By Colombo Telegraph –
“It was definitely a slow and steady slide into a stifling reporting that the government does not like. Since the end of the war in May 2009, there has been a very definite slide, a very definite take over, or state control, of all media outlets, and that includes independently, or privately owned media. The Sunday Leader actually is a classic example of what happened.” the former Sunday Leader editor Frederica Jansz told Aljazeera Listening Post.
In an interview with Aljazeera she said; “The level of intimidation, the harassment has continued, they have continued to call journalists traitors. Lawyers appearing for me, and the Sunday Leader, were termed, or called terrorists and traitors. And you know, in the back drop of all that had happened to me …. I was told, and I actually began to finally believe it, that my life was very seriously under threat. So yes, I made up my mind, I have young children, that my sons need a mum and not a heroine.”
Watch the full interview;
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcfblpSumCE
Related posts;
Arrest Warrant Issued On Former Sunday Leader Editor Frederica Jansz
Sri Lankan Editor Frederica Jansz Flees Sri Lanka; ‘Finally I feel safe’ Says Jansz
It Is Unbelievable That The Sunday Leader Has Apologised To Gotabaya, Says ARTICLE 19
The Death Of A Newspaper – The Sunday Leader
A Dodgy Police Complaint To Axe Frederica Jansz
Frede Out And Saku In – Frederica Is Sacked, Not Resigned
‘Keep Frederica Jansz Safe’, ‘Embassies In Sri Lanka Should Raise Her Case’ – ARTICLE 19
Ronny / January 15, 2013
Atleast now Federica Jansz should come out with the real truth in the White Flag Case. What we believe is that it was GOTA himself who gave orders to Shavendra Silva to kill all the LTTE leaders who surrendered with white flags after negotiating with the GOSL through the EU, Erik Soldheim, KP, UN Officials, Basil Rajapakse et al. Gen. Fonseka only mentioned it to Federica that he too has heard from a reporter in the battlefield that GOTA ordered to kill the surrendees even with white flags upon her questioning Gen. Fonseka about the White Flag Case. This made the culprit very angry and used this as a traitor of the country and then jailed him. Calling him a traitor proves that GOTA was guilty. Over to you Federica to clear our beliefs as we who live in a foreign country heard about the above the very next day as there are a number relatives of the soldiers in the battlefield living abroad and we too hailed GOTA for eliminating the LTTE top leaders even though it was against all internationally accepted norms and rules in a war.
/
Wuliangguobinjiu / January 15, 2013
Take care what you wish for. Paris the romantic city is now an international killing venue by virtue of recent. ;)
Meeharak-tota combo got long horns with gun powder.
So now how about you doing the “patriotic poo” together of course. :)
/
gamini / January 16, 2013
Ronny, I doubt very much the truth about the white flag story where Shavendra Silva committed on the surrenderees in the absence of SF at the scene, coming out even from Frederica J not due to pressure coming from the Rajapaksa quarter, but for the pressure from the Americans who gave sanction to Gota to commit it, without whose help the Rajapaksas would not have survived this far. It is with the help of the Americans from the beginning that MR was elected as President and able to defeat the LTTE. First VP was lured to bury all the heavy artilery of the LTTE with the promise of devolution after conceding victory to MR as the undisputed leader to secure same. However in 2006 when the LTTE was in the process of burying the weapons, SF with Gota who were chumies then had tried to trap VP and eliminate him before the laid out plan by the Americans. When VP had got wind of it, he sent three suicide bombers one to Gota, one to SF and another to blow himself in the heart of the High Security Zone near Hilton Hotel that took away over twenty Police personnel. Thereafter both Gota and SF who were lucky to survive abided with what the Americans had laid out and in the end VP and the rest of the LTTE was decimated.
Even on the present CJ Impeachment although the Americans have issued a strong warning against the MR regime, nothing more than the statement which is for public consumption will prevail. MR will come out of this fiasco and the CHOGM summit will be held as planned with proxies as Australia helping. There will not be any War Crime inquiries, lest the American and Indian involvement gets exposed. I believe, even RW who is kept on the side line with assurances by the Americans that he will be given a chance, I wonder whether it will bear fruit as he might be taken for another ride like in 2005.
The only good thing that will happen to this country where the Rajapaksa family have destroyed Law and Order (The Judiciary), heaped the society with corruption and killings, is that the Sinhala Buddhist hegemony will be destroyed, that would eventually allow all to have their share and equality in time to come. However all this could change if a smart Alec liquidate part or the whole family. Good Bye Sri Lanka!
/
Wuliangguobinjiu / January 17, 2013
Gamini “but for the pressure from the Americans who gave sanction to Gota to commit it, without whose help the Rajapaksas would not have survived this far.”
MR is the undisputed terrorist leader of the Sinhala/Tamil and his idea is to get foreign investment from the Tamil Diasporas by this hoodwinking or the bullet (as in Paris(US-based Dr Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam, offshot the first president of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), accepts an advisor position to G.A. Chandrasiri,). The Americans are in it from the start but who are they? The Americans have told the press that MR may frighten foreign investment (it’s a dagger to assist MR and destroy innocent Tamils Sinhalese in the west) and refused to comment further as the state department has issued notice to district courts that MR being head of state cannot be prosecuted while they have done it to Africans. 80% of Obama administration and 65% of Cameron administration are Jewish. If you read the book “The making of the Jewish People” you will understand that Israel is still run by the US/UK. Gota is the main man still visiting Tel Aviv. So it’s the Zionist support that MR and familiar have from the start. Don’t involve the muzzies of Lanka as they are totally useless fundamentalist and would rock the boat. Try doing the “patriotic poo” with mutt or kids at every place of administration and wipe it down with the Sunday leader- then the west will be more than concerned because the western tourist shirks away from poo than the gun.
/
Senguttuvan / January 15, 2013
Over 30 leading journalists taking flight to save their lives and harm to their person? Not much to write home about the necessary atmosphere conducive to the Free Press – an essential ingredient to the democratic norm. One must here take into consideration the views held by many Sunday leader has not been a paragon of virtue – then or now. Will the Rajapakses have the strength to admit they have, by design, caused the death of much of what goes by our below-average- standards as the Free Press.
Senguttuvan
/
Amarnath Sunderagama / January 16, 2013
One more addition PLS. Fredrica J is not one around whom media freedom should be discussed. She accepted once it was she who brought Asanga Seneviratne for the “DEAL” that went through in selling the S/Leader to a Rajapaksa proxy. ….
Part of this comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
Wallflower / January 16, 2013
I only hope the day arrives soon when you will be able to very proudly say “I too did my part to bring my motherland out of the pit it was in”
/
Peter / January 16, 2013
Senguttuvan – “Will the Rajapakses have the strength to admit they have, by design, caused the death of much of what goes by our below-average- standards as the Free Press.”
You have got to be kidding!!!
/
Jayantha / January 16, 2013
So MARA Finally got Rid of CJ after using her to get throug 18th amendment.This is worse than Saudi Sharia Law.
MARA Jailed Gen.Sarath Fonseka after using him to win the war.
MARA used India, US, Norway, EU to win LTTE war saying that he will implement 13th amendment, and now he hoodwinked all of them.Not even Darusman report or LLRC report were ever implemented.
What is Next MARA have in mind…….now after taking over both Legislature and Judiciary under his (Dictator’s) Executive’s arms.
What Did all the opposition parties did Until allowing MARA dictator to do whatever he want with his Pariah Brothers to Loot the country’s wealth, made reporters, journalists, and human right activists to disappear in white vans, intimidating, harassing and jailing Nothern tamil brothers and sisters etc…etc..
Opposition with Ranil betrayed all of us UNP’ers and the citizen for not fighting for their rights.
MR.RANIL PLEASE LEAVE UNP FOR GOOD WITH RESPECT NOW, BEFORE WE KICK YOU IN SHAME. YOU ARE THE JOHANA IN THE PARTY….PLEASE FOR GOD’S SAKE…LEAVE.
Basil Just stole 85 Billion Rupees Divineguma Fund. He is planning to recruit over 100,000 party members Just as administrators LEAVE ALONE THE POOR BENEFACTORS OF THE FUND.Fifty percent (50%) of the fund will be spent just to pay salaries of these administrators. WHERE IS THE REST OF THE 85 BILLION FUND GOING TO GO…….OTHER THAN BASIL’S POCKET.
Seventy percent ( 70%) of the Budget is spent to manitain Rajapakse Government administration and on Security.
Seveny percent (70) of the Population are malnutrished. In Afganistan it is only (50%) fifty percent.
Sixty percent (60%) of the people live in cadjan (tin and coconut leaf roofs) houses……similar to VEDDA (Native) community live……60 years after independence.
THEREFORE SINCE THERE IS NO CONSTITUTION I DON’T SEE ANY REASON FOR OPPOSITION PARTY MP’S TO ATTEND PARLIAMENT.
IF THE GOVT.CAN RUN THE COUNTRY ALONE….WHY IT NEED AN OPPOSITION. IT’S TIME FOR OPPOSITION TO LEAVE PARLIAMENT AND GET INTO STREET TO PROTEST.
I HOPE THE JUDICIARY WILL GIVE AN EGG AND TOMATO BUFFET LUNCH FOR THE NEW CJ WELCOME PARTY.
PLEASE DON’T BE SINHALA PONNAYA AND SHOW YOUR MANHOOD BOTH TO MARA AND NEW CJ.DON’T GET SCARED TO BUFFALO POLICE AND SECURITY DEPT.
If not in Sri Lanka…..we will definitely get MARA [Edited out] outside.
WE ARE STILL WITH YOU MADAM CJ SHIRANI BANDARANAYAKE.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
/
Wuliangguobinjiu / January 17, 2013
Jayanta: “So MARA Finally got Rid of CJ after using her to get throug 18th amendment.This is worse than Saudi Sharia Law”
Like Jim Reeves and Upali Wijewardena send both Ranil and Premadasa to the skies never to return. Who takes over? Do the “patriotic poo” for a start.
Crazy man look up in the sky what do you see? Israel Aircraft Kfir (lion cub) and Gota makes his regular trips to US with 2 day stopover at Tel Aviv to pick his cheque. RM familiar was always bedding with the Zionist Jews the worlds only super power.80% of Obama administration and 65% of Cameron administration are Jewish. If you read the book “The making of the Jewish People” you will understand that Israel is still run by the US/UK.
/
Safa / January 16, 2013
This interview was broadcast bt Al Jazeerah and gained world wide publicity.
At the same time a news report from Al Jazeerah about the removal of CJ SB was rather distorted alleging that she was accused of interefering in a case involving her sister. Looks like our laptop journalist are distorting and preventing news getting out of the country.
/
Devakumar / January 16, 2013
Fedrica,got it wrong on many accounts, she could never do the job that lasantha did. When she realised she was not good at her job, she used a story to gain economic migration to a European country. You must not forget she was the one that approached Asanga to sell the newspaper not vice versa. So it’s unfair to say the government purchased it. She approached them to sell it
/
Don Quixote / January 16, 2013
A herione ? Never ! A matyr in some quarters maybe.
/
bensen burner / January 16, 2013
Wherever she is Frederica must take care about walking on the streets for she could be run over by a bus
Bensen
/
Malawi Perera / January 16, 2013
Frederica, We are better off not having you in Sri Lanka. Stay in secret location forever! All you did inSri Lanka was digging dirt of the rulers . Majority of the Sri Lankans are smart and they know how to ignore the dirt and get the best out of the politicians. They also know how to hang on to the rulers who can take the country forward although you under estimate them so badly.
/
B Ganendra / January 16, 2013
Thank God, you are safe. Please do your duty towards your country. Do not give up your true ways.You may also call Tissanayagam, who is in the US,write your views, atleast on a weekly basis. I have given up reading the “Leader” as it belongs to Murder regime.
/
Lankawick / January 16, 2013
Soon…ex-CJ…can / will join You….
with another “Humanitarian” Visa….
( average Sri Lankan cannot even get a Tourist Visa )…
together both “Traitors” can “Blackball” Sri Lanka…
UNHRC….March 2013
/
samarasinghe / January 16, 2013
All this person doing and all the other so called ‘dissidents’ is tarnishing the image of Sri Lanka abroad, painting the Sinhalese as oppressors and the LTTE as saints and promoting separatism in Sri Lanka. Actually they are aiding the creation of a separate state in Sri Lanka or trying to pave the way for such at the behest of the West in particular the USA. It is very sad because in the West still the LTTE remnants are still powerful, they have powerful Western politicians in their pockets and so everytime these so called dissident journos open their mouths all they are doing is aiding the dismemberment of Sri Lanka and reinforcing the view that the Sinhalese are bad. These journos knows this and I feel strongly that they have a dislike for the Sinhalese, whatever they pretend to say.
So this is not a simple issue of critisising a Government, if you are Sinhalese, please think about the future of Sri Lanka before siding with these types of people. They hate you anyway so why defend them?
/
M Y Foote / January 18, 2013
Samarasinghe,
I can understand your ‘we Sinhalese are the victims’ and we mean no harm ” position. Lets start asking some questions to see if you might have answers to your own fears
01. Who are the diaspora? Defined by the dictionary as “a dispersion of a people, language, or culture that was formerly concentrated in one place”, would you concede they were citizens of this country and that they left because of perceived “persecution” and have grievances that have not been addressed?
02. Since they are hurting, would they not continue agitate to find redress?
03. Since it is their country as much as yours would they not like the betterment of this country?
04. Would they not have ideas of their own to improve and grow the economy and would it not be a good idea to get their views and create an inclusive system of government?
06. How do you conclude that people who leave the country, as people who hate us despite being Sinhala? According to you Tamils must hate you, and that is a given, but why Sinhalese journalists?
Do you realize if you reflect carefully your fears are unfounded and it is best to let people be and Sinhala Buddhists will survive as they have done for the past 2500 years?
/
Rukshan Mapa / January 16, 2013
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
dingiri / January 17, 2013
samarasinghe,
Where has she mentioned the Sinhalese here? All her critisisms are of the Govt. It is only you who try to equate the Sinhalese with the Govt. The Sinhalese and the Govt are two different things. I myself am a Sinhalese and agree with Frederica. Unlike you, who I agree with has everything to do with what they are saying and nothing to do with their race. Perhaps thats difficult for someone like you to understand.
/
Rufus Michael / January 17, 2013
It is well and good to say things from hiding when no one will contradict or challenge you. What do you, Frederica, have to say
about receiving two months annual salary before leaving the Sunday
Leader after Asanga Seneviratne purchased it? Now you say, there
were plans to kill you. If anyone wanted to, they would have with all
the lawlessness around. That is what they did not Lasantha. Frederica you have been fortunate enough to con your way around. High time you
stopped insulting the intelligence of others. You are no queen, no heroine and certainly not the white angel you profess to be. We know that besides the two years pay, you also received a fat packet from
your boss and partner Lal Wickremetunga. So you had all the loot to take
to the United States. Truth will emerge one day, Frederica.
/
Gona Parte / January 17, 2013
Food for thought me thinks. She is away after writing stories that didn’t stand scrutiny. Wasn’t she taught to separate the grain from the chaff when writing? Just because people are grasping at straws, doesn’t mean she should have fed them straw!
Winning the war was so important to us, and of course some spin doctors called it a humanitarian war, though I didn’t understand why call it a war in the first place if it was humanitarian to begin with.
I think people were all right about the white flag matter. The government had nicely shaped it up until she raked up muck for no purpose. Does it matter how Praba and co died. They were destined to die, having wowed to fight on. No one was interested in capturing them also.
Even the Puppy matter, she took it a bit too far, she shouldn’t annoy the Defense Secretary knowing he is hot tempered.
See these people almost gave their lives for us and “we won the war”, though I couldn’t contribute actually.
So I think its better she lives in gay Paris, if that is where she is, and let us live our lives as best as we could. I am sure we do have a flawed democracy, but then what’s the point toppling the government and risking everything with a RW government with his regaining Sri Lanka and all? Also he might have provincial elections in the north and that’s the end of it.
I don’t think we need the kind of journalism in the English media where all the embassies are reading and sending adverse reports
So you better stay there. MR will run the government as best as he can
and we will not have Tigers to reckon with.
Gona
/
NAK / January 19, 2013
She was no real jurno,she was just a gossip columnist who knew the amount of salt and pepper needed to boost the circulation. Many times Sheand the SL apologised to gota and were ordered by the courts not to write any thing liky to defamatory to GR but circulation was much greater concern than a court order. ‘Gota ordred’ story was created by SF to discredit the government in the eyes of the international community but FJ used it to distroy any chance of SF wining the election in revange for Lasantha. They knew who did way Lasantha and thats why she and lasantha’s brother privately grilled SF.The joke however is that she charged SF to the tune of one million a week to distroy him.
/
Winkler / January 18, 2013
While your sons needed a mom, the thomian parents also needed their sons.
You will reap what you sow……..
/
Panda / January 18, 2013
Every, single, entity, organization, international body, journalist, or leader, who have dared to criticize, or bring into focus the crimes of, the Rajapaksa’s and their band of bandits, have been vilified (as we see here), discredited, or attacked. It is always the “other guys fault” when it comes to the Rajapaksa’s.
They are accused of trying to get the Rajapaksa’s, or involved in a conspiracy against this nation.
First Lasantha, then Fredrica Jansz, next?
How long will the naive in this country, keep believing the BS?
/