Don’t shrink public space for free speech and dissent

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam faced an unexpected predicament this week after he was arrested for remarks he made at a press briefing which the Police or the powers that be construed as part of a conspiracy to assassinate the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya. He was arrested on Monday and granted bail, with an overseas travel ban in place, the same evening. The whole episode does not augur well for freedom of speech in the country.

There is no doubt that Kariyawasam’s comments with regard to the IGP were uncalled for, and being a lawyer himself, the SLPP General Secretary should have known better than to make such comments publicly. But in his eagerness to get one-upmanship over the Government, Kariyawasam went too far when speaking of the seniormost serving police officer in the country. But that in no way justifies his arrest and the attempt to pin ludicrous charges against him.

The charges the Police want to press against Kariyawasam include conspiracy, instigation and abetment of a crime, all for a few comments he made at a press conference. It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to understand that no one announces a conspiracy at a press conference, and conspiracies are usually hatched in secrecy.

This obvious fact aside, questioning him after a complaint was made is necessary, but the matter could have been amicably ended with Kariyawasam being asked to withdraw the comments and issue a public apology. But no. Instead, it became another opportunity to take down an outspoken Government critic.

Then there is the pending case of six others who are facing contempt of court charges. They include former MPs Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila and MP Dilith Jayaweera, who could face charges of contempt of court for statements made during a protest held in front of the Fort Railway Station regarding the detention of the former SIS chief Suresh Sallay.

While the Constitution of Sri Lanka guarantees freedom of speech as a fundamental right, it does come with some restrictions, but in a democracy, free speech is essential unless such speech is used in a manner detrimental to the wider good of the country and the people.

Already, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) and the CID are tainted with allegations that while those heading these institutions are overenthusiastic in probing cases against opposition politicians, they show little interest in dealing with complaints made against those in Government, including some ministers who also face serious allegations of corruption. It is in this scenario that Opposition politicians are being arrested for expressing their views, which sets a dangerous precedent. There are plenty of Government members who have made statements that could be interpreted as threatening and intimidating, but no one has rushed to the CID with complaints like those affiliated with the Government have done. If this trend continues, will journalists be the next to face a similar predicament if they speak and write on issues that displease the Government?

Already, the Right to Information (RTI) law has been relegated to the law books, with most Government institutions being non-cooperative when applications are filed.

All this seems aimed at shrinking the public space for free speech and dissent. In a democracy, all citizens should have the right to free speech, whatever political affiliations they may have. It’s this space that allowed the JVP to transition from an armed insurgent group to a political force. Those running the country now should know more than others what it’s like when rulers begin to stifle free speech guaranteed for all, including political opponents.