted news. The two websites have operated disregarding a legal order issued by the highest legal body. The CID officials raided the office after a court order and have found that these two websites were directly engaged in propagating false and distorted news. Further investigations are continuing. |
|
