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| SMS also surveyed under government's draconian censor |
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(Lanka-e-News, October 31, 2008,9.00 AM) Television channel owners, media organizations and Sri Lanka Press Institute have decided to go to courts against the extraordinary gazette dated October 10, 2008 that is effective on the private TV channels.
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Media has criticized the orders on the basis that they breach the freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution; they block the people's access to information; they provide authoritarian powers to the Media Minister to control media; they are not transparent and they discourage the investors.
Admitting the need for a control of radio waves since they are public property, the media organizations state that it must be carried out by an independent broadcasting authority that is answerable to the parliament and not through a politically motivated set of rules that takes all TV channels under willful control of the Media Minister.
According to new laws, broadcasting licenses are granted to private TV channels only for one year and they have to be renewed monthly. In other countries this initial permission period is between five to seven years. Media organizations point to the fact that the investors may not get interested for a massive investment needed to launch a new TV channel in this context.
Media organizations say that the set of rules extend to a number of broad areas and they can be defined by the Minister on his own wish. According to the powers granted to the Minister, he can suspend the license of a TV channel if he decides broadcasted news is inaccurate. They argue that the Minister has powers to define the words like 'national defense', 'unethical' and 'obscene' etc. and he can ban the license of a TV channel on the basis the regulations are breached.
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The regulations for the control of internet are so bleak that these rules can survey telephone short message services (SMS) as well. The media organizations request from the government to withdraw these draconian laws and to bring a draft for an independent broadcasting authority through a white paper so that it can be subjected to people's focus.
Private TV channels and media organizations say they will challenge these laws through fundamental rights petitions in Supreme Court if their demands are not granted before November 10.
Previously, a broadcasting authority act was brought under Chandrika Bandaranaike regime and following a fundamental rights petition against it, the Supreme Court ruled that the act was undemocratic and ordered the government to draft new one.
October 10 gazette is now effective and a popular broadcast channel has been put on notice that it is to submit transcripts of news broadcasts "to be carried" every week as of October 29th.
Meanwhile, people charge that the government is resorting to a draconian censor of this kind with the indirect blessing of the private TV channels and the media organizations. To prove this argument they point out that the media organizations have taken steps to self-sensor the frames related to smoking and drinking even without an order from the authorities. The five media organizations and Sri Lanka Press Institute have not so far protested this censor against work of art. Viewers are tired of movies broadcast though TV channels. Recently, Rupavahini broadcasted Gamini Fonseka’s movie ‘Parasathumal’ to honor the veteran actor and cinematographer, with more censored scenes than that what was shown due to the government's 'no to drugs' policy.
Viewers, especially women who have only the TV as their access to entertainment, expect the media organizations and the owners of TV channels may act for the right of the people to appreciate work of art without the hindrances caused by 'Mathata Thitha' policy.
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