Violence against Citizens at Hultsdorf

The government’s behavior in handling the impeachment motion demonstrates that it has no respect for the rule of law. Although, its spokesmen repeatedly declare that everything was done according to the law it has failed to convince the legal community and the civil society within and outside the country.

Another clear instance of government’s disregard for the rule of law is the violence unleashed on the peaceful demonstrators on the 10^th January by the political goons sponsored by the government.

Those thugs with poles and stones in hand arrived there with a clear purpose of committing violence. Indeed their violent actions were really shocking. The fact that they were committing those criminal activities in the presence of hundreds of police officers placed there to maintain law and order, was most surprising. The police inaction to prevent such attacks amounted to police giving protection to those criminals.

This surely would not have happened unless the police had orders from the higher political authorities, to allow a free hand to the attackers and overlook the crimes they were commissioned to commit. The  behavior of the attackers in the streets of Hulsdorp betrayed the fact that they had the blessings of the authorities and had enjoyed the privilege of total immunity.    

Can this happen in a democracy? The right to a peaceful protest is an intrinsic part of a democratic society and is a long and respected tradition even in Sri Lanka. The freedom to hold peaceful demonstrations is a right guaranteed by the constitution. According to the chapter three of our constitution every citizen is entitled to the freedom of speech and expression and the freedom of peaceful assembly.

Therefore everyone who loves democratic traditions should immediately condemn this attack by the Government’s goons and the failure on the part of the State to provide protection to its citizens who arrived there to express their views in the form of a peaceful assembly which is one of their fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution.

Now the attack has already taken place. One of the unfortunate victims was Thilak Kariyawasam. Fortunately, he was physically strong enough to face the numerous brutal attacks made by the goons with their hands, legs and sticks. Anyone else he would have died on the spot. 

The Police if interested can easily identify the attackers from the images provided by the media. But no action has been taken so far against these brutal attacks. The citizens ought to thank the media personnel for publishing the images of the political goons attacking the peaceful protesters at the hills of Hultsdorf.

Referring to the Chief Justice, the government spokesmen have been heard to reiterate that every wrong doer has to be punished. Although the allegations have not been proved, she has been punished in an illegal manner. 

But no action has been taken against the wrong doers who committed violent criminal acts on those who came to demonstrate in the defense of the independence of the judiciary.

Does it mean that the government is giving a message to the citizens of this country that it has no respect for citizens’ rights and is prepared to unleash goon violence to crush any opposition to its hegemony? This is a sign that we are going to be ruled by political goons! 

Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda