Azath Salley‘s detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act should be revoked and he should be released immediately. If there are indeed serious allegations of his inciting religious hostility that merit investigation, such investigation, and any consequent action, should take place under the normal law. It should also be part of a wider law-enforcement exercise against all such offenders, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliation.
Even during the existence of the armed conflict the position of the Civil Rights Movement has been that the PTA, if not repealed, should at least be drastically amended. Among the totally unacceptable features we have repeatedly condemned are its “no bail” provisions, and the provision for long term detention at the will of the executive with no legal rules as to place or conditions of detention. It is intolerable that resort to this discredited Act should be made today.
Of extreme concern in the instant case is the context in which this arrest of a prominent member of a minority community has been made. We refer to the alarming hate campaign against this same minority currently conducted by elements claiming to represent the majority Buddhists, which campaign has reportedly at times been accompanied by highly inflammatory actions and speeches which in some instances have resulted in violence. The law enforcement agencies have been conspicuously absent or ineffective. On some occasions they have simply remained bystanders. A vigorous and principled counter-campaign by the government emphasising values of tolerance and inter-religious harmony has been called for by many but remains no more than a fervent hope.
To now use the inhuman provisions of the PTA against Mr Salley is not merely an act of injustice perpetrated on one individual. It sends a most dangerous message to a community already feeling unfairly under attack, and may act as encouragement to the extremist forces mobilised against minority groups, raising a spectre some of us fondly dreamed had been laid to rest.
Suriya Wickremasinghe
Secretary CRM
Iraj Jayarathne / May 8, 2013
Bloody hell I too should start a organization with fancy name, well what about “SLNM(Sri Lanka Nonsense Movement )”.
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Observer / May 8, 2013
Wee you may need such an organisation to speak on your behalf if you are falsely accused by this government or any other government!
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Lankan / May 8, 2013
You have missed the bus. The action called for by CRM has nothing to do with the name. It is to do with democracy. If you do not understand or believe in democracy and blame it on the name then you are one of those who do not contribute to democracy in SL.
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Ben Hurling / May 8, 2013
Iraj Jayarathne,
You can start CMR bro. “Cronies of Mahinda Rajapassa” (CMR).
Cheers!
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Wickramasiri / May 9, 2013
Wise up friend. Civil Rights Movement is not new grouping.
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Homage to Catalonia! / May 8, 2013
Iraj Jayarathne,
Suriya was a former chairperson of Amnesty Int. She comes from an illustrious family. Her father was a founder of the Communist Party of SL. Her British mother Doreen Young was a former member of parliament and was conferred one of the highest civil honours in Sri Lanka.
Iraj can now tell us as to what kind of family he is from. I googled his surname, only to find out about a funeral parlour!
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Safa / May 8, 2013
The interpretation of the PTA is with one person who is a law unto himself. He has no legal background but certainly involved in abductions, disappearances and extra-judicial killings. So if PTA is to be retained it must come under a proper legal authority not a phsychopath.
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Roy / May 8, 2013
Azath Salley will be a better president than MR, he will never let his people down.
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Paisa Must Appah / May 8, 2013
But his people dont think so. He has already betrayed them by stirring up a hornets nest and disturbing the centuries of peace they had with their sinhala brothers, all for his own selfish political mileage.
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tor client / May 9, 2013
Paisa Must Appah,
disturbing the centuries of peace they had with their BBS brothers? That’s what he would have done, if at all! Actually Azad Salley showed his people more sinhala buddhist politicians that would sympathize for them and speak up in public than azad salley’s people did. go comment in dailynews or nation!
there is a difference between political mileage and selfish political mileage.
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tor client / May 9, 2013
correction: …than azad salley’s people did know.
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Roy / May 9, 2013
But I admire him because he takes the straight path ,speaks his mind,not like the other muslim leaders are MRs puppets and they don’t care about their own community ,they are corrupt like the ruling party.
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Imana / May 9, 2013
His community is fasting today – for his health and well being ! Who said he has let down the community ?
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Aly Sabry / May 9, 2013
@Imana.
Nobody gave you the right to be the spokeswoman of your community. If you wanna fast thats fine. But I think you dont know your haram and your halal.It is haram to fast for a cause like the health and well being of somebody who has openly brought discredit to his community. The muslim fast is only for Allahs sake and not to save the skin of selfish politicians.
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Imana / May 10, 2013
No one spoke on behalf of the community. Your types are called religious extremists.
How someone prays, fasts, dresses and leads his or her life is between them and their god !
You are gods messenger ?
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Imana / May 10, 2013
No one spoke on behalf of the community. I have no regard for any politician from the Muslim community.
Your types are called religious extremists.
How someone prays, fasts, dresses and leads his or her life is between them and their god !
You are gods messenger ? You know how every chapter begins in the Quran !
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Roshan / May 8, 2013
Some of our citizens are either ignorant or have very short memories. Suriya has spent a lifetime taking up fighting for justice and human rights.
Her father was one of the very few politicians who did not sell his principles for a mess of pottage. He did not want a ministerial position in the 1970 government when he could have demanded and got it. I am sure he was offered but refused it. He said that same things throughout his career and did not change his views depending on the direction the wind was blowing.Dr Wicks was an authority on many subjects and an exemplary politician.
The same cannot be said about most of our politicians and public figures who changed their colours to please those in power. Of course such politicians tend to thrive only because we have in our little country people who are willing to shout ‘jayawewa’ for a few shillings.
I understand that with some people ignorance is an inescapable condition but it would be better if they keep their lips tight for if they open them they only prove their ignorance without any doubt.
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BarbaraSeneviratne / May 9, 2013
MR is a mentaly sick individual, absolute power,greed for money which he never had.he is organising presently a communal drive next will be the cast drive since he thinks that he is born to royalty And the so called budhist monks who join him in this horrific crime are terrorists, The saffron brigade are deep in crime as MR is.Mr’s government have blunered and caused utter failure,MR has only desroyed democracy,and humam rights.
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