{"id":118752,"date":"2014-01-23T03:38:20","date_gmt":"2014-01-22T22:08:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=118752"},"modified":"2014-02-07T13:43:51","modified_gmt":"2014-02-07T08:13:51","slug":"on-rajapaksa-practice-if-you-cannot-win-them-over-buy-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/on-rajapaksa-practice-if-you-cannot-win-them-over-buy-them\/","title":{"rendered":"On Rajapaksa Practice: If You Cannot Win Them Over, Buy Them!"},"content":{"rendered":"

By\u00a0Tariq A. Al Maeena<\/a><\/span>\u00a0–<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Tariq<\/a>

Tariq A. Al-Maeena<\/p><\/div>\n

It has been industry practice in many countries for authorities to curry favors from news personalities.\u00a0 Such a practice becomes more evident when their institutions are under fire and they need all the good press they can cultivate.\u00a0 But a few independent news publications and individuals do stand out and do not fall for the financial windfalls doled out in exchange for good print.<\/p>\n

One such publication is the Sri Lankan Colombo Telegraph<\/span><\/a> whose motto says, \u201cIn journalism truth is a process.\u201d\u00a0 The news website which gets blocked from time to time<\/span><\/a> for its critical and hard-hitting expose of corruption in the Sri Lankan government now highlights how Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa<\/span><\/a> is currying favors through a novel scheme of providing key media players and personalities with interest free loans.<\/p>\n

Leaked files in possession<\/span><\/a> of the Colombo Telegraph \u201cshow that the Rajapaksa regime has granted 547 journalists and media workers a Rupees 1,200,000 ($9,200) of interest free government loans from a state bank to purchase car or van, where the interest will be paid by the Treasury using taxpayer money.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Colombo Telegraph charges that \u201cjournalists from virtually every mainstream media in the country with the exception of the Sunday Times newspaper have accepted laptops<\/span><\/a> and car loans or both from the Rajapaksa regime.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the news persons were BBC journalists assigned to its Sinhala section.\u00a0 The Colombo Telegraph\u2019s exposures about \u201cthe serious conflict of interest issues and violations of standard journalistic ethics\u201d compelled the BBC World Service to rule<\/span><\/a> that \u201csome of its Sinhala Section journalists have breached journalistic ethics and violated the BBC\u2019s code of conduct by applying for interest free vehicle loans offered by the Sri Lankan Government.\u201d The BBC has also stated that the staff in breach of the code would be sent for retraining.<\/p>\n

But the BBC journalists who were pulled up apparently did not get the correct message from London headquarters.\u00a0 Those who were granted the loan never withdrew their applications, according to the Colombo Telegraph. \u201cThey can go to the recommended bank and get the loan anytime\u201d secretary to the Media Ministry Charitha Herath told the news site.<\/p>\n

The news has not gone down well with many Sri Lankans alarmed at the course their current President is charting for their country.\u00a0 Besides charges of systematic genocide that the Tamils have suffered or claim that they continue to suffer, a terrorist group of Buddhists calling themselves the Bodu Bala Sena<\/span><\/a> (BBS) have been focusing their crosshairs on the other minorities in the country including Christians and Muslims.<\/p>\n

From the burning and pillaging of churches and mosques to an obvious lack of government determination to stamp out the terrorist BBS group, Sri Lankans today face an uncertain future as the country brims below the surface and could explode at any time.<\/p>\n

Rosie Dimanno<\/span><\/a> of the Toronto Star speaks of such assaults on places of worship and businesses of minorities. Such attacks are \u201cincited in large measure by xenophobic rhetoric from Sinhala Buddhist extremists aligned with two fringe groups – Sinhala Ravaya (Sinhalese Roar) and Bodu Bala Sena (Buddhist Power Force).\u201d A few Buddhist monks were arrested at the time of the attack but released not long after. \u201cOthers saw it \u2026as more evidence of how bigoted clerics operate with impunity from law enforcement and a government that values the endorsement of politicized monks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rajapaksa\u2019s modus operandi of buying favors from those who decline to report on such atrocities is not missed by the few credible and honest journalists who refuse to be bought.\u00a0 And even citizens are not so forgiving.\u00a0 As one commented, \u201cEvery month the government shamelessly takes close to 30 percent of my pay as taxes and a further percent in the name of EPF. Yet all I get is higher electricity bills and ever increasing CoL and the middle finger! These scribes get laptops and loans for free. Truly the wonder of Asia.\u201d<\/p>\n

The president\u2019s generosity toward the news media to color over news events has not swayed foreign agencies from demanding the truth about the charges of genocide and war crimes committed by Rajapaksa\u2019s government.\u00a0 The Tamil Guardian reports that \u201cBritain\u2019s Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire once again reiterated that unless allegations of war crimes have \u2018credible, transparent and independent investigations\u2019 taking place by March, then Britain will push for an international investigation to begin.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Tamil National People\u2019s Front (TNPF) has also demanded a UNHRC<\/span><\/a> resolution against Sri Lanka asking for an independent international investigation into the genocide perpetrated against the Tamil nation, starting from Sri Lanka\u2019s independence to the present day, and investigation into missing people.\u00a0 They also demanded an interim administration in the Tamil homeland to ensure protection and compensation for all victims and witnesses, a recognition of the Tamil nation\u2019s right to self-determination and complete demilitarization of their provinces.<\/p>\n

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is resorting to a practice that has served many leaders well over the decades.\u00a0 But there are always the few honest exceptions who are not swayed by the glitter of gold and bring home the truth to their readers.\u00a0 The Colombo Telegraph has demonstrated time and again that it belongs to this exclusive club of truthful and unbiased news reporting.<\/p>\n

Now shouldn\u2019t the New York Times and the BBC follow suit?<\/p>\n

*\u00a0The author can be reached at\u00a0talmaeena@aol.com<\/a>. Follow him on Twitter\u00a0@talmaeena<\/a>\u00a0– This article appeared in the Saudi Gazette on January 21, 2014<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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