JVP and DNA MPs and the Police are trading charges over the incidents in Galle last Thursday leading to the arrest of two Parliamentarians.
The DNA says it was the police assault on the protestors in Galle who were demanding the release of Gen. retd. Sarath Fonseka that led to the situation, while Police claim that the MPs assaulted two of their officers at the Galle Police station on the same day.
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| Yesterday’s JVP protest in Colombo, over the clash in Galle. Pix by Nilan Maligaspe and Gamini Mahadura |
JVP MPs Vijitha Herath, Ajith Kumara and PC member Nalin Hewage were arrested after they went to the Galle Police station to lodge a complaint with regard to the arrest of nine party members.
JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the Government has gone to the extent of violating the rights in a democratic country and that using teargas and rubber bullets to disperse a peaceful protest is a violation of human rights.
He said that police officers had used tear gas on ordinary people who were on the streets with some officers being under the influence of liquor.
According to him MPs Arjuna Ranatunga, Vijitha Herath, Ajith Kumara and Provincial Councillor Nalin Hewage had gone to the Galle Police to lodge a complaint and were assaulted and then remanded on the basis of false allegations.
DNA MP Ranatunga said he was asked to leave the police station as the police were under orders to arrest only the JVP MPs.
The MPs said that SP Sisira Kumara had ordered the tear gas attack and the assault on them.
The JVP MPs are to file two petitions, one in courts against the police officers and the other at the Human Rights Commission.
Meanwhile the Police Inspectors’ Association condemned the assault on police officers.
According to the Association, two of the police officers were assaulted and admitted to the Karapitiya hospital. “Assaulting two police officers in a police station by public representatives is an insult to the public service and is against the law,” an Association spokesman said.
The Association demands an inquiry and immediate action against those who assaulted the police officers. |
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