Censorship hides truth

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 October 1998, 20:32 GMT]
The Free Media Movement in Colombo has criticised the Sri Lankan Government for using press censorship to conceal the truth about the LTTE attack on the Kilinochchi army base on September 29.

In a press statement the organisation accused the government of violating people's fundamental right to accurate information by concealing the army's casualty figures.

The Government also tried to prevent the publication of news that more than a hundred wounded soldiers were taken to Anuradhapura hospital, the statement went on to say.

The deputy defence minister, Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte, assured that censorship was introduced to safeguard national interest and prevent military strategy being leaked. He further said that censorship would not be misused to conceal news about the war.

However, said the organisation, the practice of censorship would only lead to the spreading of rumours and will have ultimately a negative effect.