In
an exclusive interview with JDSlanka website, the Sunday Leader
associate editor Mandana Ismail Abeywickrama has said that 'it is not
safe for journalists who believe in being a voice for the voiceless and
seek to report the truth by exposing corruption, fraud and other wrongs
that take place in the country.' Speaking to the website run by exiled
journalists group, Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS),
Ms.Abeywickrema has pointed out that there are numerous inconsistencies
in what the military and police spokesmen said about the predawn
break-in at her house on August 24th while casting doubts on the
transparency of the ongoing investigation.
"..Most print and electronic media
institutions are now owned by persons with direct or indirect
affiliations to the government. In such a scenario, media owners would
much rather adopt an attitude similar to “an ostrich hiding its head in
sand” in order to be seen in a favourable light where the government is
concerned" she said.
Excerpts from her interview follow:
Q: There are conflicting claims made by the
authorities regarding what really happened at your residence on the
24th of August. What has been repeatedly emphasised is that it was just
an ordinary case of burglary. Any comments on that?
A: Yes, there are many statements being
made about the incident and certain sections of the media have also
published various conflicting reports. What I have to say is that the
incident was called a ‘robbery’ just an hour or two after the suspects
were apprehended and before the conclusion of the preliminary
investigations. However, there are several doubts in my mind, which I
have also told the police and recorded in my statement as well.
There were a series of incidents that took
place in the past few weeks. The incident on August 24th is therefore
difficult to be taken as an isolated incident. First I was advised
earlier in August to be mindful of my work (my role as a journalist,
President of the Sri Lanka Journalists’ Trade Union (SLJTU) and
connections with the opposition political parties as well as the
diplomatic community) because “people” are unhappy. A week after this
discussion a Sinhala weekly newspaper published a defence column
referring to me in innuendo along with two other media personalities as
having secret discussions with a foreign mission in Colombo to prepare a
report to be given to the UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay during her
visit to Sri Lanka. A few days later, on August 22nd, a dead cat was
left at my door step at night. The following night, on August 23rd one
of the rear tires of my husband, Romesh Abeywickrema’s vehicle was
slashed.
On August 24th morning five armed persons
broke into my house and spent over two and half hours searching for
goods, threatening my parents, daughter and myself and even went through
the files in chest of drawers in my room. Also the police found a
grenade near the back wall of my house believed to have been dropped by
the assailants when they were running away. As mentioned by the Leader
of the Opposition in parliament on the 2nd, an identification of the
suspects has not yet been held. Also, the police had released to the
media a list of the goods recovered from the suspects who had broken
into my house even before I had identified the jewellery and
categorising them as gold and non-gold jewellery. As a result, certain
sections of the media published false reports on the amount of gold
jewellery recovered from the “robbery.”
The police have up to now failed to release
to the media the proper list of jewellery after my mother and I
identified them. A majority of the jewellery that were “robbed” by these
so-called professional robbers are costume jewellery. The amount of
gold jewellery is far less than the figures issued earlier by the
police. There have also been conflicting statements by the police and
military spokespersons. The police spokesperson was initially quoted in
the media as saying there were no army personnel or army deserters among
the suspects. Later, the military spokesperson was quoted in the media
as saying that there were two army deserters among the suspects and one
of them was declared a deserter just two days prior to the break-in on
August 22nd.
I think when you take all these issues into
account; it would be difficult for any person to believe without an
iota of doubt that the August 24th incident is an ordinary robbery.
Q: In your version of the story, you have
clearly mentioned that the intruders went through files and documents
while talking to someone on the phone. What do you suspect?
A: Yes. After entering my room and
ransacking the wardrobes, I was asked by the assailants what was in the
chest of drawers in the room. I said files and documents. I was then
asked if I was sure it contained files and documents. I said yes. They
asked me to open it. When I said I did not have the key since it
belonged to my husband, one of the assailants assaulted me. I said they
could break open the chest of drawers and see for themselves. They then
broke the chest of drawers and took out the drawers and unloaded the
files on to the bed. They then went through the files one by one. While
they were ransacking my room, one of the assailants received a telephone
call on his mobile phone. He then went to a corner of the room and
answered the call. Even when I asked one of the assailants hours later
as to why they were not leaving after taking whatever they want, he
asked another assailant, “Ask what’s to be done now?” I have told all
these to the police. All I can say is that these actions of the
assailants have left several questions that need to be answered.
Q: It seems that the background details of
the assailants have been held back by the authorities despite the fact
that most of them now remain in police custody. Has any attempt been
made to dig deeper?
A: There does not seem to be any visible
attempt being made to dig deeper. I have not received any update on the
investigation from the police. I had not received any progress about the
investigation since I identified the jewellery last Thursday.
Q: It appears that many - including
mainstream media - are willing to buy the 'official version' while you
keep fighting a lone battle. Why there seems to be a lack of interest to
investigate further? Is it fear or political bias?
A: I feel that it is a bit of both. The
fear I think is because they too fear of having to fight a lone battle
like me if found to be on the “wrong side” simply for carrying out your
work according to your conscience. The crimes committed by me are having
stood for justice and fair play and report the truth. Another reason I
see is that most print and electronic media institutions are now owned
by persons with direct or indirect affiliations to the government. In
such a scenario, media owners would much rather adopt an attitude
similar to “an ostrich hiding its head in sand” in order to be seen in a
favourable light where the government is concerned and also help them
carry out their businesses without facing any undue pressures. Apart
from threats, intimidation and physical harm to media personnel; all
these are new additions to the manner in which the media is suppressed
in the country.
Q: Do you feel safe to continue your work as a journalist?
A: It is not safe for journalists who
believe in being a voice for the voiceless and seek to report the truth
by exposing corruption, fraud and other wrongs that take place in the
country. The incidents faced by me in the past few weeks have clearly
shown that journalists who follow principled journalism are facing
danger. They are considered irritants. Nevertheless, we cannot give up.
The last paragraph of the editorial published on The Sunday Leader issue
of January 11, 2009 (following Lasantha's death on January 8, 2009)
states, “If you remember nothing else, remember this: The Leader is
there for you, be you Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, low-caste, homosexual,
dissident or disabled. Its staff will fight on, unbowed and unafraid,
with the courage to which you have become accustomed. Do not take that
commitment for granted. Let there be no doubt that whatever sacrifices
we journalists make, they are not made for our own glory or enrichment:
they are made for you. Whether you deserve their sacrifice is another
matter. As for me, God knows I tried.” A statement I think should be
kept in mind by the few journalists in the country who have despite
immense difficulties “not sold their souls” and are determines to
continue to fight the good battle.
- SLM
© JDS
© JDS