Joint Opposition condemns RW for attacking unarmed protesters

•  President must be held accountable; Wickremesinghe and his Ministers constitute a shadow Government of the Rajapaksa’s: Sajith
• All dictators received justice at the hands of the people: Dullas
• Trying to stifle the voice of the people through violence is State terrorism: Fonseka

 By Darshana Abayasingha

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka

MP Dullas Alahapperuma

MP Sumanthiran

MP Rauf Hakeem

The Joint Opposition yesterday condemned President Ranil Wickremesinghe and held him accountable for attacking unarmed peaceful protesters.

SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa demanded an explanation from President Wickremesinghe as to why armed forces were deployed with violence to remove protesters from the GotaGoGama protest site in the early hours of yesterday.

He made this comment at a press conference which featured leaders of all parties in the Joint Opposition including Dullas Allahapperuma and the independent group of MPs from SLPP, Tamil parties TNA and TPA and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.  Premadasa questioned why the Government resorted to such tactics when protestors had pledged to leave the Presidential Secretariat by 2 p.m. This was known to all parties, and exclaimed it was baffling why the Government used force to remove protestors, which reflects badly on Sri Lanka’s international image. 

He said the SJB and the Joint Opposition vehemently condemned the action, and regretted that a large number of persons were injured including women, local and international media personnel. He asked if violence was the new ploy of the Government to attract tourists into the country.

“The President must be held responsible and be accountable for all the actions that took place at Galle Face. There must be a transparent process and an investigation as to who gave the order to use force on the peaceful protesters. The Constitution offers protestors the right to express their views in a peaceful manner. But at the same time protestors must exercise this right without causing damage to public and private property,” Premadasa said.

He added that Wickremasinghe and his Ministers constituted a shadow Government of the Rajapaksa’s and it was despicable they resorted to violence instead of seeking peaceful solutions.

SLPP MP and failed Presidential candidate Dullas Alahapperuma claimed that the State oppression experienced by protestors yesterday would extend to trade unions and institutions such as the media tomorrow, if the public does not stand up to safeguard democracy. 

He added if the Government chooses violence to suppress democracy, it must bear in mind that in the end all dictators received justice at the hands of the people.

SJB Chairman Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said the new President was showing his true colours just a day into his new office, and condemned the violence meted out to protestors. Fonseka stated the Galle Face protestors represent all people of Sri Lanka, adding their struggle is to obtain their basic rights and needs for survival.

“When the President invited all parties to come together and join hands to enter into a process to transform this country, I felt there may be an opportunity to do something meaningful for our future. But the events that transpired early morning demonstrate there is no such genuine process. He is trying to stifle the voice of the people through violence,” the SJB Chairman said.

Fonseka appealed to the international community to take note of the “State terrorism” unleased by the new President on an unarmed public, and said the world must take whatever steps possible to safeguard the people. 

“He is acting based on his experience from the 1970s and 1980s. Today’s world is far more respectful of human rights and governance, and removed from violence. It is wrong for the Government to deploy armed soldiers to control people, that is the job of the Police,” he said. 

TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran also held President Wickremesinghe responsible for the attacks.

He said that the attack on the peaceful protest, which received international recognition for its peaceful nature, has been condemned by the President without any reservation.

Sumanthiran also cited the previous statements issued by the President during the last two attacks, and pointed out that via the official UNP account, the then-MP vehemently condemned the attack which took place on 9 May.

“He even said I will withdraw all the support that will be extended to the Government,” the MP said.

The TNA Parliamentarian mentioned that the then-Prime Minister Wickremesinghe also laid down conditions that the Galle Face protest must not be touched, however within 24 hours, he has shown his true colours.

Stating that at least the people were attacked in the early hours in the morning, the MP pointed out that at least on 9 May, the attack took place in broad daylight. “But this is far worse, under cover of darkness, when the State forces attacked them. So the responsibility for this must fall squarely on the shoulders of the Executive President Ranil Wickremesinghe,” Sumanthiran said.

“It is only because of these protesters that Ranil Wickremesinghe is the President today, and not for any other reason,” the TNA MP added.