Today the editors of a 7 PM news segment of a popular English radio station decided to cover the verdict of a court case where a man in China had driven into a crowd of school children. I'm sympathetic towards the victims, but I couldn't help but wonder about the editor's motivation and legality of the action.
I'm convinced they chose this news item for today's news segment because it's close to Christmas and it's sensible to advise people to be more mindful about their driving. But I can't approve their approach because it's against fundamental rights as stated in the constitution of Sri Lanka where it states, "every person is entitled to the freedom of thought and conscience". This means people should be given the choice to decide right from wrong for themselves. When you allow private media bound by the constitution and acts like the Human Rights Act No. 21 break the law, you normalize the rights violations in the pretense of greater good. From there it's a short leap to using national media to defame and abuse citizens in-between the lines who are a threat to the national interests (as decided by a few).
You might say that you can't be sure it was their motivation. Agreed, then I would say they're hiding behind the plosssible deniability of allusion, in which case on the surface they are only guilty of poor taste. But human rights were put in place by United Nations because they are morally important. Fundamental rights were put in the Sri Lankan constitution because our founding fathers knew they are part of the bedrock that gives independence. And if an large institution (like a national radio station) is selectively denying fundamental rights to a set of people, they better hope everyone else in the know of the violation are onboard with them and make sure they continue to keep them happy because all institutions big and small have competition, and competition should be happy to profit from the situation, which would put our entire nation at shame.
Please drive carefully during this season merrymaking everyone. And trust me to drive with due attention, and mindfulness. And may mindless and malicious drivers stay away from you, your family and me and mine.
