Published On:Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Posted by Sri Lanka Guardian
by S.M.M.Bazeer
‘ We have to keep them out of
the public arena because they are too stupid and if they get involved
they will just make trouble. Their job is to be "spectators," not
"participants."
- Noam Chomsky
What Makes Mainstream Media Mainstream- Z Magazine, October, 1997
(July 06, London, Sri Lanka Guardian)
Channel Four’s footage on Sri Lanka broadcast on the 14th June 2011 ,
created a sanctimonious ripple effect which still has not precipitated
from the media. An inward reaction to the Channel Four broadcast in the
UK enabled some disgruntled viewers to lodge their complaints with The
Broadcasting Complaint Authority’s ( Ofcom ) and its weekly Report
covering the period from 14th June 2011 to 20th June 2011 indicates that
there were 105 complaints from those who found the Channel four
Documentary entitled “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields” loathsome and not in
compliance with the Broadcasting Code in the UK. Nevertheless, the
complaints are yet to be assessed against the broadcasting code and the
complaints’ list published by Ofcom (office of Communication), and does
not include complaints that are based on issues of fairness and privacy.
In the backdrop of this footage on Sri Lanka , it is interesting to
note that Channel Four also broadcast a programme entitled “Embarrassing
Bodies” on the 15th June 2011, a medical programme dealing with child
birth issues which also attracted 12 complaints although it was said to
be dealing with natural child birth issues. Despite being smaller in
number, UK viewers’ complaints were indicative of their sensitiveness to
programmes that may display human bodies in an unsightly fashion.
Despite Ofcom being a post
regulatory authority it has its inherent acceptance and reviewing of
complaints prior to broadcast. However, 105 complaints against Channel
Four, is not indicative of any investigation unless the complaints raise
potential breaches against broadcasting Codes , once the complaints are
identified as breach of codes the Ofcom will start an investigation.
Channel Four has already showed most of the clips on their news
bulletins and according to Channel 4 News's Foreign Editor; Ben de Pear,
the Sri Lankan government claimed the video was faked and made a series
of formal complaints through the regulator Ofcom, all of which were
rejected.It is yet unknown whether Ofcom has considered any of the
complaints lodged after the “ Sri Lanka’s Killing Field” documentary,
merits any investigation on the basis of potential breach. It seems that
wider and prolonged broadcast of this programme on the internet and
private showings and its ramifications beyond the shores of the United
Kingdom backed up by International human rights organization’s may
exempt Ofcom's remittal.
Channel Four's senior presenter;
Jon Snow, international correspondent; Jonathan Miller, ITN Productions
and the Director Callum Macrae , head of current affairs at Channel 4
Dorothy Byrne were in the limelight all over the media for a short
epoch. Jonathan Miller stepped out of his studio to stage a protest at
Gatwick Airport against Sri Lankan deportees. Chanel Four became a
mobile media from Gatwick to USA, the British parliament and the media
personnel associated with Channel Four's footage became human rights
activists. This media circus has never been performed before when
innocent people were bombed in Iraq and Afghanistan or of late in Libya.
They did not stage any protest out of their precincts nor did they show
documentaries on the atrocities committed by the British, the USA and
their Western allies. In respect of Libya the “unblemished” western
media took cover under the Arab League support.
In the wake of Channel Four's
footage on Sri Lanka , some listeners of the pro-LTTE radio in the UK ,
suggested that LBC Radio (London Broadcasting Corporation) should be
encouraged to talk on the Channel Four Programme. On the 18th of June,
an LBC mid-day talk show focused on national issues but also allocated
time to discuss Channel Four's programme on Sri Lanka. As usual, the
presenters of the programme were Former Mayor of London; Ken Livingstone
and David Miller, the former Minister in the Conservative Government of
John Major . It was the first follow up programme on Sri Lanka and Ken
Livingstone was prejudicial in his opinions as he had been once alleged
as a sympathiser to suicide bombers for his participation in a LTTE
event in Zoroastrians Centre in Rayners Lane. However his colleague Mr.
David Miller struck a balance with his parliamentary skills of
diplomacy when he introduced, the foreign affairs correspondent of
Channel Four, Jonathan Miller.
“ Johnathan Miller the foreign
affairs correspondent of Channel 4 news. Jonathan thanks for coming on.
This is not an easy issue to ever get the truth because obviously the
Tamils have one view and other Sri Lankans have others and we have to
stand somewhere in between and listen to all of this stuff. But what is
the reality of this as far as you as an experienced veteran
correspondent are concerned.”
In the course of this long talk
show on Sri Lanka, only one side of the story which comfortably glossed
over the unrelenting terrorism of the LTTE and its destructive path of
“national Struggle” was portrayed. LBC grossly failed to explore the
dichotomy of listeners' views with the exception of David Miller's
impartial introduction.
Jonathan Miller took advantage
of the chat show as a vendetta against Sri Lanka on the issue of Sri
Lankan refugees (Failed asylum seekers and immigration offenders) that
were to be deported in a couple of days.
He remarked that “I hope some
may question whether they ought to visit Sri Lanka on holiday in such
circumstances”. Jonathan Miller also blamed the British government for
failing to protect the Sri Lankans who were to be deported as they would
face persecution in Sri Lanka. However they landed safely on their own
soil where they would have had no fear if they had some immigration
status in the UK and would have frequently visited Sri Lanka on
holidays. Jonathan’s chimerical circus did not go well despite his
vocalisation and exploitation of the media merry-go-round.
On the contrary to what these
internationally renowned media correspondents blabbered on LBC; Mr.
Alistair Burt, Foreign Office Minister for South Asia has published his
editorial opinion on Sri Lanka on the British high Commission website:
“ Let there be no doubt that
for the UK the end of the military conflict, and the removal of
terrorism as a daily threat to the lives of the Sri Lankan people is
without question a good thing.
I visited Sri Lanka in February
and saw for myself the undeniable progress that has been made since the
end of the war, including the construction of new roads and bridges to
help open up the North. In Jaffna I saw the efforts being made to
resettle those displaced, including the practical challenges which they
are overcoming, such as the need for infrastructure and livelihood
support. Whilst there is still much to do in a number of areas, there is
no doubt that the future of Sri Lanka is hopeful, if the present
opportunity is fully grasped.”
A discerning observer of international events will no doubt make his own judgement on diplomacy amidst this media blitz.
To be continued,,,
http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2011/07/channel-fours-circus-tour.html
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