‘Lawyers for Democracy’ has condemned the attack on a group of people who were gathered to demonstrate regarding their grievances on International Human Rights Day at the Trincomalee bus stand saying intolerance of dissent and diversity is violence, especially in a multi ethnic, multi religious and multi cultural society.

“What is of deep concern is the impunity with which these criminal acts are committed in the presence of police officers and in the view of the public. There is no problem in identifying the culprits as video pictures of these incidents were widely telecast in the electronic media.  What concern us is the statements made by the media spokesman of the police in every case of attack on people by armed groups is that the police is investigating these incidents but up to now not a single prosecution has been instituted against the culprits in such incidents,” the LfD said in a statement.

The legal group said; the obvious inference was that the authorities concerned are under pressure from powerful sources to desist from proceeding against such attackers.  Incidents of this nature demonstrate to the whole world the helplessness of the people of our country who tries to exercise their fundamental right of assembly and expression. We call upon those who are involved in the enforcement of law and order to take immediate action to bring the culprits before the law.