S de SilvaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Ofcom
Riverside House
2a Southwark Bridge Road
London
SE1 9HA

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Dear Sirs,

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ComplaintƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  on the Channel 4 program on 14 June, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Killing fields in Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I am writing to complain on the content of the above 1hour long program and the highly condemnatory tone on Sri Lanka by the presenter Jon Snow as if this is the aftermath of the very first and only war in the World and (a) his failure to be impartial, (b) his failure to be accurate and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ (c) by giving Undue Prominence of Views and Opinions to support his own views and not consistent with a program presented as a documentary.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This program has globally, done extremely unjustified damage to Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Channel 4 appears to have shown extreme prejudice by pursuing Sri Lanka repeatedly on this subject with no such burning interest on similar events elsewhere on the GlobeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  where the US, UK or the EU are ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ involved. The only reason I could see for this kind of conduct by CH4 is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”indirectƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ financial sponsorship of this program by the banned Sri Lankan terrorist group, the LTTE.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Program was NOT impartial

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  No historical background given to show the validity or otherwise of the conflict for 27 years on the claim by the LTTE of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Official discrimination against the Tamils and their effort to regain their historical homelandƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

There was no mention of the scale of the atrocities by the LTTE except almost a passing reference to them.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The impression created was that the SL forces went on mega killing spree just for the hell of it!! There was no mention of the scale of Sri Lankan combat forces in excess of 100,000 in the peak of battle with the LTTE ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” and the likelihood of there ever being the possibility of an element of those stepping outside the law (as it has happened in every war including the recent wars involving the US & UK).ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Instead, the entire video was presented as if the whole of the Sri Lankan army was committing war crimes routinely as commanded by the Chief of Staff!ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  There was no reference to over 300,000 refugees kept as a human shield by the LTTE who were rescued and cared for by the SriƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Lankan forces in refugee camps and the majority subsequently rehabilitated.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  There was only adverse comments on the camps with nothing said on the comparative conditions that the camps in fact were better provided than many elsewhere on the Globe right now.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  No interviews with refugees were presented who have been successfully rehabilitated and returned home.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ b.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The program was lacking in accuracy.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Authenticity and technical accuracy of this video have to be validated by references to the sources, dates, and the video and audio integrity using a laboratory accredited by Ofcom.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  To pursue this I hope Ofcom would demand the originals from CH4.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The hospital shown was alleged to have been shelled by the Sri Lankan army but no attempt was made to ask the question from Vani Kumar or the unnamed patient whether the LTTE was shelling the SL army from nearby, and therefore drawing retaliatory fire from the SL army with some stray shells hitting the hospital ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ – as happening right now in Libya.

c.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Undue Prominence of Views and Opinions

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Undue prominence was given to the speaker Vani Kumar, with no corresponding interviews of government representatives and others. She also says that she was in the thick of action but no signs or mention of any injury to her. Undue prominence was also given to the views of SteveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Cranshaw from Amnesty where he accused the UN of inaction in this instance.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Jon Snow failed to point out that the UN and its organs like the Security Council have to act within its terms.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  When Libya was given as a case by Amnesty where the UNSC did take action, Jon Snow should have pointed out that the Security Council was not in favour of similar action against Sri Lanka because some members, including ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”VetoƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ wielding members, would not agree to punish Sri Lanka that has a democratically elected government.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I cannot believe that Jon Snow did not know that, he just omitted that fact on purpose to mislead the viewers.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Perhaps he knew that the countries against the proposal also knew the root cause was historically the UKƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s illegal occupation of Sri Lanka for over a century when the Tamils were imported / favoured by the UK and in more recent history the UKƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s guilt of allowing LTTE to flourish in the UK and continue fund raising for the LTTEƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I hope you will give due consideration to this as a matter of priority and consider appropriate punishment for CH4 including a financial penalty and the prohibition of ever broadcasting this program again.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Yours faithfully,

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ S de Silva