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Thursday, 15 August 2013 11:47 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
According to eyewitness accounts, the Opposition rally managed to garner a crowd of between 800-1,000 protestors. Some Weliweriya residents, including the monk who led the water demonstration in the area, joined in the protest.
The court order permitted the police to use minimal force to disperse protestors if they blocked city roads with a march, but rejected a police request to stop the demonstration.
Calling it the ‘Enough is Enough’ rally, Opposition activists led by the United National Party gathered in front of the Fort Railway Station to demand answers about who gave the military orders to shoot unarmed protestors and why the army used live bullets instead of riot police gear to disperse the crowds. Staunchly anti-regime posters, placards and masks were wielded by protestors who demanded among other things, the resignation of the Defence Secretary over the Weliweriya shootings.
UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe addressed a spirited crowd and called for people to rise against worst ever threat on democracy and rule of law. He garlanded images of slain youth from Weliweriya and also displayed a blood soaked school shirt he said a young boy had been wearing when he was killed.
“This is not the miracle of Asia, it is fast becoming Asia’s finest torture chamber,” charged UNP Hambantota District MP, Sajith Premadasa who attended the rally. MPs Ranjan Ramanayake and Harin Fernando also made fiery speeches during the protest.
“What happened at Rathupaswala, Weliweriya tells us that even today, some can consume while others are denied basic economic and social rights like clean water. The village for months has been asking for clean drinking water. When their cries went unheard by both the company and the Government, they resorted to protest. Instead of clean water, they got bullets,” protesting MP Eran Wickremaratne told the Daily FT.
Wickremaratne said that civilian protests, when it exceeds the boundaries of the law, have to be contained by discussion, water cannon, tear gas, batons and rubber bullets. “Live bullets cannot be justified,” he said.
Once the speeches ended, Opposition MPs led the crowds on a march towards Galle Face. Former UNP Deputy Leader and Gampaha District MP Karu Jayasuriya led the way, observers said, and was joined by a host of other legislators including Harsha de Silva, Harin Fernando, Ravi Karunanayake, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Eran Wickremaratne and UNP National Organiser Daya Gamage.
When police used buses to block their way, incensed protestors stoned the police buses and several Opposition legislators climbed on the roofs of the buses to circumvent the blockade and prevent the crowd from becoming unruly.
Riot police formed a human wall near the Treasury Building on Lotus Road to prevent the march from proceeding further. With a standoff in place between police and protestors, three representatives from the demonstration, including the monk who led the water protests in Weliweriya, left by vehicle to hand over a list of demands to the President at Temple Trees.
The crowds dispersed after the representatives returned having handed over the petition. The Opposition vowed to carry its protest campaigns forward if the Government failed to adequately provide answers about the violence.
Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana and Dinuka Liyanawatte
