Lawyers Collective urges halt of hate campaign against Judiciary

Based on media statements and information available, Lawyers Collective understands, that certain groups within the Government, is planning an ugly protest against the judiciary in front of the Superior Courts complex on 3 January 2013.

The said protest is expected to take place during the hearing of the impeachment challenges which is scheduled to be taken up on today. On a previous occasion, the Government-sponsored goons displayed an insulting protest, when the Chief Justice was leaving the Courts to attend the PSC.

Despite the media exposure of how Government Ministers were directly involved in that, no steps were taken to prevent repetition of such insults.

The Lawyers Collective also reiterates that, in terms of the constitution, the interpretation of the constitution and determination of issues affecting parties are matters exclusively vested in the Courts, and not in the executive or legislature.

Therefore, all organs of the State and the political parties and their leadership are bound to respect the constitution, which is based on Rule of Law. No one is above the law.

Lawyers Collective is dismayed that certain statements are being made by Parliamentarians and state media misleading the public that the Parliament is not bound by the Court orders.

There is no doubt that if that was the case, the country would soon be in a state of chaos, for which all those individuals who are spreading false and misleading utterances are responsible.

Lawyers Collective therefore, urges the politicians not to push the country towards anarchy and desist from all actions embarrassing and compromising constitutional values.

The day the politicians and State organs decide not to follow court’s decisions, Sri Lanka will cease to be a constitutional democracy, and would then be a complete authoritarian state.

Lawyers Collective urges all political leaders and all organs of the State to preserve the constitutional and democratic values  and  not to allow the country to fall into a total lawless state.