Attorney General Asks Journalists to Return Home
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Deputy Director Robert Mahoney said the Sri Lankan Government had a long way to go to facilitate a free media.
“The attorney general’s appeal to journalists to return from exile is just a first step,” Mahoney said. “The government must go further by taking concrete action to address the climate of impunity and intimidation that prompted them to flee in the first place.”
Mahoney was referring to Attorney General Mohan Peiris’s assurance that all journalists returning from exile would be offered protection.
“They must come back and work with us and help set up the structures so that we can work together and we can respect each other. We must work with these institutions because we need them. We know if they stay outside and attack the government that is not useful,” Pieris told a team of CPJ delegates.
(RW)
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Reminds one of the folk tale of how a cunning fox took a trembling donkey to an old Lion who could not hunt any more. Everytime the donkey smelt the lion was going to eat it, it ran away but the cunning fox convinced the donkey to come back every time with some sweet tale. Journalists are no fools to fall into such a trap. Those who come back will be forced to be slaves writing articles prasing the dirty politicians in power and helping in dissemination of misinformation to fool the public. Then only they will be given the much promised security. It is obvious who is trying to fool whom.
CJ, this is what they call BS. Do you know the meaning of BS?
Idi Amin said the same ! Polpot said the same !
And we all know what happened to people who fall into those traps !!!
I think R Mugabe said similiar thing THOUGH he did not murder NOR blatantly arrest his opponents like our king.
No point in scolding your king Pirabaharan now ! He is gone for the good !
Bona, Are u drunk as usual ? Just like the rest of goons who got really drunk at that SHIP party few days after the MRs stolen election victory ?
Do you think that journalists who got settled in western countries are going to come back? You must be joking.
Sorry there are no creature comforts in Sri Lanka .
The AG, CJ and Election Commissioner are all puppets of MR (either by fear or favour), anyone who has fled the country on victimisation would not be spared on return, look at how many people die in police custody or just go missing – surely the AG is merely going through the motions of performing his job?
Who Can take his words, president should give a guarantee in writing.
I can laugh when the state media conveys a message not be misled by Private TV propoganda against the state, who they are fooling its just vice
versa very childish .
Hello M.H. Sheriff you look like a SF clone. Dont talk rubbish you rat.
Dear Java.. let’s keep the conversation decent- don’t unleash personal attacks or name calling.
Return Home of Heaven.(once you all return, your bullets are ready to send you to Enjoyable Heaven)
For those who see a coup under every bush, Mr. M.H. Sheriff might look like a SF clone but for those who had read (and undrestood!) his comments, he is a right thinking, free minded person not blinded by wearing blue tinted glasses unlike some other writers who fill up their bellies with an overdose of state propaganda dished out by “Patcha Vahini” and the infamous “Bake House” yellow newspapers. The funny thing is even inconsequential errand runners for the Rajapskse family have now assumed they are in a position to label and judge other people who hold views different to them. Surely, there should be a limit to even letting one’s (pea) brain to be “brain washed” by an utterly corrupted regime. “Suba Aanagathayak” to you Java Malay.
Is this AG actually our AG..What a stupid idiot to even make this comment.
Be happy that you went on a free trip, but don’t try to justify your junket trip by these silly and brainless comments.
We would like to think that you are intelligent enough to hold the AG’spost..Now we are not sure as it seems you are another one of those big lickers of the Rogue and corrupt leaders of the country.
SHAME ON YOU, MOHAN STUPID PEIRIS
Hullo..Moron Peiris…where are you stupid brains,,if you have any??
Do you really think that the journalists who left the country in disgust and/or in fear of harassment and persecution will even consider coming baclk to S/Lanka..All of us can see the numerous incidents where journalists have been killed,kidnapped, assaulted and the culprits never caught and charged durung the poresent regime.
So with no changes to the regime, do you think that the journos will think that it is all OK now and come back like happy chappies..
Either you are a very stupid and dumb AG or you are playing the game instructed to you by the rogue and corrupt leaders of this filthy regime.
You are an embarassment to us and the country .Sooner you get lost and take a walk, the easier it will be for us to forget an idiot of an AG like you.’Good Riddance’
What about the journalists that harass and persecute poor innocent people in Sri Lanka. Send those idiots back to where they came from. Read the horrible article by Michael Hardy. Why does he have a place in Sri Lanka.
Leader…you should be ashamed of yourselves for publishing such an article. You will pay very dearly for what you have done. Nobody has respect for anything you publish anymore.
Hey Devout sidster..Just speak for yourself please…
I am somebody who appreciates and looks forward to reading the Leader..who reports strong and factually unlike the biased and govt controlled news media/papers.
I have stopped buying such news papers and also don’t bother tuning to state owned / influenced TV channels..
Keeo uo the great work LEADER.
You lead from the from whilst the others don’t even have the guts to follow…They just stay behind and play sucking up , pandang karayas.
Sunday leader is no saint ! It has it’s own political views and it also has it’s own agenda . It guides unsuspecting readers into their own destiny ! It guides idiots like fed up where they want .
Fedup you clearly shows that you are a fool at that !
I say Bonaprte, everyone is entitled to an opionion and a choice .
You may like state media..others may not and would like to read the Leader.Irrespective of what motive and agenda the new papars may have or porject, no one os an idiot or a stupid because they have a view and opinion..
‘So comment and say what you think is right,,but remember, others have that right too..That’s because we live in a Democracy..Or Do we????
You violate what you say in the first sentence of your reply to devout sister. Why you antagonize her ?
she would have her own opinion and expressed it. But as you think that sunday leader is the absolute truth you try to suppress her.
Why do you say ” speak for yourself ? To me it is quite apparent that she is not speaking for anybody else and only giving her opinion.
I do not have special interest on state media. But I gather information from various sources and form my own conclusions. I can’t help that they might appear as coinciding with some of the views which comes out through state media.
So perera I accept that , although you believe every word in sunday leader foolishly you are not a fool, stupid or idiot .
And Bonas sources are always COOKED ! just like his god father Cabaral & King Mahinda. ha ha ha……
Is AG going to give protection for journalists from the government & or from killers ?
Why protection ? just let them do their job, leave them alone, who are still living & working in SL.
I feel MR can be a good leader to develop this country, but he has to do it in democratic way.Democratic way is “Listen To the other Party” system.I cannot understand why he is listining to fools and ediots who think every thing can be controled by bullets and thuggery , I believe because they have no proper education to be live like civilized people.They should have to think outer world is not sleeping they are watching how this rulling party is treating to the citizens.All the support relating to finance and others mainly base on how the rullers(Palakayan) treat to the citizens(Palithayan).No international organization will give funds to kill or harasse the poor “Jurnalists’, “Politicians” and ordinery people.On the other hand MR should have to understand even Winsent Churchil was in the parliment as the Priminister , he too had an opposition..Rulling a country is not a “One man show”. In our history we have very good examples. What happened to “Premadasa” .He thought he can be in the position for ever killing educated people handling with a group of “Under World” white clothed guys, what happened.? Rullers must have to listen to the citizens (Mahajanamathaya)of the country.French Revolution, Congo Patrice Lumumba, very good examples.If people say no to you ,you have to honour their request otherwise next step is “Riots”.This is the normal situation of politics, because “People have the power to appoint and People have the power to reject” in politics.Killing , harasseing and arresting journalists will never give a chance to keep the regime stable.It is my advice.