Free Media Movement urges President to abolish repressive laws

28 September 2024 01:11 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 10 Bookmark

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The Free Media Movement (FMM) called upon newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to abolish repressive laws in a bid to prioritise the protection of fundamental rights and strengthen democracy.

Issuing a statement, the FMM underscored the importance of civil liberties and freedoms as essential foundations of a thriving democracy, which had been hampered by certain repressive laws passed in recent times.

Extending its congratulations to the 9th Executive Head, elected by the people - the FMM stresses that the health of the country’s democracy will be determined by how he governs and addresses these critical challenges.

Recent developments have seen the introduction of oppressive ordinances aimed at curbing freedoms of speech and expression, which are the lifeblood of any democratic society. Among the most concerning are the Online Safety Act, the Anti-Terrorism Bill and labour law reforms — all of which threaten to further erode democratic freedoms.

Along with other civil society organisations, the FMM, media groups and trade unions have strongly opposed these repressive measures, warning that such laws are a direct assault on constitutional democracy. The FMM views the new presidency as a golden opportunity to abolish these draconian laws and show a genuine commitment to upholding and strengthening democratic principles.

The FMM also demands accountability for the crimes committed against journalists and media institutions under previous regimes. This includes the killing of journalists, the disappearances of journalists, and violent attacks on media houses. The FMM calls for the immediate setting up of a fully empowered Presidential Commission for Truth and Justice to investigate these crimes and deliver long-overdue justice.

Transforming state-owned media into independent public service media, and the establishment of an independent mechanism to oversee media activities, are also crucial steps toward ensuring free media. This will help eliminate the current culture of media corruption and ensure fair and transparent media operations.

With over 30 years of experience in advocating for media freedom, the Free Media Movement is well-equipped and stands ready to contribute to broad-based media reforms. However, it asserts that the immediate abolition of repressive laws and the pursuit of justice for media-related crimes must be the top priorities in safeguarding freedom of expression and upholding democratic values in Sri Lanka.

Comments - 10

Come on people Saturday, 28 September 2024 01:27 AM

Everyone seems to want the president to do something for them like he has a magic wand. The fizz of a soda subsides after a while, and so will this veneration.

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වළං කඩේ ගොනා Saturday, 28 September 2024 01:43 AM

I'm sure most of these laws will be repealed. While we shouldn't use the new found freedom to insult others, self-censorship is impossible on social media platforms. But reasonable accusations, factual information, whether it hurts the government or not, should be allowed to be published, aired and disseminated.

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Ram P Saturday, 28 September 2024 05:11 AM

Repressive laws must be abolished. To do that a Parliamentary majority is needed. So the FMM must canvass NPP to have a majority in Parliament first, before requesting to abolish the repressive laws.

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Clara Thattil Saturday, 28 September 2024 05:20 AM

This is very, very important

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Dilakshan Seneviratne Saturday, 28 September 2024 05:20 AM

This request is real. As a democratic country, SL does not require such laws. However, without a parliament, the President may not be able to rescind these laws. My understanding is that the NPP is for full freedom and transparency for people.

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Clara Thattil Saturday, 28 September 2024 05:22 AM

I'm sure the current President will support this

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This Government Has Good Governance Vibes Saturday, 28 September 2024 06:22 AM

Current government has brought about Good Governance Vibes. Hope the people make full use of these opportunities to further improve the country and standard of living. It will take time and lots of effort to dismantle the corrupt and regimental status quo of the past regimes. As long as every week, things are being changed for the better by the current professional team, the rest of good things will fall in place. On our part, Just practice Loving Kindness, Respect One Another and Stay Humble always :)

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Roshan Liyanage Saturday, 28 September 2024 10:37 AM

He will need more repressed media to handle his future which could be very bleak

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Dilakshan Seneviratne Saturday, 28 September 2024 06:58 PM

No not at all. Repressing the media is done in undemocratic countries. In advanced countries there is freedom of expression and that’s what the NPP aspires to transform SL. Lot of people don’t know AKD yet. He is a committed democrat who has vowed to be open, transparent and he doesn’t need repressive laws.

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FredSnR Saturday, 28 September 2024 02:16 PM

Freedom of speech and expression is the life blood of democracy, shouldn't wait 4 years for the vote, to find how the country feels. While there could be some misuse of social media the overall benefit of this freedom, even within such a medium, should be a plus.

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