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| Sri Lankan demonstrators hold placards during a protest against the arrival in the country of a crew from Britain's Channel 4 television ahead of the forthcoming Commonwealth summit in front of JAIC Hilton Residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Nov. 11, 2013. Pro-government activists also demonstrated outside Sri Lanka's main international airport denouncing the visit by Britain's Channel 4 which produced an award-winning documentary on alleged war crimes during the island's ethnic war. (Xinhua/GayanSameera) |
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COLOMBO, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- A group of journalists from British TV Channel 4 were sent back to Colombo after their train was blocked by hundreds of protestors preventing them from visiting Sri Lanka's war-torn north, local media reported Wednesday.
The group of journalists included controversial film director Callum Macrae who released three documentaries criticizing the Sri Lankan government for allegedly killing civilians during the last phase of Sri Lanka's bloody three-decade conflict, which ended in 2009.
Colombo has staunchly denied the allegation and insisted the footage shown in the documentaries was doctored.
However, in a surprise move the Sri Lankan government allowed Macrae to cover the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo this week.
On arrival Macrae was trapped at the airport for over two hours as dozens of people protested his presence in Sri Lanka.
He later attended a press conference organized by the opposition.
During the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) on Tuesday Macrae accosted President Mahinda Rajapaksa as he was leaving the venue with Rajapaksa reportedly inviting him for tea.
However, the latest incident of protestors preventing the Channel 4 journalists from travelling to Kilinochchi, former stronghold of the Tamil Tiger rebels, will likely result in negative publicity for the host.
Channel 4 News editor Ben de Pear tweeted: "It seems it is mob rule in Sri Lanka, albeit orchestrated by the authorities to prevent free press access to the north of Sri Lanka."
"We have left the train in order for the hundreds of other people on it to continue their journey north."
Police have insisted that the return of the team was for their own security even though they had permission to visit the north.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague who arrived in Sri Lanka a while ago has also expressed his concern over the blockade.
"We have repeatedly pressed for media freedom throughout Sri Lanka especially CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting). Urge government to let journalists report as promised," he said on twitter.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka's Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told journalists here that an investigation will be launched into the security breach that gave access to Macrae to approach the president.
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