World

AP writer denied permission remain in Sri Lanka

by sivakaran | July 21, 2009 at 01:26 pm

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Ravi Nessman, the Associated Press burea chief in Sri Lanka was denied permission to remain in Sri Lanka.

Associated Press had reported extensively on the heavy civilian casualities this year. Nessman also revealed information about the government document outlining a plan to keep the displaced people in the internment camps for up to three years.

The government claims that the decision is not related to reporting, rather its standard that the foreign journalists are based in Colombo for two years.

However, it is to be noted that the predecessor of Nessman Dilip Ganguly was based in Colombo for a decade from 1997-2007.

The government denied that the decision was related to his reporting on the final throes of Sri Lanka's quarter-century civil war with the Tamil Tiger rebels. The AP reported extensively on the heavy toll the war took on civilians as government forces surged across the rebels' strongholds in the jungles of the north this year.

"We find this failure to renew Ravi's visa disturbing," said John Daniszewski, AP's senior managing editor for international news.

Aside from reports on civilian casualties, Nessman revealed first word of a government document from January outlining a plan to keep hundreds of thousands of displaced people in camps for up to three years.

It is to be further noted that, at least 11 Sri Lankan reporters were forced to flee, and at least 14 Sri Lankan journalists and media workers killed since beginning of 2006.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said at least 11 Sri Lankan reporters were forced to flee the country in the past year, and Amnesty International said at least 14 Sri Lankan journalists and media workers have been killed since the beginning of 2006.

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Amy Judd

at 14:11 on July 21st, 2009

This is too bad, although not surprising I hate to say.

158

at 19:07 on July 21st, 2009

With a long civil war recently ended the government does not want negative reporting.

senthil5000

at 14:19 on July 22nd, 2009

"By refusing to renew the visa of an international news agency bureau chief the government is signaling to foreign journalists that it does not want independent reporting," said CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. "This is part of a disturbing pattern of harassment and censorship of all journalists in Sri Lanka which has continued despite the end of the civil war."

KevinKulasekera (not verified)

at 15:28 on July 23rd, 2009

Being allowed to enter, live or work in Sri Lanka is a privilege, not a right. Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka alone will decide to whom it will extend such privileges to.

sivakaran

at 15:43 on July 23rd, 2009

LOL

Suranee

at 21:52 on July 24th, 2009

Nessman had a by-lined exclusive on a UN internal report drawing attention to the real toll of civilian victims of the conflict in the north and east of the country that ended when the Sri Lankan army defeated the Tamil Tigers in May 2009. The report seriously implicated top UN and government officials.

“News agencies have been some of the few media that managed to cover the bloody conflict in Sri Lanka independently. Now journalists are being unfairly punished for having written these reports,” the worldwide press freedom organisation said.

“After attacking human rights activists and doctors, the government is now taking it out on foreign journalists who reported on the suffering of the people. It’s extremely unfortunate,” the organisation added.

158

at 10:02 on July 25th, 2009

Thanks for a good comment.

Sri Lanka is determined to destroy all facets of the tigers and they will not allow outsiders to interfere., It may not be free press and fdull democracy but I thiunk that over a year or two they will ease up on restrictions.