“Anyway, it is not a good thing if the JVP becomes weak at this time. That will have an effect on the strength of the opposition. If the JVP genuinely wants to play the role of the opposition, I hope it will sort out its problem quickly. I hope that the JVP will pave the way for all of us to work together to restore peace and human rights and for the elimination of poverty.”___________________________
(April 17, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Mahajana Wing Mangala Samaraweera has questioned the role of IGP Victor Perera in the country’s law enforcement, noting that the police chief had swiftly arrested JVP MP Jayantha Wijesekara at the whims of the government, but had acted like a coward in the Mervyn Silva incident.
Mr. Samaraweera was speaking to Sri Lankan expatriates in the UK at a Sinhala-Tamil New Year festival at Eailing, London yesterday (Apr. 16th).
The ceremony was attended by a large number of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims living in UK.
National Organizer and Secretary of SLFP (M) Tiran Alles was also present.
Speaking further, Mr. Samaraweera said, “The country has a law to act against whoever the culprit is. We concede that the law should be enforced against JVP MP Mr. Jayantha Wijesekara had he done anything wrong. But, the IGP and the Attorney General work according to a political agenda. They are fulfilling the needs of the Rajapaksa brothers company with the intention of obtaining positions and privileges.”
“The IGP did not show the same interest when he jailed Mr. Jayantha Wijesekara when it came to Minister Mervyn Silva and his thugs who face continuous accusations. Just because he was a minister, he cannot enter a state institution and hinder official duties. Hindering official duties is a serious offence. Mervyn should have been arrested. Had that been done, Mervyn would not have got injured. No one would have got assaulted. But, the IGP acted like a coward before Mervyn’s thuggery. Today, the country is lawless. The IGP and the AG follow the Medamulana law. The law of the jungle reigns today.”
“Clearly, there is a conspiracy behind the remanding of Mr. Jayantha Wijesekara. Earlier, Sripathi and Tiran of our party faced the same situation. Jayantha Wijesekara is the latest victim. Today, the government is scared to face the eastern provincial council election, Hakeem and the opposition. Rajapaksas did not expect Rauff Hakeem to challenge the election campaign of the government and Pillayan. The government is concerned that the JVP will make an impact on Sinhala voters. Therefore, Jayantha, who represents Trincomalee, was sent to jail. Mervyn’s thugs roam freely. This is how the law of the country is enforced today.”
Mr. Samaraweera also responded to a question over the present conflict facing the JVP.
“Today, the JVP is facing an organizational problem. I do not see a conflict of opinions here. Wimal as well as Somawansa promote war. For us, the dividing line between their opinions on the war is not clear. When Wimal calls for fullest support to the government in its war, Somawansa says the government should continue with the war, but wants it to reduce commodity prices and safeguard human rights. Both promote the war. I do not agree both opinions. When a country is at war, human rights are not protected or commodity prices are brought down. What development did we gain during our 25 years of war? I am of the firm stance that powers should be devolved both in the north and the south. Powers should be decentralized to democratize the lowest lawyers of our society, especially for the development of rural areas. Resolving the ethnic conflict becomes easy when powers are devolved equally to all areas. That is why we call for a political solution.”
“In the past, we were uncertain about the JVP’s political actions. The JVP supported the government over human rights and the cost of living. That was a problem for us. But, the JVP leader has now clarified them.”
“Anyway, it is not a good thing if the JVP becomes weak at this time. That will have an effect on the strength of the opposition. If the JVP genuinely wants to play the role of the opposition, I hope it will sort out its problem quickly. I hope that the JVP will pave the way for all of us to work together to restore peace and human rights and for the elimination of poverty,” he added.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
Post a Comment