Anarchy leading to social tragedy in Sri Lanka: Karu

Saturday, 12 January 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The country is heading towards anarchy. Again, we are compelled to talk about the goons with political blessings because we are fast becoming a failed state and the rule of law in our motherland is crumbling down.

Law of the jungle reigns supreme in the place of law, power of the goons in place of discipline, injustice in place of justice, and dictatorship in place of democracy, are being established. Right for dissent is being trampled down.

The actions of the Government prove that they want only their point of view to prevail in the country and they expect society as a whole to follow their line of thinking.

The closest example is the engagement of goons carrying poles to suppress the peaceful protest against the impeachment by lawyers, representatives of political parties and civil activists, in Hulftsdorp, Colombo on Thursday.

The print and electronic media showed groups of persons supporting the Government for the impeachment motion waiting near the Hulftsdorp Courts premises, and some of them were carrying poles and attacked their unarmed rivals in the presence of police officers who were deployed to protect peace and order.

This is not the first and last instance of such occurrences. When General Sarath Fonseka was in jail, goons attacked the peaceful protest held on Independence Day in 2011 by Members of Parliament and members of public and civil activists demanding the release of General Fonseka. This was also in the presence of police officers. It is not that difficult to identify the political masters of these goons, considering the way the goons behaved ruthlessly in the presence of the police officers.

Having identified the goons who attacked the protest held on Independence Day in 2011, we tabled their names in Parliament. Although two years have elapsed, no one has been arrested by the Police. Considering the above, it is rather difficult to believe that law will be implemented against the goons who behaved indiscriminately near the Courts premises in Hulftsdorp. We challenge the Government which boasts frequently about establishing a democratic miraculous Sri Lanka, to take into custody the political goons who are powerful enough to behave freely as they fancy.

It is evident under these circumstances that the country is heading towards anarchy and this is turning into a social tragedy. The impeachment against the Chief Justice will end up in aggravating this situation. Finally, the country will become a state without law and the law of the jungle will prevail. We urge the Government not to be arrogant because of the two thirds majority they have, but to take action to build the democratic and just society that people expected during the post war period. The Government must realise that if they fail to do so, it will lead to a grave social tragedy.