Thursday, 19 June 2014 00:46
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Worst communal incident since 1983: Rishad
Wants BBS banned
The All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) led by Vanni District MP and Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen boycotted the Parliamentary vote of 18 June.
The vote was taken on a resolution to not allow the UNHRC team into the country to investigate alleged human rights abuses during the last phase of the civil war against the LTTE.
“We have seen the biggest communal riots in Sri Lanka after 1983 in this Aluthgama violence against Muslims. Since the time the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organisation started, they have been provoking the Muslims, but the Muslims have been patient. We have done no harm whatsoever to this country. I am a Government Minister, but as a member of this community, today I feel devastated by what I see and am very ashamed. I condemn these acts strongly,” said Bathiudeen. “As a political party dedicated to the wellbeing of Lankan community, we strongly believe that it is time we make a statement. Therefore we boycotted today’s Parliamentary session. We want the Government to ban the Bodu Bala Sena, ban hate speeches by anyone and also to bring the Anti-Hate Speech Act and implement it. I urge the Government to pay compensation to all the affected people without any delay,” he added.
The ACMC’s current national standing is three Parliamentarians, three Provincial Council members in the Northern Province, three Provincial Council members in the Eastern Province, two Urban Councils (Kinniya UC and Kattankudy UC), two Pradeshiya Sabhas (Oddamavady and Museli), and a Municipal Council member (Kalmunai), making for 61 representatives of the ACMC in the country.
