Black January and enemies within the fraternity
HBy Dawpadee Kawshalya
ere in Sri Lanka, those who step into the troubled waters of jour nalism do not come with fairytale versions of the vocation which comes without a collar. Nor do they come with the expectations of exhibiting swashbuckling heroics. They are under no illusion that with it come the perks and privileges inherent to lesser risky professions. In here, anyone who becomes a jour nalist does so by his or her individual choice; there is a risk one carries of being prosecuted without an inquest, being sentenced to death without a trial and a disappearance without a trace.
The recent collective demonstration by a few media organizations condemning the suppression of free media and the protest that was held against the former by a group of journalists on the same day, went on to reveal the cracks appearing in the structure of media frater nity which up to now seemed a unitary entity. The trend of rising against the brutalities on a fellow jour nalist irrespective of his ideologies and journalistic prin- ciples has become a thing of the past. In fact, this was the kind of unity most regimes found difficult to counter.
Be it those who work for the state run media institutions or those who are employed in the private sector, they have been equally victimized by the suppression and censorship in different degrees. In fact, it was the collective voice of the jour nalists that questioned the incongruities of the powers that be. It was this constant questioning that was found disturbing by the rulers; it led them to exercise violence to call upon silence. Black January was not an exaggerative fictional ter m that came into being after Lasantha Wickramatunga’s death. In fact, his assassination only made the month blacker. The contextual significance of Black January is that the month accounts for the most number of attacks and brutalities on jour nalists. Mr.wickramatunga’s death, the arson attack on Sirasa media complex and the abduction of Prageeth Eknaligoda are only three incidents in the long list. In the outset, the demonstration by a few media organizations demanding answers to the questions that are left unanswered so far, had to dare a few thwarting attempts. First it was the Colombo magistrate’s order to police to limit the protest to the Fort Railway Station compound without extending it to the roads. The venue of the demon- stration was shifted to the Lipton Circus at the last minute. However, a pro-gover nment ar med group held their rally in front of the Fort Railway Station, violating the very regulations imposed by the Magistrate. Those who horded the Fort Railway Station shouted slogans criticizing their fellow media men to have been bribed by the NGOS and the PRO-LTTE sects: this was a blatant insult not only to those who took part in the Black January promenade but also to the profession itself. What was most disconcerting however was the fact that it came from within the fraternity.
In a democracy, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion which may contradict or support that of the other. The fact that it contradicts the approved method of thinking does not necessarily make one an LTTE supporter. When it comes to the Black January demo, demanding justice and freedom to exercise what is rightfully theirs cannot be called a crime; nor can they be called trai- tors for urging the authorities to ensure their right.
What everyone in the frater nity needs to understand is that increasing political interference, though inevitable it may be, should not be given space to creep inside. On the other hand, politicians also need to realize that, media should be left for themselves to do their job. Politicians are well known to make the pains and tribulations of others their ultimate gain. Whether they are talking on behalf of the press freedom or seemingly fighting for justice, more often than not their concer ns are more pretentious than genuine. Given their track records and the nature, they will make use of any public grievances for their personal thriving. One cannot really blame them for this shameless behaviour, when the media frater nity should know little too well that by attaining support of the politicians or going by their words, it is their credibility that goes into shreds. One should not also forget that, those who come and pledge their allegiance will not be there to rescue a jour nalist at a time of trouble.
It will be only the ones in the frater nity who will raise their voice for your rescue and parade the streets under the scorching sun. Then, it will matter very little whether you were praising the gover nment or otherwise. In Sri Lanka, those who choose the profession are doomed for eter nity but the only consolation is that loyalties earned from fellowmen are there to stay.
As the hackneyed line goes, the jour nalist is the voice of the voiceless. The frater nity should make sure that its together ness becomes the microphone to carry that voice to the masses rather than a mouthpiece of the powers that be.