To be a journalist: Sri Lankan editor knew he was going to be killed

Would you die for your work?

Lasantha Wikramatunga would. As the editor of the secular, liberal and democratic Sunday Leader in Sri Lanka, a country in the midst of a civil war, he knew that his devotion to reporting the truth would lead to him eventually paying the ultimate price. In despite of that, he continued because, as his self written obituary says, “...there is a calling that is yet above high office, fame, lucre and security. It is the call of conscience.”

Last week his obituary was published.

 

Lasantha Wikramatunga had a wife and three children. He had many opportunities to leave journalism for a safer profession. Still, with complete disregard for his own safety, he continued to publish stories that revealed the truth about the government of Sri Lanka and went beyond presenting the simple explanations for the complex reality in his country:

…we have consistently espoused the view that while separatist terrorism must be eradicated, it is more important to address the root causes of terrorism, and urged government to view Sri Lanka‘s ethnic strife in the context of history and not through the telescope of terrorism. We have also agitated against state terrorism in the so-called war against terror, and made no secret of our horror that Sri Lanka is the only country in the world routinely to bomb its own citizens.

For this, Wikramatunga had to pay with his life.

Reading about his view on the situation in Sri Lanka, in the shadow of the events in Gaza these past weeks, certain parallels emerge between the two seemingly very different conflicts. In Gaza as in Sri Lanka, the war-on-terror-rhetoric was used to validate the actions of the government. The concept, it seems, is leaders’ secret formula that makes uncomfortable ethical considerations, as the possible deaths of civilians, disappear. As the number of dead in Gaza passed 1200 and the public opinion in the world turned more negative towards the actions of the Israeli government, it is overwhelmingly evident that the formula did not work this time. The attack itself did nothing to combat Hamas in the long run either. It targeted the symptoms while feeding the disease.

Some of us, including myself, are lucky enough to live in countries where criticizing the actions of our own or of any other government (both in media as in private life) does not mean putting our lives on the line. How are we using this privilege? Most of us conform anyway. We read other (Western) media, reformulate their version of the truth and if possible, avoid using our own common sense to draw conclusions. We play it safe, afraid of being viewed as terrorist sympathisers, anti-Semites, leftist, idealists or just being proved wrong. We don’t put anything on the line.

The work of Lasantha Wikramatunga proves what fearless journalism is about. Even if most of us would not sacrifice our lives for our job, it would not hurt to take some pointers from him when it comes to thinking one step further and voicing even controversial opinions. In stead of recycling and thus reproducing concepts like “war on terror” or “clash of civilizations” with all of its implied meanings, or any other preconceived notion or label for that matter, we could follow his example and try to understand the causes behind terrorism, nationalism, religious conflicts… Hopefully before the situation escalates into a fullblown war. After all, most of us only risk to occasionally have to defend our views.

As for the Sunday Leader, its former editor writes:

If you remember nothing else, remember this: The Leader is there for you, be you Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, low-caste, homosexual, dissident or disabled. Its staff will fight on, unbowed and unafraid, with the courage to which you have become accustomed. Do not take that commitment for granted. Let there be no doubt that whatever sacrifices we journalists make, they are not made for our own glory or enrichment: they are made for you. Whether you deserve their sacrifice is another matter. As for me, God knows I tried.

Read the whole obituary: And then they came for me

Thanks to my friend and colleague from the US for forwarding the link.

How did the media report about Gaza in your country before and during the attack? What did you lack?

How did the story of the Sri Lankan editor affect you?