HR complaint to be filed against Police for 22 July crackdown on GGG

• Allege attack carried out by hired mercenaries 
• Claim Police taking the fall due to pressure from higher authority 
• Police Spokesman creating false narrative 

By Maneshka Borham

Lawyers of the Struggle say they will file a complaint before the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) against the Police for the ‘brutal and inhumane’ attack on protestors at the Gotagogama protest site during the pre-dawn raid of 22 July. 

Addressing the media on Saturday, Manoj Nanayakkara Attorney-at-Law said the complaint will be filed as the Police through its Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa has now accepted the responsibility for the day’s events. 

Holding his own press briefing earlier in the day, SSP Thalduwa said the Police were forced to take action as the protestors had obstructed the duty of Police officers, abused them and also refused to vacate the areas surrounding the S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike statue at Galle Face. According to Nanayakkara, it appears that the Police have been set up to take the fall for acts clearly committed by another group. “The attack was carried out by hired mercenaries rather than the State security forces,” he said, adding that it is unlikely that the Police or the security forces can carry out such an inhumane attack on people. Nanayakkara described the crackdown as a ‘political terror’ that was unleashed on the people similar to that of 9 May. 

“But unfortunately, the Police have now accepted the responsibility for this. We are surprised as to why the Police would accept the responsibility for an act they have not committed,” he added.  Describing the day’s events, Nanayakkara said at no point did witnesses see the Police or Navy attempting to attack protestors. “Instead those who arrived were dressed in garb similar to that of the security forces and had no identification tags or badges,” he claimed. 

Slamming comments made by SSP Thalduwa, Nanayakkara refuted allegations that the protestors had refused to vacate the President’s Secretariat and had abused the Police. “How can they say they could not hand over the court order when it is now hanging near the site of the Bandaranaike statue?” he pointed out. 

He also denied the protestors were informed several times to vacate and hand over the premises as claimed by Thalduwa. “They had only asked us when we would leave. In fact, the attack took place after we had informed the Police we will vacate the premises shortly,” he said. He said the Police are now attempting to paint a false narrative due to pressure from a higher authority. 

Nanayakkara said a leading businessman engaged in the marine security industry and a high-level military official had a hand in orchestrating the attack on the protestors on 22 July. “But since the Police are now claiming it was carried out under their auspices the Inspector General of Police and all officers involved must bear the responsibility. We will file complaints against them before the HRCSL,” he said.