Sri Lankans in London protest Gen Fonseka’s imprisonment

 "Today our country is ruled by one family. They are thieves. They cheated even Tsunami money donated by the other countries. They lead millionaire life styles with taxpayers’ money while millions of people live in extreme poverty. These thieves know if Sarath Fonseka becomes the leader they all are in jail."

by Nalaka Rupasinghe

(October 14, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sri Lankans expatriates in London and elsewhere in the United Kingdom held a protest last Saturday, in front of No.10 Downing Street (British prime-minister’s official residence) demanding democracy and immediate release of Gen. Sarath Fonseka. The protest was attended by a large number of people. Among them: there were lawyers, doctors, politicians and the people who supported the government at the last elections. The protest was organised by ‘Campaign for Democracy in Sri Lanka – London branch’

Addressing the gathering the chief organiser of the campaign, Dharsana Hettiarachchi said: “Today we have gathered here keeping our political differences aside to fight for a common goal, to demonstrate our solidarity with Sri Lankan democratic forces. This is the largest gathering of Sri Lankans who live in London in the recent years. We have come here to demand from the despotic government, democracy and the immediate release of our war hero, Gen Fonseka. Mahinda Rajapaksa, dictator, has imprisoned our hero. This government hailed Gen Fonseka as the best military commander in the world. When he came to politics, Rajapaksa, [the] dictator, imprisoned him. You can see from here the smart statues of the British war heroes. They have been built to pay tribute to them. That is how a nation should pay tribute to their war heroes.

Today our country is ruled by one family. They are thieves. They cheated even Tsunami money donated by the other countries. They lead millionaire life styles with taxpayers’ money while millions of people live in extreme poverty. These thieves know if Sarath Fonseka becomes the leader they all are in jail. It is this fear that the ruling Rajapaksa family now has. That is why they want to keep Fonseka in prison.’

Speaking to the crowd Dr. Jayalath Jayewardene MP (United National Party) said: “There is no democracy in the country today. Our country has dictatorship rule. Sri Lanka is now ruled by one man, one family. Law does not exist. No one can expect justice. The police, the judiciary all have been politicised. People are helpless. They experience enormous economics hardships. There is no media freedom. All media institutions are controlled by government directly or by threat. Many journalists have been killed, some have disappeared. No human rights are respected. I have submitted a report to the UN General Assembly regarding human rights violations and undemocratic practices in Sri Lanka. But the government media reported that my proposals were rejected by the UN. It was utterly false. Neither the UN website no UN General Secretary confirmed the government claims. I hear, government is planning to arrest me on my return on the 15th but I am ready to go prison for democracy.”

Dr. Chandrani Iriyagolla, a daughter of the late minister of education Mr. I.M.R.A. Iriyagolla said: “Gen. Fonseka is a true hero! Brave soldier! Great commander! He led his army to victory against Tamil Tigers. ‘The tribute’ for his service to the nations is putting him in jail by the Rajapaksa regime while giving ministerial posts to killers of our people like Karuna and KP. This is really abnormal. I am a doctor. I would suggest the government should send President Rajapaksa to be checked by a psychiatric.”

A man who claimed that he voted for the government at the presidential election said: “I flew to Sri Lanka all the way from England to vote for Mahinda Rajapaksa at the presidential election. But today I have come here to protest against him.”

Courtesy:-str8talkchronicle.com