"The Attorney General's Department, which once had a glorious history, has clearly become a puppet of the Rajapaksa regime. The entire institution has become politicized. This is a severe slap on the face of democracy and a matter that can make the public lose their faith in the law."______________________________
(April 05, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Mahajana Wing Mangala Samaraweera, in a press release issued today (April 05th), condemned the move by the Attorney General to withdraw the security of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem while strengthening that of TMVP leader Pillayan.
The full text of the statement is as follows:
The slashing of security, which came soon after the SLMC leader decided to resign from Parliament and to hand in nominations for the forthcoming Eastern Provincial elections, was entirely politically-motivated.
The SLFP (M) strongly condemns this action.
On April 03rd, the withdrawal of Hakeem's security came in a motion filed by the Attorney General on behalf of the IGP and the Defence Secretary, which noted that it was sufficient to provide the SLMC leader only with a security backup as a candidate at the eastern provincial council elections, since he resigned from his parliamentary seat.
It is distressing to note that facts such as Rauff Hakeem is the leader of one of the most prominent political parties in the island as well as a person facing serious threats to his person seemed to have escaped the AG.
We emphasize that the AG is to be blamed for these series of events. Instead of functioning independently, the present AG is acting as a henchman of the Rajapaksa regime.
Therefore, we stress that the AG has acted against Mr. Hakeem's interests with the intention of a higher post of the state in the near future.
The government also reduced Mr. Hakeem's security after he resigned from this ministerial portfolio and crossed over to the opposition.
The SLMC leader's security is not a matter that can be decided only as a legal issue. It is a matter that should be considered with responsibility politically .
The Pillayan Group has the complete blessings of the government to carry arms to engage in politics for an election that has been fixed by the government.
In such a backdrop, we emphasize that the security of Rauff Hakeem, who is the key and the most powerful candidate at the forthcoming Eastern Provincial Council elections, is a political issue.
It is clear that the Attorney General's Department is attempting to put Mr. Hakeem's life in danger at the instigation of the government, soon after he resigned from his parliamentary seat in order to change the government at the East PC polls.
Slashing his security at a time when it should be increased, is clearly an act of political revenge. It is an action taken to prevent his victory by paralyzing his political activities.
The Attorney General's Department, which once had a glorious history, has clearly become a puppet of the Rajapaksa regime. The entire institution has become politicized. This is a severe slap on the face of democracy and a matter that can make the public lose their faith in the law.
We, the SLFP (M) too, have faced similar situations in the past.
The late chief coordinator of our party, Sripathi Sooriyarachchi was tormented by the AG's Department until his death. The AG was even so sinister as to press charges against him, even after his death. The institution is similarly continuing to torment our Chief Secretary, Tiran Alles.
Attempts to slash Rauff Hakeem's security are just one example of how the institution is engaging in politics publicly.
It is clear that the government wants Rauff Hakeem to suffer that same fate as that of the late MP T. Maheswaran. Time has come for all masses who value democracy to stand against such political vengeance.
We emphasize that in addition to the President and the Defence Secretary, the AG too, should be held responsible for any harm that befalls Mr. Hakeem during this election.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
The full text of the statement is as follows:
The slashing of security, which came soon after the SLMC leader decided to resign from Parliament and to hand in nominations for the forthcoming Eastern Provincial elections, was entirely politically-motivated.
The SLFP (M) strongly condemns this action.
On April 03rd, the withdrawal of Hakeem's security came in a motion filed by the Attorney General on behalf of the IGP and the Defence Secretary, which noted that it was sufficient to provide the SLMC leader only with a security backup as a candidate at the eastern provincial council elections, since he resigned from his parliamentary seat.
It is distressing to note that facts such as Rauff Hakeem is the leader of one of the most prominent political parties in the island as well as a person facing serious threats to his person seemed to have escaped the AG.
We emphasize that the AG is to be blamed for these series of events. Instead of functioning independently, the present AG is acting as a henchman of the Rajapaksa regime.
Therefore, we stress that the AG has acted against Mr. Hakeem's interests with the intention of a higher post of the state in the near future.
The government also reduced Mr. Hakeem's security after he resigned from this ministerial portfolio and crossed over to the opposition.
The SLMC leader's security is not a matter that can be decided only as a legal issue. It is a matter that should be considered with responsibility politically .
The Pillayan Group has the complete blessings of the government to carry arms to engage in politics for an election that has been fixed by the government.
In such a backdrop, we emphasize that the security of Rauff Hakeem, who is the key and the most powerful candidate at the forthcoming Eastern Provincial Council elections, is a political issue.
It is clear that the Attorney General's Department is attempting to put Mr. Hakeem's life in danger at the instigation of the government, soon after he resigned from his parliamentary seat in order to change the government at the East PC polls.
Slashing his security at a time when it should be increased, is clearly an act of political revenge. It is an action taken to prevent his victory by paralyzing his political activities.
The Attorney General's Department, which once had a glorious history, has clearly become a puppet of the Rajapaksa regime. The entire institution has become politicized. This is a severe slap on the face of democracy and a matter that can make the public lose their faith in the law.
We, the SLFP (M) too, have faced similar situations in the past.
The late chief coordinator of our party, Sripathi Sooriyarachchi was tormented by the AG's Department until his death. The AG was even so sinister as to press charges against him, even after his death. The institution is similarly continuing to torment our Chief Secretary, Tiran Alles.
Attempts to slash Rauff Hakeem's security are just one example of how the institution is engaging in politics publicly.
It is clear that the government wants Rauff Hakeem to suffer that same fate as that of the late MP T. Maheswaran. Time has come for all masses who value democracy to stand against such political vengeance.
We emphasize that in addition to the President and the Defence Secretary, the AG too, should be held responsible for any harm that befalls Mr. Hakeem during this election.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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