Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Imithiyaz Bakeer Markar on Sunday expressed serious concern over the arresting of university student leaders who were engaged in a peaceful protest campaign demanding that the Government ensure economic prosperity in the country and reduce the prices of essential commodities.
Addressing the media Bakeer Markar said President Ranil Wickremesinghe before he came to power promised that he would not harm young people who were engaged in a peaceful protest campaign at Galle Face.
“However later the President violated his own statement and allowed the Forces to disperse demonstrators using the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA),” he said.
He said everybody knows that according to the law, if a person is arrested by the police he should be kept in police custody only for 24 hours and later be produced in court.
Bakeer Markar said even the Human Rights Commission (HRC) is also keeping a close tab on human right violations in our country.
He said this situation clearly reflects the fact that the Government has begun hunting down demonstrators who urge the Government to strengthen the economy. Recalling the statement made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe before he became the President, Bakeer Markar said the present President had earlier assured that he would abolish the PTA.
“Although the President assured earlier that he would abolish the PTA, he is still using its powers to arrest innocent people who are engaged in peaceful demonstrations,” Bakeer Markar said.
He said the President had earlier assured the UNHRC and the European Union that he would protect human rights but now we have realized that there was no truth in that statement.
Bakeer Markar said the Government will not only hunt down peaceful university demonstrators but in future even the members of farmer organizations who are engaged in protest campaigns asking for fertilizer will also be arrested using the PTA saying that even farmers are engaged in anti-government campaigns.
He said that even Human Rights Watch (HRW) also published articles saying that the Sri Lankan Government violates human rights.
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