Press coverage related to No Fire Zone's Director Callum Macrae travelling to Sri Lanka to cover the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting held in Colombo November 2013
DON'T GRANT VISA TO CALLUM MACRAE AND HIS TEAM TO VISIT SRI LANKA FOR CHOGM
Today’s Daily Mirror (13/9/2013)reported that Channel 4 News & Documentary maker Callum Macrae is to travel to Sri Lanka for the CHOGM. Let us be blunt. Under no circumstances that the GoSL should grant Callum Macrae and his Channel 4 team visa to visit Sri Lanka for any reasons.
Lankaweb
Sri Lanka approves ‘On arrival Visa’ for Callum Macrae, but India says NO!
Sri Lanka has approved on arrival visa to controversial UK Channel 4 Director, Callum Macrae, despite the fact that he has not been granted a visa to enter India to join a delegation led by UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, who will be in New Delhi on 14 November.
UK Tamil News
Callum Macrae creeps into 'Sirikotha'
Controversial Channel 4 Film Director, Callum Macrae, who defamed Sri Lanka, attended a press conference organized by UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera, yesterday.
Global Tamil News
Callum Macrae arrives on British premier’s office media list
The Sri Lankan government has been forced to issue visa to British journalist Callum Macrae, who has made three documentaries on war crimes in Sri Lanka, only because his name is included in a list of 30 journalists submitted by the office of the British prime minister, reports say.
Lanka News Web
I Trust The Sri Lankan Government Will Welcome Me – Channel 4′s Callum Macrae
“Certainly I intend to be present at the CHOGM as a fully accredited member of the media, as I was at the last CHOGM in Australia. I trust the Sri Lankan Government will welcome me there and will accord me and all the members of the international press free full access to all the groups and people in accordance with fundamental Commonwealth principles on human rights and free press.” says the Documentary-Maker – Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields Callum Macrae.
Colombo Telegraph
Rajapaksa Ally Calls For Independent Probe Into Latest Channel 4 Footage
The Eelam Peoples’ Democratic Party (EPDP), a coalition ally of the ruling Rajapaksa Government in a surprise move has called for an independent probe into the latest Channel 4 footage of the surrender of an LTTE propagandist to the Sri Lankan forces although the Defence Ministry has claimed she died in battle in May 2009
Colombo Telegraph
Sri Lanka: Slaughter In The No Fire Zone
The Sri Lankan government still denies responsibility for the killing of up to 70,000 Tamil civilians at the end of the civil war in 2009. So why has it been chosen to host a Commonwealth summit asks Callum Macrae, director of a harrowing film about the massacre
Colombo Telegraph
Why Commonwealth SG Sharma Must Show Leadership On Sri Lanka
This is a vital moment in the ongoing campaign for truth and justice in Sri Lanka. Tomorrow, Friday 26th April, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group will gather in London. There they will discuss growing calls for the next meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) to be taken away from Sri Lanka...
Colombo Telegraph
Sri Lanka: Making a mockery of HRs at CHOGM 2013
This year, the CHOGM is taking place in Sri Lanka, a nation that stands accused of some of the most bold and revolting war crimes in history. The charges stem from acts committed against the minority Tamils just four years ago. A large number of people, governments and human rights organizations are waging efforts to increase a boycott of the event.
Press TV
Despite President Mahinda Rajapaksa being a PR maestro, a fact that was vividly displayed to the entire world when he invited a journalist of the Channel 4 of Britain for a cup of tea as the latter approached him with a provocative question during a CHOGM related event in Colombo, what seems to be lacking in his subordinates is exactly the very skill which was also exposed to the world through their handling of the journalists of the same Channel.
What would have been the difference had the authorities allowed the Sri Lanka basher Callum Macrae and his team to proceed to Jaffna, rather than supplying them with another negative story by blocking them at Anuradhapura? After that incident Channel 4 carried a story saying they were prevented from going to the north as there was a protest by relatives of the people who disappeared during the war.
Daily Mirror Sri Lanka
Facing Death Threats Ahead Of Visit To Commonwealth Meeting
When you announce that you are going to apply for media accreditation for a routine international political event like the bi-annual Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) you don’t normally expect a rash of death threats – or to find a senior diplomat from the host country threatening on twitter that he will “make sure you don’t get a visa”.
Sri Lanka One Island Two Nations
Tailed By Intelligence In Colombo, Says Channel 4 CHOGM Team
Britain’s Channel 4 team that arrived in Sri Lanka today to cover the Commonwealth summit to be greeted with “public” demonstrations at the airport and at their hotel now claim they are being followed in and out of their hotel in Colombo.
One Island Two Nations
Protestors block Channel 4 journalists travelling to Sri Lanka's former war zone
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.
Xinhua
Channel 4 team leave Sri Lanka after facing extensive intimidation
British Channel 4 says they decided to withdraw their team from Sri Lanka after facing extensive intimidation and surveillance by security forces.
Channel 4 news editor Ben de Pear said six men claimed to be immigration police appeared at his hotel room door and accused the journalists of breaching their visa conditions by "attempting to enter the president's palace".
"It was an intimidating experience," he said on news channels' web site. "People often get visits in this country and are bundled off in white vans never to be seen again."
Nidahasa
Minister supporters block Macrae's Vanni visit
Supporters of two political bigwigs and brothers in Anuradhapura have compelled Channel - 4 journalists including Callum Macrae to be sent back to Colombo.
The Channel 4 team were on a Vavuniya bound train which was blocked at Anuradhapura railway station by a group of protesters.
The train had reached the station around 10.45 am and was met by nearly thousand supporters of North Central Provincial Council Chief Minister and supporters of his brother Deputy Minister S.M. Chandrasena.
Lanka News Web
CHOGM in Sri Lanka: A mixed bag of angry protests,media stalking and govt crackdown
Channel 4 crew blocked from travelling to north
Though the Britain-based Channel 4 was invited to Sri Lanka by the President Mahinda Rajapkse himself, a mob of government supporters blocked the train near the northern city of Anuradhapura for over five hours. Calling the group of journalists ‘terrorist liars’, the angry mob waved placards condemning Channel 4.
The Channel 4 team said they were followed on to the train by state intelligence agents as they travelled to talk to civil war survivors in the north.
Ben de Pear, Channel 4 news editor, who was on the train, said this was “entirely contrary to the promise of free access to all parts of Sri Lanka, which the president has repeatedly made”.
Truthdive
Interview with Callum Macrae in the Independent (Sri Lanka)
Callum Macrae the film director of No Fire Zone: Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields speaks to a senior journalist in Sri Lanka over the threats by a diplomat who says Callum should not visit Sri Lanka for CHOGM; Callum says he has all the right to be in Sri Lanka for CHOGM as he has covered CHOGM previously
Independent (Sri Lanka)
Callum Macrae the film director of No Fire Zone: Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields speaks to a senior journalist in Sri Lanka over the threats by a diplomat who says Callum should not visit Sri Lanka for CHOGM; Callum says he has all the right to be in Sri Lanka for CHOGM as he has covered CHOGM previously.
UK Tamil News
SL approves on arrival visa for Callum Macrae
Sri Lanka has approved on arrival visa to controversial UK Channel 4 Director, Callum Macrae, despite the fact that he has not been granted a visa to enter India to join a delegation led by UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, who will be in New Delhi on 14 November.
Ceylon Today
Callum Macrae: SL in no position to defend Commonwealth values
Writing on the blog on the 'No Fire Zone' documentary, director Callum Macrae called on the Commonwealth to listen to growing calls worldwide and ensure that Sri Lanka not be allowed to host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November.
Tamil Guardian
Callum Accused GoSL Of Attempting To Suppress The Truth About War Crimes
The producers of the feature documentary No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka have condemned an unsuccessful attempt by the Sri Lankan government to prevent the screening of the film as part of the Film Southasia film festival in Nepal.
Colombo Telegraph
Channel 4 Receives CHOGM Accreditation Hours After Campaign On Twitter
Britain’s Channel 4 Television, persona non grata for the Sri Lankan Government since it aired the first documentary it claimed was evidence Colombo had committed war crimes in the final phase of the war against the LTTE, complains it took nearly nine weeks to receive accreditation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting next month
Colombo Telegraph
Channel 4 journalists violate immigration rules
Controversial Channel 4 Film Director, Callum Macrae and 4 other journalists who arrived in Sri Lanka have violated Immigration rules by attending a press conference yesterday (12) organized by United National Party (UNP) as they have engaged in activities which does not relate to CHOGM and patriotic minded people are waiting to what action will be taken by security forces against them, reports Tiran Alles's newspaper 'Ceylon Today' today
Sri Lankan Mirror
Sri Lankan diplomat bans British journalist ahead of CHGOM
A Sri Lankan diplomat has caused major embarrassment by telling Nobel Peace Prize nominated broadcaster that he will 'make sure you don't get a visa to come to Sri Lanka' despite British government calls for a 'guarantee' of 'full and unrestricted access for the foreign press' at major Commonwealth Meeting. A prominent Sri Lankan diplomat - who was once the chief media advisor to Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa - has launched an astonishing attack on Nobel Prize nominated film-maker and journalist, Callum Macrae, who is touring his film No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka across Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Canada. In a move that will embarrass both the British and Sri Lankan governments ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka this November, Ambassador Bandula Jayasekara, Consul General in Sydney, Australia, has issued a series of abusive tweets specifically targeted at Macrae.
Seithy.com
Sri Lanka Blocks Freedom Of Movement During CHOGM
Two days ahead of the Commonwealth Summit where Sri Lanka will assume the chair of an organisation that holds as its core values democracy, human rights and good governance, the military has stopped busloads of families of the disappeared from travelling to Colombo from the Northern Province. Families from Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Jaffna were travelling to the capital Colombo to attend the Samagi Human Rights Festival, also known as the alternate Peoples Forum to stress Commonwealth Values.Military personnel stopped the buses and turned the families back to their home districts at Madawachchiya and Madhu. Families from Mannar decided to hold a demonstration near Madhu Church while families from further north staged a demonstration at Vavuniya. However, the military and police have now dispersed those protests and sent the families home
TBC LONDON
UNP has insulted the country by summoning Callum Macrae – Keheliya Rambukwella
Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has said that the United National Party has insulted the country by bringing in Callum Macrae of Channel Four who is conspiring against Sri Lanka, to Siri Kotha. The Minister made this observation referring to the news conference held at Sirikotha under the guidance of Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera.
ITN News Sri Lanka
Channel-4 journalists sent back to Colombo; Not allowed to proceed to Jaffna
Channel -4 journalists including Callum Macrae, who were heading to the North were sent back to Colombo in a special vehicle by the police saying it was being done for security reasons after their train was blocked at Anuradhapura Railway Station by a group of protesters.
Meanwhile Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the safety of the Channel 4 journalists was of paramount importance and that travel restrictions would be imposed taking into account their safety.
Rights Now
Winners and losers of the CHOGM fiesta
The CHOGM carnival is over. It commenced with a bang but ended in a murmur. What is left is to hold the postmortem. According to the series of events that occurred all we have to say is “It’s no use crying over spilt summits.”
The number one citizen who received the maximum advantage is President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He received the Commonwealth crown for two years. Whoever is appointed ‘Chairperson-in-Office’, Queen Elizabeth II is the lifelong head of the Commonwealth. Already, government politicians from members of Pradeshiya Sabhas to the Prime Minister are engaged in putting up billboards in every nook and corner greeting the new ‘head’ of the Commonwealth. Masses that see these billboards could realise that CHOGM was held in Sri Lanka spending billions of public funds merely to boost President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s image for the forthcoming presidential election. CHOGM was a bonanza for the President.
" The government has become the ‘co-director of the next movie that would be produced by Channel 4. The story, actors and infra structure facilities have been supplied by the government for this movie. "
Daily Mirror Sri Lanka
Free-for-all opposite Sirikotha
Matara District UNP parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera who is now in the political wilderness and facing expulsion from the UNP in the event Ranil loses his leadership, last week joined controversial Channel 4, director Callum Macrae.
Mangala who has always been a shameless character and would resort to any low level for his political agendas, entertained Macrae, who defamed Sri Lanka, at a press conference organised at Sirikotha.
Macrae produced four films for Channel 4 with wild allegations against Sri Lanka’s Security Forces, was invited to the media briefing held by Mangala Samaraweera. But Mangala’s disgraceful act was bitterly opposed by UNP MPs and other members of the party.
It was later revealed that the invitation to Macrae to attend the press conference had been extended with the consent of the UNP Leader and the Chairman of its Leadership Council, Karu Jayasuriya.
Macrae who attempted to disgraced Sri Lanka in the eyes of international community, was invited to the headquarters of the main Opposition party in the backdrop of the Commonwealth Summit.
Sunday Observer Sri Lanka
Relatives of terror victims protest against Callum Macrae
Channel 4 Producer Callum Macrae faced with a demonstration at the Katunayake International Airport yesterday on arrival.
The demonstration was staged by the parents and relatives who have been massacred by the tiger terrarists during the 30 years of war in Sri Lanka. They made this demonstration because Callum Macrae has produced several concocted films promoting the inhuman tiger terrorists and discrediting Sri Lanka.
Official Sri Lanka News Portal
Bandula Jayasekara however, when Ceylon Today’s (July 7 issue) Sulochana Ramiah Mohan queried about the tweets to Macrae he said thus; “Yes, I have been tweeting about Macrae’s LTTE propaganda. He is a paid LTTE mercenary and as a citizen of Sri Lanka, I will not allow him to come to Sri Lanka on any ground, although it is the Commonwealth Secretariat that decides who should come for CHOGM. Meanwhile Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella voicing his opinion about Callum Macrae’s media credibility said, “On the pretext of being a press personnel, Macrae is doing his rounds funded by his well-wishers – the Tamil Diaspora.”
Colombo Telegraph
Britain's Channel 4 journalist Callum Macrae denied he had any specific agenda against the Sri Lankan Government, but stressed there should be a credible and independent inquiry into human rights violations committed by both sides in the country's civil war. Macrae and his team were mobbed by the local media when they walked into the Media Centre established at the BMICH a short while ago for journalists covering CHOGM. -
The Nation
Protestors force Callum Macrae to turn back on visit to North
Protestors at Anaradhapura station have stopped a controversial documentary maker’s visit to the north today by blocking his train. Around 1,000 protestors gathered to block the Killinochchi bound train this morning, which was carrying Callum Macrae and his team on their way to Vavuniya
The Republic Square
Meanwhile In A Parallel Universe Called Humility
I am Callum Macrae. I am an award-winning film maker, writer and journalist. The ‘journalist’ part is important because it allows me to fictionalize the truth and paint fiction as fact. If you want me to explain, consider ‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’. That should do.
Colombo Telegraph
Sri Lanka Blocks Freedom Of Movement During CHOGM
Two days ahead of the Commonwealth Summit where Sri Lanka will assume the chair of an organisation that holds as its core values democracy, human rights and good governance, the military has stopped busloads of families of the disappeared from travelling to Colombo from the Northern Province. Families from Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Jaffna
Colombo Telegraph
No Fire Zone Was Chilling, Tweets British PM
British Prime Minister David Cameron who watched the controversial documentary No Fire Zone by Callum Macrae over the weekend, tweeted that he would have “serious questions” to raise with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he arrived in Colombo for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
Colombo Telegraph
‘No Fire Zone’ Film Premiere Casts Spotlight On Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Record
Film premiere casts spotlight on Sri Lanka’s human rights record as island becomes Freedom from Torture’s top country of origin for referrals As Sri Lanka’s human rights record is put in the spotlight again tonight with the UK premiere of Callum Macrae’s new feature documentary No Fire Zone,
Colombo Telegraph
Facing Death Threats Ahead Of Visit To Commonwealth Meeting
When you announce that you are going to apply for media accreditation for a routine international political event like the bi-annual Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) you don’t normally expect a rash of death threats – or to find a senior diplomat from the host country threatening on twitter that...
Colombo Telegraph
Sri Lankan Diplunacy: Stray Dogs, Pricks, Tigresses And CHOGM 2013
There is to our knowledge no governance around the use of social media by Sri Lanka’s foreign service, and Jayasekara’s Twitter account conveniently conflates personal opinion with official positions. On Thursday, 10th July alone, Jayasekara went after and included in his abominable invective journalists Callum Macrae, Frances Harrison, UK MP Alistair Burt...
Colombo Telegraph
President Rajapaksa invites Macrae for a cup of tea
In what appeared to be a consolidation of the charm that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is renowned for, while dismissing questions posed by Channel-4 journalist when he was about to board the car after the opening of the Commonwealth Business Forum, invited them “for a cup of tea”.
LankaSri News
British TV crew blocked from reaching Sri Lanka's former war zone
Pro-government protesters blocked a train carrying a British TV crew and the Sri Lankan army stopped activists trying to attend a human rights conference on Wednesday, in an apparent clampdown on free movement ahead of a Commonwealth summit.
Hundreds surrounded the train and some boarded it, a witness said, adding that police made no attempt to clear the crowd. The Channel 4 television news team, which has previously reported on alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka, had to return to the capital Colombo, the TV station and local police said.
Reuters
British TV crew behind war-crime film face Sri Lanka demo
Pro-government activists demonstrated outside Sri Lanka's main international airport Monday denouncing a visit by Britain's Channel 4 which produced an award-winning documentary on alleged war crimes during the island's ethnic war.
Haveeru Online
Sri Lanka cracks down on Tamil opposition ahead of summit
Sri Lanka's military stopped scores of ethnic Tamils protesters from entering the capital Wednesday ahead of a Commonwealth summit as a British TV crew was barred from a former warzone.
Sri Lanka had hoped the three-day Commonwealth summit, due to start Friday, would showcase its post-war revival after security forces crushed the decades-long Tamil separatist conflict in 2009.
But it is turning into a major public relations disaster as some of the Commonwealth bloc's 53 members and rights groups focus attention on the island's human rights record.
The West Australian
- © 2024 No Fire Zone
- Home
- Videos
- About
- WATCH THE FILM
- Support the Campaign
- Contact
- Latest News and Campaign Update
- REVIEWS & AWARDS
- Production Team
- Archive
- Featured Article
- PRESS ROOM
- Powered by Assemble
