By Sujata Gamage –
Dr. Sujata Gamage
You hear about goon squads but nothing like facing them for yourself. It is a surreal feeling. This is your country. You pay your taxes and you try to do the right thing, and then some guys waving sticks at you ask where you are going, while the police are watching. You tell them it is none of their business, which is the case. That prompts them to threaten you and shout filth at you, in your city.
This happened today on the way to Hultfsdorf. There was an open invitation to attend a meeting protesting the impeachment of the Chief Justice. I thought about hard it and decided it is important to show my support. Visakha joined me. We arrived there little past 10AM. Police were there but they did not stop us. If they did, we would have respected their decision. Instead there was this gang of abut 20 with some them carrying two by two sticks who blocked our way.
Goons: Yanava, yanava, thamuselata mehe vedak naa (Off, off, you have no business here)
Sujata and Visakha: ogollo kavuda apata ehema kiyanna. poleesiyen kivuvoth api yanava (Who are you to tell us; we will go only if the police tells us)
The conversation went back and forth a few times getting more aggressive each time. We decided to take another route but could not quite make it to the meeting. The situation was getting violent. Goons started running down the street forcing us to go inside a shop. One came broke a window of the shop with his foot.
I came away with two thoughts.
First, these goons are government goons. If they were not, the police would not have let them run amok with their sticks and threaten people. Yes, we were not any passerby. We were going to attend a protest. If it even crossed your mind that we should have stayed home, think again. “Labbata thiyapu atha puhulata thiyanva”. Next day it could be you.
Secondly, we are not all that powerless. It was interesting how the goons got exasperated with us at one point and said “Madam, why don’t you leave without creating trouble. I think, we got that response because we were engaging with them making eye contact with each one, and that made them uncomfortable. When one of them lifted the stick, my hand went automatically to my umbrella, but, he did not hit. One man even said, if you can’t go why don’t you bed with us. I looked straight in the eye and asked him and “what kind of talk is that” in my schoolmarm voice I suppose. I am not suggesting anybody tries to go one on one with goons, but, lot of us in white saris, for example, can have an effect, I feel.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dclPnk_eVlo
See the pictures here;
Pictures Of ‘Hulftsdorf Coup’ Today: Government Thugs At Work
anaperera / January 10, 2013
Courageous and as a Sri Lankan living abroad, so proud of you both. Hope when you are able to catch your breath, you will share more details and background to what actually happened there for the benefit of wider readership.
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Truth / January 10, 2013
This is the end of any investigation to determine whether this man is the person behind the murder of the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha member Hasitha Madawala.
Police said that a personal dispute between Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha member Hasitha Madawala and the five suspects led to his killing as they found out that the suspects are close relatives of a woman who lodged a police complaint few months ago against the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman and Madawala. The Parliamentary Secretary of Minister Mervyn Silva identified as Sunil is the brother of the woman and the organizer called Rangana is her son.
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mike / January 12, 2013
Truth: The truth is the CHIEF suspect is “absconding” ??
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avihinsava / January 10, 2013
Very courageous act. We salute you for showing solidarity with the people who are committed to protect the independence of the judiciary and maintain good governance. You have also showed the power of non-violence as against violence and intimidation.
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Mohmar / January 10, 2013
An indication of quietly growing resistance and opposition to the current state of affairs when justice and freedom of the people are being usurped
unscrupulous politicians.
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Safa / January 10, 2013
The Police are pathetic. The once renowned Ceylon Police Force has become the boot lickers of Mahinda Rajapakse and his Golayas. IGP must resign and go home if he cant do his job. Let Raja Pakaya find his own people to do his dirty work.
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justice / January 10, 2013
Safa,
The police are “official” goons.
They ‘protect’ the political goons.
Those brandishing sticks are “unofficial” goons.
These carry out assaults of citizens on behaf of the ‘official goons’.
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Mahela / January 11, 2013
Sri Lanka Police work only if they are given Kappan (Bribes) and hora Kasippu bottles.
I saw to my eyes how in Moratuwa Police station….Police constables all drinking and smelling Kasippu and also behaving fully drunk…three of them while on duty around 6.30 PM.
That’s why they prefer to work as TRAFFIC COPS AS THEY CAN EASILY EARN RUPEES 20,000 IN A DAY.
THE MOST HIGHEST CORRUPTION AND BRIBES ARE TAKING PLAE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I TELL YOU THE TRUTH …..ON ONE POYA DAY MY FRIEND AND I WENT TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS (Havellock park) AND GOT A BOTTLE OF KASIPPU FROM HIS POLICE FRIEND WHO GAVE IT FROM THE BOX IN HIS ROOM.
So that’s why they are inactive……as without Bribes and Kappan…..they don’t work.
This is the true state of police department.
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Silas / January 10, 2013
Hat’s off miss!
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Nevil Perera / January 10, 2013
We are very proud of both of you madam
We all have think this way
otherwise as you stated next day one of us will be a target
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P.B / January 10, 2013
Like some one very correctly said terrorists are running the country. Question is are they worse than Prabhakaran?
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Uthungan / January 10, 2013
PB these ‘terrorists’ are better than Prabakaran because they got rid of him to steal his technique to improve on it in running the country.
Have fun while it lasts.
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P.B / January 11, 2013
Soooooo true you hit the nail on the head! Prabhakaran was just one maniac . Now we have brothers , brothers in law , sons , wives their brothers and sisters, and a fully fledged Sadam Hussain like out fit.
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / January 10, 2013
WE RESPECT YOUR COURAGE TO PROTEST AND FACE THOSE SH-X-T EATING PIGS.
BASIL JARAPASSA’S AND KUDU MERVIN’S GOONS ARE BUSY WITH
LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS.
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COWDRY / January 10, 2013
Well done. We would not fall in to this situation if we have voted at the elections. We simply allowed the goons to enter parliament and now reaping.
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Jayantha / January 12, 2013
Not that we voted for them, but they stole and intimidated voters using these thugs and finally house arrested election commissioner and published bogus results in their favour.
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Jayantha / January 12, 2013
Not that we voted for them, but they stole and intimidated voters using these thugs and finally house arrested election commissioner and published bogus results in their favour.
There should be a GAME PLAN TO FACE THESE THUGS. NEXTIME THEY WILL COME TO YOUR HOME AND RAPE YOUR WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES AND ROB THE HOUSE ALSO.
I think next time you go out, go with a swiss knife, pepper spray, a 2500 volt razor gun ( available in internet)and if could have access to a semi automatic ( could get imported with other means) and a smoke/ teargas canisters (available in internet)
Remember this is a vake up call to every one that MARA is planning for another 1983 like riots….and be prepared for it.
Remember the BEST OFFENCE IS THE BEST DEFENSE.
Therefor get ready for work stoppage,Protests, black flag, sathyagraha, Railway, transport , Power and water sabotage, curfew with, Burn…burn…burn
Organise expatriate community to attack all ministers, govt heads when they travel abroad similar to Patali Champa receiving phone and verbal abuse and tracking their tours when travel abroad.
Organise Tourist, economic and travel ban to all Govt. heads and plan to chase them from UN and EU, CW.
organise another Parippu drop to Araliya gaha mandiraya with a Plane, Drone or a Hellfire Missile attack.
IT’S TIME TO SHOW OUR BALLS TO MARA AND HIS GOONS.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / January 12, 2013
Jayantha:You have to imaginative when there is violence and dont try to do tooth for tooth when you have no guns.SL has received the very best training on anti terror from IC and this is part 2 of their plan to make SL like Saudi and please the IC.
On a non-rainy day if all go out (very discreatly) with mutt and shit on the street where there are offices of importance the meeharak tota administration will drown in that patriotic poo because the western tourist will stop arriving (westerners dont fear your guns because you dare not shoot them)and the western nations will exhibit something more than concern.good luck mate.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / January 12, 2013
Jayanta:Also dont forget to wipe the butt with the sunday leader paper owned by rajaporkistan. Dont buy the paper and the day you dont do it the sale goes down exactly like what happened to lucky 7 ciggie company when CTC went on strike.
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Jayantha / January 17, 2013
binjiu,
I have stopped buying Sunday Leader the day Fredrica Jansz left.Yes what CTC did to lucky seven MARA did to Golden Key.
Watch the following Derana interview with Bar Asso.Head Wijedasa Rajapakse reveals all.
It was a plan MARA had along with ex.CJ Sarath N. Silva made Golden Key Collapse by restricting Hon.Lalith Kotalawela to sell Golden Key assetts to settle his 10,000 odd customers.
http://www.derana.lk/index.php?route=programs/programs/programdetails&pid=85&vid=6192&page=1
He says when Hon.Lalith Kotalawela wanted to sell all the Golden Key and other assetts to settle the investers, ex.CJ Sarath N Silva for no valuable reason did not allow him to do so.
MARA had a ulterior plan to acquire Golden key assetts himself without allowing Lalith Kotalawela to sell them to settle debts.
Also there are reports that Sarath Silva made 15 million rupees for acquitting President from Tsunami Scandal.
Remember it was Sarath Silva who passed the bill allowing MR to buy over opposition MP’s to govt side….and passed bill allowing unlimited terms for President MR to stay in power.
Also it was Sarath Silva who forced newly elect CJ Shiranee Bandaranayake to pass 18th amendment.
Therefore it is necessary to investigate both President and ex. CJ Sarath Silva for above corruption charges.
TIME TO INVESTIGATE CORRUPT LEADERS.
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Rohan / January 10, 2013
Rajapakse Brothers wanted Uthura Wasanthaya (Northern Spring) then, but the rest of Sri Lanka now wants Dhakkina Wasanthaya (Southern Spring)…. Lankawa Wasanthaya, anyone?
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Native Vedda / January 11, 2013
Rohan
” Lankawa Wasanthaya, anyone?”
Yes of course, only after Tamils and Sinhalese left my ancestral land.
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Rohan / January 10, 2013
“You pay your taxes and you try to do the right thing, and then some guys waving sticks at you ask where you are going, while the police are watching.” Yeah Sujata. This happened to Tamils in the past.
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B Ganendra / January 10, 2013
Ladies – HATS OFF
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Native Vedda / January 11, 2013
B Ganendra says:
“Ladies – HATS OFF”
Men balls off.
Are the men hiding behind their women folks?
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Wuliangguobinjiu / January 12, 2013
NV:”Are the men hiding behind their women folks?”
That has always been natural- ammma nathan thatha politics of SL dynasties.
When the village folk went to the loo the pigs bit their bollocks.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / January 10, 2013
Sujatha, Vishaka and others who were there,
Bravo! I salute you.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Paba / January 10, 2013
Bravo.
Thank you.
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PresiDunce Bean / January 10, 2013
The problem still remains that we are still a minority. There are thousands of people in far off places like Mahiyanganey, Yakka Wewa etc who think that MR is a God. There is no medicine for foolishness. As long as there are a majority of jackasses in this country, the jackals that they faithfully vote for will be able to do anything that they want. A majority of the country worships MR. The military is firmly in the Goat’s pocket. Chamal controls the parliament while Basil has hijacked the economy. Only foreign intervention can topple this family.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / January 10, 2013
PDB:”Only foreign intervention can topple this family.”
Really!You want the coming of the Messiah- dream on boy! ;)
The west is in no mood to change its plan. Study how the europeans captured the sub continent – one kingdom against the other and the westerner destroyed the final winner- makes sense in occupation and rule.
Throughout history great men and empires fell because they destroyed themselves.
In the recent case of Afghanistan because Bin attacked US and Libya because Kaddafi antagonized the west.
Therefore asking for foreign intervention is simply great expectations.
God helps those who help themselves they say.
Generally history repeats so what right minded people can do is assist them in destroying themselves while not sparing any bones.
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Ronny / January 10, 2013
Mrs. Gamage, if we have a few more brave ladies, the Sri Lankan goons including Mervyn Silva would run for their lives. We are proud of the brave ladies who can tackle these uneducated goons.
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vizzy pooh / January 10, 2013
Presi/Dunce Bean,
Well said. However these people have little access to information. So info, info and more nfo in an understandable way is the order of the day. We all need to get out these to give info or find a way of sending bulletins. people only get Pacha TV, Pacha rado and Pacha pattara, with HE face and doings on the front page.
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Jim Hardy / January 10, 2013
Exactly we need good Media to educate the masses.
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Park / January 10, 2013
It is sad to see what is happening in Sri Lanka today. If the police cannot protect the civilians who are trying to display their democratic rights, who else can. From what I read from this article I gather that the civilians do not have any trust in the Executive, Legislature and the forces including the police. So if the power is with the people, its time for the Executive, and the legislature to resign from their respective posts.
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Mano / January 10, 2013
The turn for the Tamils appear to be over and now is the turn for the Sinhala people to get Royal Treatment.
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Jayantha / January 10, 2013
Please take some photos and videos of these goons from your Camera phone and send them to Internet/ Google/CT etc.
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PresiDunce Bean / January 10, 2013
@Jayantha
Some pics of he goons. Click link.
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/pictures-of-hulftsdorf-coup-today-government-thugs-at-work/
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Jayantha / January 17, 2013
Presidunce Bean,
Thank you. I just saw it. Horrible to see it happening in Sri Lanka’s Capital.
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Sam / January 10, 2013
You cant sort them out – almost everyone there may have reacted as goons.
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Srikrishna / January 10, 2013
Madam Sujathe Gamage,
This is another story, happened a few years back in Jaffna, but a true story, story of two Sri Lankan ladies.
This is their country too like yours,they pay their taxes, they try to do the right things.
They were not going to attend some rallies. In fact there were no rallies, No one bothered to have any rallies for them.
But actually they were going for the first time to their long abandoned own home.
They saw in their own homes strangers -actually soldiers, not goons with menacing guns.
The soldiers asked them of course threateningly, who are you? Where are you going?what business you have here?
Could they have answered that it was none of their business?
The two ladies were cowards,unlike Ms Gamage and her friend?
Could Ms Gamage or any other reader like to continue with this narrative please?
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / January 10, 2013
Internal displacement in third world war zones is a humanitarian tragedy, as is evident in many theatres of war,presently in the Middle East, and earlier in South East Asia (ie Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) for example.
When militaries are in control of areas where fighting occurs, no courtesies or the rule of law can be expected. Post-war, the situation should improve, if there is genuine interest in a return to “normalcy”.
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M Y Foote / January 12, 2013
Krishna,
We are a country of hypocrites. You should have known this seeing how we meandered along post independence, fighting each other and destroying along the way with it any chance of economic emancipation. We are openly racist. see everything from a Sinhala Nationalist prism, and are adroit amnesiacs.
By the way, we have our own version of Buddhism not anything like what the Gautama preached.
So the law doesn’t apply to you, second class citizens who are allowed to live here gratuitously because the Sinhalese are tolerant and accommodating. Ask SF, GR or any other, Malinda Siriwardena or anyone else who matters. You can also check out the patriotic fervor of our young
We are ready to shed blood, contrary to our religious beliefs, we are ready to assert our beliefs, violently if you wish and want to reinforce that we don’t believe you have any rights, in fact your presence in a nuisance.
So put up and shut up in the land of the noble one, thrice blessed and a land that is straining at the leash again to pounce
M Y Foote
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Sujata Gamage / January 13, 2013
Sri Krishana is asking a tough question. If I was a Tamil woman stopped by the army in the north, what I will do?
As I said, if the army or police stopped us in Aluthkade we would have gone back. Even with goons, in my heart I had no issue with them, or even CMC councilor Mahinda Kahadagama or Minister Mervyn Silva who apparently directed these goons. My problem is with the commander-in-chief. I am sure that attitude showed itself and that is why we were not harmed. Being a part of the majority, I have the ability to think beyond race.
If I was a Tamil woman living in the northern Province…… I think I would start thinking of myself as a Sri Lankan first, understand that army has got to follow orders and start thinking of how we change the behaviour of those who give orders to the army. Dr Muttukrishna Sarvananthan who critiqued both the government and Prabaharan right through the war and now would be my inspiration.
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Rathumahaththaya / January 10, 2013
Kudos to you ladies; well done! We can only hope that this exemplary courage will be demonstrated more widely and eventually bring law, order and better governance for our dear Sri Lanka.
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asoka t / January 10, 2013
Well done couraageous ladies!
Lets have morelike you!
Sadly,However many there are like you, it is like farting against thunder!
The thunder being mervyn Silva and the royal family!
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Andrew / January 10, 2013
IDEAL SITUATION. Thanks, interference, intimidation, demonstrations against judiciary, illegal parliamentary debates, arbitrary impeachment, appointment of puppets, and use of force are all these things coming as a blessing in disguise. Lawlessness dictatorship, corruption sharp in crease increase in crimes, violation of constitutions, goons, stoning of judiciary, noncompliance, contempt of courts is what is exactly needed in Sri Lanka.
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capucine / January 10, 2013
There is only one solution. Let thus country be drowned by the sea.What happened today is a repetition of our history.
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K.A Sumanasekera / January 10, 2013
These two ladies are not our average “Sinhala Buddhists’, by their own account.
The hand going for the Umbrella,reminds me of the old Spagetti Westerns that I used watch from the Gallery.
One would think , a photo of the broken window with the two women hiding inside would have given a more dramatic and more surreal appearance.
Other than that these “Goons” are not as bad as the Goons of the past.
The two ladies again on their own words sort of subdued them to the extent that they even spoke in English.
As the Prez said recently this is surely a battle of the Top Echelons of the Urbanites against the Villagers.
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Native Vedda / January 11, 2013
K.A Sumanasekera,
Sujata Gamage writes:
“First, these goons are government goons. If they were not, the police would not have let them run amok with their sticks and threaten people.”
Police goons don’t provide protection from Political goons. Only the people do.
“reminds me of the old Spagetti Westerns that I used watch from the Gallery.”
I understand that VP was inspired by Clint Eastwood’s A Fistful of Dollars and became a right wing terrorist. What is your story?
“As the Prez said recently this is surely a battle of the Top Echelons of the Urbanites against the Villagers.”
So this is no longer a battle between the Tamil LTTE diaspora and the MR clan.
When you run out of Tamil LTTE enemies you will have to do with what you have, the urbanites. Or perhaps create new ones.
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Aney Apochchi! / January 12, 2013
K.A. Sumanaskera:
I believe you are on your way to a record in the matter of totally vacuous statements. The only problem is that you are inflicting your stupidities on the rest of us who look for intelligent comment in CT! Please GO AWAY!
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Citizen / January 10, 2013
One ponders whether the Police is unable to control the unruly crowd or giving protection to these goons. The UN should be very careful when appointing members of the Sri Lanka Police and Armed Forces to the UN Peace Keeping Force. One can just imagine the illegal steps taken by MR to strangle the Judiciary. Shame on Sri Lanka.
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Gamarala / January 10, 2013
Where is old Mr. Ranil? Why won’t he now demand to bring IGP in front of a parliamentary committee. There is enough proof that thugs with sticks were right in front of the police and police did nothing. Ranil, if he is a true leader he will lead the masses in requesting IGP to resign his post.
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Jayantha / January 22, 2013
Gamarala,
Did you e ver saw Ranil talking in favor of CJ Dr.Shirani Bandaranayake.
He is surely a mere MARA 89 million Pin Padi Puppet opposition Leader.
How did Ranil took 4500 votes against 500 when the last UNP Leader Voting is a mystery…….or all 95% UNP ers are muts.
Had Ranil Gone to Appeals Court hearing…..MARA’s CJ action could have turned differently.
I strongly discredit Ranil, and recognise him as an Invalid, a Grandma sleeping beauty, and a Parliament 89 Million Pin Padi opposition Puppet.
He is safeguarding his Parliament post than Looking for Justice for CJ.
Pathetic but true.
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Park / January 10, 2013
This is exactly how 1983 riots stared. The Police protected the arsonists. The same police is now protecting the attackers and not the attacked.
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