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Tuesday, 7 June 2011 09:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
UNP Deputy Leader says that the impunity of thugs who attacked Pension Bill protestors shows decrease of law and order
On the heels of violent clashes over the Pension Bill UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya yesterday strongly criticised the government for allowing thugs to suppress dissenting political views and insisted that these were signs of decreasing law and order in the country.
Referring to the protests over the private sector Pension Bill that saw armed squads converging in areas before a JVP organised protest in Town Hall Jayasuriya releasing a media statement insisted that the government is taking action to suppress those who have dissenting political views, unlawfully, when they fail to achieve same through lawful means.
“A good example is the pictures published by the media, showing the goons who were waiting to assault a rally organised against the proposed Pension Bill which the government tried to force upon the private sector. The media disclosed that these goons had the protection of some politicians of the ruling party. Goons were seen along with the police attacking unarmed workers of the Katunayake Free Trade Zone, when they were protesting against the proposed Pension Bill,” the statement said.
He went onto say that whether it is at Lipton Circus, Welikada Prison or Katunayake, these incidents announce the demise of the rule of law in this country. “It is obvious that these goons operate with the knowledge of the government, otherwise it is impossible for these gangs to move freely, without being noticed not only by the baton carrying anti-riot police, but an ordinary policeman. The police are compelled to turn a blind eye to these goons, since the political power has become more powerful than the common law of the country.”
He stressed that unarmed masses will resort to take the law unto themselves, once they find it difficult to bear the suppression any longer.
“We will never affirm the downfall of democracy and rule of law. We call upon the government to refrain from assaulting unarmed civilians and those who have dissenting political views, by engaging goons protected by politicians. The government is already taking action to suppress the right of expressing dissenting political views in the parliament. Finally the rule of law will decline and lawlessness will prevail in the country. There is one thing this government should keep in mind, power is not eternal.”
