Journalism Briefs From Around The World

By Free Media Movement (FMM), Colombo

Senior Advisor to UNESCO and former President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Bandaranaike-Kumaratunga, is seeking to take measures to ban a publication exposing details of her alleged corruption, misdeeds and human rights abuses in Sri Lanka.

As reported in an interview with the former President in the "Sunday Leader" newspaper on 12 November 2006, Chandrika Bandaranaike-Kumaratunga is on record as saying:

"Now there is a book published in absolute filth about me, going so far as to say that I, a former President, orchestrated the bomb attack on myself. Now that book was not banned. If they could ban the 'Da Vinci Code' from cinemas in Sri Lanka, I am going to write to the President and ask why this book was not banned. In fact, I wrote to the President today".

The book referred to is "Choura Regina" ("Rogue Queen") written by Victor Ivan, a well-known journalist in Sri Lanka. The book alleges that the gross misuse of power, high levels of corruption, severe human rights violations and nepotism can be directly connected to Chandrika Bandaranaike-Kumaratunga during her tenure as President.

Recalling the statement of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) on 26 October 2006, the FMM seeks urgent clarification from UNESCO on their response to one of their high-level spokespersons openly and grievously threatening the core values UNESCO and the UN is founded upon.
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Ukraine Committs To Free Press

The President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, reaffirmed his commitment to a free press and democratic values in a meeting with the World Association of Newspapers, yesterday .

"We don't think any kind of return to the past is possible; it's out of the question," said Mr. Yushchenko, who was swept to power in the Orange Revolution two years ago.

Speaking to the Board of the Paris-based WAN, meeting in Kiev, the president said: "I believe the natural progress of Ukraine depends on freedom of speech and freedom of the press. It is extremely important for the country to have free media."

Press freedom has brought economic benefits to the press industry, he said: print circulation increased 6.7 million copies to 22.7 million in the past year, foreign and international press sales have increased 25 percent, and the advertising market is growing.

"We would like to see Ukraine as a European country with high democratic values," he said, adding that his objectives include membership in the World Trade Organization and the European Union. "We would like to see Ukraine as a country that is a place for wealthy people. I think this is a good goal and we are moving in this direction."

The WAN Board meeting continues in Ukraine through Tuesday.

WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 18,000 newspapers; its membership includes 74 national newspaper associations, newspaper companies and individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 11 news agencies and nine regional and world-wide press groups
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