UNP slams Police over inaction

Tuesday, 23 December 2014 01:36 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) yesterday slammed the Police for failing to take action to prevent recent violence related to the elections. UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya said that the recent violent incidents targeting rallies and activists of the common Opposition amply demonstrated the lack of democratic space under the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government. “It is the best evidence of the urgent need to change course before this state terror and violence consumes us all,” he said in a statement.

On Saturday an election meeting of the common Opposition which was scheduled to be held in Haputale came under attack by Government goons just 10 minutes before the arrival of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. The meeting was organised by Opposition Leader of the Uva Provincial Council and former UNP Parliamentarian Harin Fernando. On Sunday, prominent local members of the UPFA assaulted artistes and civil society activists in the President’s home district of Hambantota, injuring several. The UNP Opposition Leader of the Hambantota Municipal Council Auyb Khan was attacked by Government supporters at a protest campaign organised by civil society activists near the Hambantota bus halt. The attack was led by the infamous Hambantota Mayor Eraj Fernando of “toy pistol” fame. Fernando was earlier accused of assaulting and intimidating members of Parliament from the UNP on a fact-finding mission to the Mattala Airport. He later claimed that the pistol he was wielding was a toy. Jayasuriya said that as it was in previous cases during these two incidents as well, the Police had watched passively and in some cases shielded the culprits as the Opposition activists were beaten by Government goons. “The Rajapaksa regime has sensed Opposition momentum. It has witnessed the people’s power, our movement of righteous forces. This is the reason for their behaviour that resembles hooligans and lunatics escaped from the asylum,” Karu Jayasuriya added. He noted that the “circus” would end on 8 January and on that day, all of these thugs, goons, drug peddlers, rapist and murderers would see their day of justice dawn. (Colombo Gazette)