In a letter sent to European Union and the European Commission the ‘International Network for Democracy in Sri Lanka’ has raised the issue of repression dissent and using PTA to detain peaceful protestors in Sri Lanka. It has also urged the European Union and its members to raise these issues at the upcoming 51 session of the UNHRC.
The letter.
An open letter to European Union and European Commission : Suppression of dissent under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and repression of right to protest in Sri Lanka
The ‘International Network for Democracy in Sri Lanka’ (INSD) presents this letter in order to draw the attention of the European Union and the European Commission to the Sri Lankan government efforts to suppress the dissent, destroying the democratic rights of its people.
We would also like to bring to your attention that the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which is a draconian, anti-democratic law, to arrest the protestors and detain them under 90-day detention orders is a clear breach of the promise made by the Sri Lankan government to regain the GSP pulse concession in 2017.
Three protestors, namely the convener of the Inter-University Student Federation, Wasantha Mudalige, Hashan Jivantha Gunathilake and Reverend Galvewa Siridhamma Thero, have been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act since August 2., The detention order was signed by the president Ranil Wickremesinghe as the minister of Defence. So far, more than 3,500 protesters have been arrested. Most of them have been released on bail but more than 1,500 of them are still in languishing in custody.
The Rajapakse family rule must be held directly responsible for the violent attempts to destroy the peaceful non-violent struggle launched by the youth against the rulers who have plunged Sri Lanka into an unprecedented socio-political and economic crisis through unwise autocratic policies.
An army of thugs who were armed with iron and wooden poles within the official residence of then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa attacked the peaceful protestors on May 9th and President Ranil Wickremesinghe incited heavily armed military personnel attacked peaceful protesters on July 22nd. However, the government of Sri Lanka has not taken any tangible steps regarding those illegal and undemocratic actions.
No one who came from Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s official residence armed with iron and wooden poles and attacked the unarmed protester has been detained.
The responsibility of then PM Mahinda Rajapaksa of violence unleashed against the protestors is documented here: Sri Lanka Briefing Note: Violent Assault on Peaceful Protest Site “GotaGoGama” & Accountability of Ruling Rajapaksa Family.
The International Network for Democracy in Sri Lanka does not condone any acts of violence. At the same time INSD would like to emphasise that the acts of violence that took place against the members of the government and sympathisers are spontaneous attacks against the violence unleashed by the government.
The International Network for Democracy in Sri Lanka (INSD) urges the European Union and the European Commission to make every effort to persuade the Government of Sri Lanka not to use the Prevention of Terrorism Act to suppress dissent, which is a democratic right, to apply the law equally against all those who incited violence, including former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, and not to consider protests as acts of terrorism.
The INSD requests from the European Union and the European Commission to make clear that use of Prevention of Terrorism Act is contrary to the promises made by the Government of Sri Lanka. At the same time INSD urges the European Union and its members to raise these issues at the upcoming 51 session of the UNHRC.
The International Network for Democracy in Sri Lanka strongly urges European Union and the European Commission that the right to dissent, freedom of expression and association be protected, and the repression of peaceful protesters be condemned in all diplomatic engagements with the government of Sri Lanka.
On behalf of INSD Board Members
Ranjith Henayakaarachchi
Sunanda Deshapriya
Senaka Wattegedara
Sivasamy Sivarajan
Uma Pararajasingam
Stratgart, Germany / 01.09.2022