Saturday, November 24, 2007

To support or not to support Pakistan and our media

The Sri Lankan media's reporting on the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister's 'blunder' in supporting the decision to support Pakistan makes an interesting study. Today's Sunday Times, in the political editor's column has the following to say:

Pakistan has been our steadfast supporter during our battle with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for nearly twenty five years now. Through military dictators and democratic leaders, Pakistan has not wavered. Bogollagama has been at sea on these matters. He first issued a statement asking that Pakistan be given time to restore democracy in that country. Then, the CMAG (Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group) of which Sri Lanka is a member Bogollagama gave Sri Lanka's assent to suspend Pakistan. The Commonwealth 'whites' viz., Britain, Australia, Canada and the New Zealand Secretary General Don McKinnon had prevailed upon Bogollagama, or so it seemed. (http://www.sundaytimes.lk/071125/Columns/political.html)

I am not sure why Bogallagoma made a change in stance wheras he speaking at an adjournment motion in Parliament on November 14th had stated,

I have just returned from London where I attended the extraordinary meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) convened by the Commonwealth Secretary General on Monday to primarily decide on “Developments in Pakistan”. Foreign Ministers from Lesotho, Malaysia, Malta, Sri Lanka and the UK and representatives of Canada, Papua New Guinea, St. Lucia and Tanzania participated in the session. I must say that Sri Lanka was able to play a pivotal role in ensuring that no precipitous action was taken with regard to Pakistan. (http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/8262)

(The ST reports that CMAG decidednot to ban Pakistan)

Now coming to the issue that i seek to highlight: While our media hastens to condemn action against the suppression of the freedom of expression in this country (sometimes selectively as it does) should it not express solidarity with its Pakistani counterparts when they are being silenced and subjugated? Our media in general private or govt are no different on ceratin matters. They are highly 'nationalistic' at the core and dont take moral and value based positions on ceratin matters. I havent seen a single newspaper that has had the guts to say that democarcay is important for Pakistani people and that Sri Lanka should take a firm stand on this against Pakistan. As evidenced by the Sunday Times reference to the support that the govt gets support for our 'war on terror', that is the only defining line based on which we will take decisions in this country. If its bad for the LTTE its good for us. If its good for the LTTE then its bad for us.

P.S. The implication that 'whites' are the only ones who are bothered about democarcy in Pakistan and that our leaders do not have the guts to stand up to them is 'cheap reporting'. Again evoking national sentiments; the whites reference shows how we still are affected by the 'negative colonial hangover'.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol online no prescription cod - buy tramadol online cod no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol 50 mg purchase - tramadol withdrawal weight gain

Anonymous said...

xanax online much does generic xanax cost walmart - xanax online no prescription mastercard

Anonymous said...

carisoprodol 350 mg carisoprodol 350 mg tablets used - carisoprodol 350 mg how many to get high

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online generic tramadol no prescription overnight - tramadol addiction rehab

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol er - tramadol 60 mg

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol in dubai - tramadol dosage german shepherd

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol ultram er - tramadol hcl 100

Anonymous said...

where to buy cialis online no prescription cialis reviews professional - buy cialis online no prescription

Anonymous said...

buy cialis online cialis online lloyds pharmacy - buy cialis online paypal

Anonymous said...

xanax online what is the generic xanax - cheap online pharmacy xanax

Anonymous said...

cialis without prescription where can i buy cialis cheap - duane reade cialis price

Anonymous said...

can you buy cialis online order cialis online reviews - reviews of daily cialis

Anonymous said...

alprazolam buy xanax effects memory - where to buy xanax online legally

Anonymous said...

buy cialis 10mg buy cialis online in u.k - generic cialis made

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online buy tramadol usa online - tramadol withdrawal schedule

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol online pay cod - online purchase of tramadol

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol 50 mg bijsluiter - buy tramadol online overnight fedex

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol hcl 50 mg is it a narcotic - buy tramadol online us pharmacy

Anonymous said...

tramadol online tramadol 50 mg used for - order tramadol online cheap

Anonymous said...

tramadol buy tramadol overdose in cats - side effects for tramadol 50mg

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol dosage and administration - lowest dosage tramadol

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol hcl 225 mg - why can you buy tramadol online

Anonymous said...

http://ranchodelastortugas.com/#37284 xanax prescription - michael jackson xanax dosage

Anonymous said...

http://staam.org/#56274 tramadol addiction 30 pills a day - tramadol 2012

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol without prescription buy tramadol cash on delivery - buy tramadol 100mg