DailyMirror.lk:
A Media movement has called upon all political parties, civic organisations, trade unions to rally round to safeguard the Right to Information.
An organization called The Media Movement For Democracy in a statement said that, it called upon all parties, organisations, trade unions and people’s organizations to rally round to safeguard these hard earned rights.
The statement was in response to a private member’s Bill “The Right to Information” which was defeated on Tuesday June 21, in Parliament by a majority of 63 votes.
The statement said:
“The People’s Right to Information Bill was defeated by government MPs. The Media Movement For Democracy (MMD) believes this was a clear indication of the way democracy functions in Sri Lanka.
“We cannot confirm that the Draft Bill presented on Tuesday was a complete proposal for Media Freedom or the right to information.
“However we consider it as a preliminary step towards achieving such a goal. A similar Bill was discussed during the 2002-2004 period of the United National Party Government, but no meaningful follow-up action was initiated.
“Even at this stage when an attempt was made to present such a Bill by the opposition, there were various obstructions by the Government.
“During the period 2005-2011 11 media persons were killed and there were nine incidents of abduction of media persons including Prageeth Ekneligoda of whom nothing has been heard so far.
“Thirty five incidents of assault on media persons were on record, including 18 incidents of unjust apprehension of media persons.
“Seven media institutions had been attacked during the day time and in the night. Law enforcing authorities had been slack in apprehending those responsible for the criminal activities.
“As revealed in a survey conducted by the “Committee for Protection of Journalists”, Sri Lanka occupies the fourth position among countries that have not yet meted out justice on matters pertaining to journalists.
“It is now evident that by opposing the Bill on the Right of Information government authorities were denying the rights of people to obtain information and thereby depriving their essential democratic rights,” the movement said.