SL Embassy in France counters 'France 24' misrepresentation

 

The Sri Lanka Embassy in France, responding to a Television Programme telecasted over the English Service of the 'France 24' Television Channel, said that the TV report portrays a one-sided view of the situation in Sri Lanka.

Sugeeswara Senadhira, Minister Counsellor for the Ambassador, who was quoted by 'France 24' in their report 'Sri Lanka: Tamil Mothers Waiting for Their Sons' said that the portrayal contained many factual inaccuracies and exaggerations and some of the interviews have been edited to give an out-of-context and twisted meaning.

Referring to a statement made by Tamil National Alliance Member of Parliament, Mano Ganeshan, to a Sri Lankan daily newspaper, Minister Counsellor Senadhira said that he regrets to find some factual inaccuracies in the television report and added that Mr Mano Ganesan, who accuses the Government of 'ethnic cleansing', is not in 'exile for security reasons' as alleged in the special report.

"He is living in Sri Lanka and the Government has provided him with 08 police personnel and a back-up vehicle for his protection. He lives in Colombo.'

Further clarifying several controversial issues in the TV report he said that the allegation that hundreds have been abducted or disappeared is an absolute canard. After his return from India last month, Mr Ganesan has complained of about 6 disappearances and all the six persons he mentioned have been traced found to be alive and safe.

"The allegation that people have been detained for '5 or 6 years' is totally false and not a single person has been detained for such a long period. Such sweeping statements should not be reported without verification," Senadhira stated.

"There is no truth whatsoever about the absurd charge of 'ethnic cleansing'. "In the City of Colombo 35 percent belong to the Tamil community and they live safely. The road checks and security measures are in place strictly to curb terrorist activities and the checking of people and vehicles has not been restricted to one community. These checking and security measures are essential in any country faced with terrorist threats," he added.

Citing reports of Scandinavian Ceasefire Monitors, Mr. Senadhira said Norwegian-brokered Cease Fire Agreement was violated by over 7000 by the LTTE and took issue with the narrator for implying that the Government was somehow to blame.

"The report also failed to tell the audience that the alleged killer of Mr Maheswaran, who was shot dead in a Hindu temple was arrested on the spot and the investigations have revealed that he was a member of the Tamil Tigers," Mr. Senadhira said.

He said that the situation in Sri Lanka is very complex and has primarily been brought about by the Tamil Tigers who have for more than two decades perpetrated numerous and horrendous acts of terrorism. The Tamil civilians living in France have also fallen victims to their terrorist tactics which are well known to the French Foreign Office and the Police, Senadhira observed.

He charged the programme for not abiding by the usual journalistic ethics of seeking clarifications or explanations from the government on any of the dozens of allegations levelled in this special report.