5 December, 2024

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Salley’s Arrest: Commonwealth Leaders Must Take A Stronger Stand Against The GoSL – Amnesty International

A prominent Muslim politician and government critic arrested today in Sri Lanka must be immediately released or charged with an internationally recognizable criminal offence, Amnesty International said.

Azath Salley, the leader of Sri Lanka’s newly formed Muslim Tamil National Alliance, was reportedly taken into custody on Thursday morning by the intelligence services for unknown reasons.

Azath Salley

Sally has been an outspoken critic of a Buddhist organization, Bodu Bala Sena, which has since February 2013 allegedly attacked Muslim and Christian religious establishments and agitated against certain religious practices.  On 29 April he told journalists he was in hiding because he feared for his safety after receiving threats in state-run media.

“Azath Salley’s arrest, and the harassment he has faced over the past weeks, is indicative of the climate of fear government critics in Sri Lanka are forced to live under. He must be released immediately or charged with an internationally recognisable criminal offence,” said Polly Truscott, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia Pacific Director.

“He has been campaigning to end oppressive practices against minorities in Sri Lanka, in particular Muslims and Tamils, for which he has faced the ire of the Sri Lankan government.

“Salley appears to be the latest victim in the intensifying crackdown on dissenting views we have seen in recent years, motivated by the government’s desire to tighten its grip on power. Journalists, the judiciary, human rights workers and opposition politicians like Salley are among those who have been targeted through threats, harassment and vicious violent attacks.”

The Sri Lankan government remains set to host the Commonwealth Summit in November despite calls by Amnesty International and others for it to be relocated.

“Commonwealth leaders must take a stronger stand against the government’s violent repression of dissent and its persistent failure to bring to justice those responsible for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity,” said Truscott.

*Amnesty International Press releases

Latest comments

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    POLY I AM A COURTS REPORTER PL COME AND SEE HOW MANY COURT CASES AGAINAST HIM MOST ARE [Edited out].. HOW HE BUILT A MANSION IN COLOMBO-7

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      Looks like your problem is his mansion in Colombo. Why not he built a mansion? did he rob people’s money? What about PAUPERS like Mervin, Weerawansa and Rajapaskas themselves? Where is the Tsunami funds? where is LTTE gold? didnt those go into your ‘court reporter’s head’? This arrest was baseless. Gota and Perci were terribly disturbed by the oposition’s May day Rallies hence began to attack the oppositions. They are highly mistaken. their days are numbered. People are aware of their con games so rejecting them.

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      If your problem is his mansion or property then our major problem is people like you who endose anything and evething done and doing by this rogue regime. You, the supporters of this regime are the biggest obstacle for the country today.

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      Ok, If he had charges against corruption, it should have been brought lot earlier, not now. We know he is very critical of the ruling family and bodu bala sena lately. Therefore, the entire sri lankans except some brainwashed fools know the reason behind his arrest.

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      Suranjith, if Sallay has done wrong, he is wrong. But, what is unfortunate is that he is accused of things which is less worse than most other politicians been accused of like murder.

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      But if Amnesty International says we have to ignore all his faults. They govern Sri Lanka, not the Sri Lankan government.

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      All right if he is corrupted there are normal laws to deal with it, including the bribery commission. But why he was arrested under the PTA?. Surely the authorities are abusing the power. I don’t think you are qualified to be a reporter of any kind. Reporting is a sacred duty. It has the obligation of reporting the unknown or little known intentions based on verified facts.

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      What a fool this Suranjith is! He thinks he can fool the whole world like his masters do… The world knows better.

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      A sri Lankan has mansion in Sri Lanka is a crime
      Sri Lankan having many mansions overseas is not a crime
      Overseas Sri Lnakn having many mansions in Sri Lanka is not a crime.
      So many people who had houses in Colombo has been harnessed like this and they were forced to sell their property for a song to the government thugs. This is why he is arrested.

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      IF true its a case for the Inland revenue dept and not the CID… How about Mervin, Basil, Gota Wimal and the crowd. OH not forgetting Duminda… Who paid Duminda’s medical bills? locally and in Singapore? his family? if so how much was paid and how did Duminda make so much money in so lil time? drugs or? and Basils assets before he entered politics as a policman?and Namal.. BTW how can the son’s of pliticians afford Jaguars and Lamborginis while the people are all in bada gini..

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        I mean Chamal ..

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      THANKS FOR LETTING US KNOW YOU ARE A REPORTER AND COURTS REPORTER.

      IT IS BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU REPORTERS REPORT AND DO NOT REPORT THAT WE

      READ COLOMBO TELEGRAPH AND LANKA E NEWS ETC.,

      WE ARE ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT AZATH SALLEYS ARREST FOR SPEAKING UP FOR THE MINORITIES.

      COULD YOU PL. TELL US WHAT YOU HAVE REPORTED ABOUT MERVYN , MALAKA, DUMINDA ETC.,

      PLEASE DO NOT WRITE LIKE AN IDIOT.

      WHY DO WE NEED COURTS REPORTERS, WHEN THERE IS NO “FREE JUDICIARY AND
      POLICE”

      COULD YOU PLEASE TELL US HOW THE BBS THUGS GOT AWAY WITH ALL THEIR CRIMES, AND MANAGED TO GET US VISAS AND ARE TODAY GORMANDIZING IN
      AMERICA. WELL BECAUSE THE BIGGEST ROGUE IS THEIR PATRON.

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      SURANJITH P;ERERA- There are cases against Marvin, Duninda… All are national heroes.

      Be fair to everybody. This is not because of that. 100% ethnic revenge. He is the only person, replying to BBS openly. Rajapakse govt. is not taking any action against BBS. For them freedom of speech, for Azath Salley, violation of law. Govt. is on double stand. Is this not democracy country?

      Now our mother Lanka is under (King) Rajapakses with a family dictatorship government, cannot think about Democracy.

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    Dissidents and Critics of the Govt and GR are arrested on the most trivial of charges whereas the hate mongers like Ganasara go scot free. Most probably Govt fears the new party ‘The Muslim – Tamil Alliance’ formed by AS and others.

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      why does Galbodatte walk free even after he was exposed at the highway entrance calling muslims hambayas and for what reason he brings in the muslims to that argument ? He threatens to topple the govt and he snatched aphone from the police officer, that itself is a punishable offence.. and how he preaches hatred and incite the Sinhalese against muslim.. at he Kandy and other meetings. Sooner than later we may have a blood bath Thankx to BSS whose God father is Norway (the funding agents) and the masters who feed and clothe em..

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    Despite his bravado and posturing Azath Salley does not have any substantial standing in his community. He will now take advantage of the publicity/notoriety for reasons not envisaged by him.

    In fact, because his antecedents and integrity are being challenged in some quarters he would like to emerge a Martyr from this saga!

    However, one suspects that he will go through a process of “rehab” courtesy of the GOSL over the coming weeks, and we will see him singing from a different Hymn sheet after he is released.

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      Well said. But now we are all with him. You can see this in the next election, provided if it is fair and free! PUTTALAM BOORUWA ASWER, PING GONA CADER ….ALL OUT.

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        You know who the other hypocrites, its F/Mustafa both father and son.

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          Exactly! There are some more. All these crooks will eat a SHIP LOAD OF SHIT just for 100 rupees! For them money is GOD!

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          THIS IS NOT NEWS ITS “HISTORY”

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      Ansolutely right. totally agree with your comment. Dalley didnt have any standing withing the Moslim community. Now he will bounce back like a hero and prove what the regime did was an absolute blunder so will win the hearts of other communities. This regime is killing itself by their own stupidy, which is a good sign since the opposition is not acting like the opposition.
      Some one has to throw them out even the ghost, i dont mind.

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    Poor lad, must wanted to be a New Transform but ended up in the dark….?

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    @ Suranjith,
    So finally Colombo is craking down on Fraud is it? I’m Assuming Parliament will be empty and the jails overflowing soon. (sarcasm +++)

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    We are sorry, the comment language in English – CT

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    Azad is a fraud. Trying to get a foothold in national politics his latest gimmick is the Tamil , Muslim Alliance.

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      There are more dangerous frauds then him in our Mother Lanka! One of them is, who swindled Tsunami funds of the innocents! another is who put a private deal with KP! There are more and more in the same family!

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        IF AZATH IS A FRAUD, WHAT DO YOU CALL OUR RUHUNA RULERS ?

        WE HAVE A “DEMO CRAZY” WITH A COMPUTER MANIPULATED PARLIAMENT,
        CLOWNS, AND TRAPEZE ARTISTS FROM THE OPPOSITION WHO ARE DEFRAUDING
        US.

        TO COME TO PARLIAMENT ON UNP VOTES AND JOIN UPFA IS FRAUD.

        In criminal law, fraud is intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent, and verb is defraud. Fraud is a crime and a civil law violation, though the specific criminal law definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Defrauding people or entities of money or valuables is a common purpose of fraud.

        ARE WE NOT A COUNTRY OF FRAUDS????????????/

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      If he is a fraud then he should be charged for that. As must so many other Sri Lankans; politicians, government servants, private sector individuals. All those who endorse corrupt behaviour must be charged.

      The hypocrisy is that Sally has been arrested for his opinion of the Bodu Bala Sena, while the latter is free to spread its hatred,and contributing to destabilising the country even more.

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    Yet another anti-govt activist arrested by the CID…doesnt the CID have better things to do than this– all they can come up with is quizzing 15 year olds and this Salley…. what about the real culprits who go on anti-muslim rampages in public rallies?

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    Agree with you Manel.

    @Suranjith – salley is not the only politician with a house in Colombo 7 and offshore bank accounts. Please talk sense – corruption in politics is not new, but the continuous suppression of various individual rights in this country is just absurd. I hope Amnesty International intervenes, I hope the Commonwealth Games is called off from this venue and a lot more so that we see some form of CHANGE… hopefully

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      Amen to this !

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    Azath is a foul-mouthed rogue, masquerading as a Muslim politician, like other fraudsters.

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      Like Gnasara of BBS?

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    If he was arrested for treason or dissent…. there maybe a busload more to be arrested for embezzlement of state funds, child molestation, arson,cheating public, misleading voters etc, etc. Anyway, the GOSL have finally made azad a hero.

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    Whatever his faults he has the balls to speak up publicly against the anti muslim sinhala extremists which is something the so called muslim leaders alligned with Rajapaksa won’t dare to do. The regime sees in him the single most strident voice that has the potential to garner mass opposition among the muslims. That is the reason the regime wants to silence him.

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    Azad Sally is a Centle man. We gave been watching him throughout his political careerer. He has stood for justice. Now Mr and Gr have made him popular. This incident shows that the country has gone to Dogs!

    Thissamaharama accused in Rape and Murder, Day light Murderer Duminda Silva, Hate Speech Pin Gonas’ of BBS, Mervin his son, Hon. Minister Karuna who massacred innocent Buddhist including children, former thug Pillayan, KP,…… all Are moving freely in this country. This is how justice is done in this country!

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      Azad Sally is a GENTLE MAN..

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    Salley is a crook, no doubt but his arrest is based on his comment ‘ that which stated that if the govt doesn’t clamp down on divisive groups like the BBS , a small subset of muslims may take up arms like the tamil minority before’

    True he is after political mileage among the muslims and is trying to come out a hero here, but our other lacklustre muslim politicians are doing sweet nothing- all them claiming to ‘quash this from the inside’.. absolute sissies.

    If this statement is considered inflammatory and considered to incite racial division then Gnanasara, kirama vimalajothy and dilanthe withanage should all be arrsted for statements they have made , the commonest being the call for a ‘civilian army’ to police the nation!!!!

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      He is better than other crooks! There are leaders who swindle Tsunami Fund!, Put up a deal with KP grab LTT money, getting a cut on all govt. deals of Economic developments and more. This fellow is a
      Hal Mesa in the Indian Ocean.

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    IT’S TIME FOR MINORITIES TO RISE AGAINST THE DICTATORS!

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      What about the majority ? Use the minorities to do the dirty work !

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    Use of the PTA and CCD to harrass opponents and critics is an old tactic of this regime. It has become a stale joke. Most probably he will be harrassed and released. Same treatment for Tamil politicians being summoned to the 4th Floor. Attacks on the Uthayan news paper. Thugs threatning Ponnamblam etc.

    The man behind all this is the SOD. Like Himmler and the Gestapo he carries out his dirty business. His day of reckoning will come.

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      Is the Time rite for me to come back or I you Sinhalalums going for Civil War and Start Killing each other. Me Ready to Come Back My Clone is in Narzareth Tamil Nadu only to Wake him Up.This time N- Bomb.

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    His mansion is not at issue. And there is no law preventing a person building a mansion or palace with his money on his land.

    This is why he was arrested:
    “Azath Salley was taken into custody under the PTA and the police stated that according to a news item Azath has addressed a meeting provoking Muslims”

    Ane we know this is similar to what was done to Tissa, just another cooked up charge while there is audio and vedio of BBS spreading hate and provoking uneducated buddhist around the country and they even acted on it against Mosques as well as businesses.

    WHO EVEN QUESTIONED BBS?

    I am surprised how people can support race based justice.

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    Every incident is now well directed at CHOGM. Either the government is stupid or the opposites are purposely making attempts to shift the CHOGM venue out of Colombo.

    I do not know what type of character of this bloke. Could be a muslim fundamentalist to destabilise the country or an innocent person.

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      No one is trying destabilise the country.

      In his own crude way, he was fighting for the rights the people on behalf of his community and their dignity.

      He was using a language / tone, which is understood / deserved by BBS kinds.

      Although, he did not represent the Muslim community, he took it upon himself to protect their basic right.

      Shame on the Muslim puppet politicians in the government / opposition.

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    Polly Truscott now playing around with Salley & muslims.
    Earlier it was Terrorists and Cricket in the carribean.

    Amnesty looking for donors and divide Sri Lanka. Wonder what part5 of SL they eye.

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    MR Government by its stupid actions has been inviting criticisms and condemnations lately. By arresting Azad Sally it has made him a hero and provided him with political mileage which he does not deserve.

    It appears this guy Azad Sally went to Chennai recently and gave an interview to ‘Junior Viketan’, a pro-LTTE Tamil weekly, making critical comments. He is reported to have said that Sri Lankan Muslims are ready to take up arms against the SL Government. MR Government has arrested and detained him for 3 months under the Prevetion of Terrorism Act alleging that he was trying to incite the Muslims for an armed rebellion.

    Azad Sally is another typical Muslim politician who will align with anyone and any party for personal political gains. He was a long standing UNP member and became a UNP Deputy Mayor of Colombo. I understand he was in fact the de-facto Mayor of Colombo at that time he was the deputy. He then left UNP and joined hands with Mahinda Rajapakse and contested the General Election and lost. At the last Eastern Provincial Election he contested from Batticaloa district on the Muslim Congress ticket and lost. He became popular among the Muslims when he openly criticised MR, Gothabaya and the government for the recent attacks on Muslims by BBS. He has registered a new political party under the National Unity Alliance name which was founded by Ashroff and later de-registered by Ashroff’s wife. He has also teamed with people like Sumanthiran and Dr Karunaratne and started attacking the MR government. His Muslim Tamil Alliance is another front to boost his image and political identity in the Eastern Province.

    MR government is steadily losing its support by this type of stupid actions. Look at what they have done in the North. Having announced election for the Northern Province in September it has gone and issued land acquisition orders for thousands of acres of land in Jaffna and other places. That has become a big election issue for the TNA. If it really wanted its allies like Douglas Devananda to do well in the NPC election it would not have done such a stupid thing. May be the government was trying to take over lands now because it expects TNA to win the NPC election and take over administrative control in Northern Province. As the 13th amendment gives land power to the provincial councils, MR government would not be able to acquire lands for the use of the military in the North if and when TNA captures power in the NPC. This may be yet another reason why MR government is thinking of amending the 13th amendment to take away land power from the provincial councils.

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    Hello fellow participants,
    what kind of terrorist activity Mr.Azath sally have done to caputure him under PTA.?None other than courageously vocalize against real culprits
    who offended the ethnic harmony (BBS).It is not new for this regime to
    arrest under false or imaginary accusations. For example the secretary
    of TNA MP Sridaran, was arrested saying the polish have found some explosives ,bluefilm cd’s and ganja in the MP”s office.Now his existence or whereabouts is not known to any.It is b’se Mr.Sridaran is one of the an active TNA MPs and working hard with the Vanni people, so havinggood support and influence in between Tamil’s of Vanni district.To paralyze his activities this arrest was done.
    It is a wrong trend the present GOSL is taking to neutralize the critics. In fact I think no body ready to condemn it openly in fear .
    I think definitely the Muslim clerics not going to open their mouth
    reason one is fear and the other as always they will only talk in support of ruling party only.Not to think about the muslim ministers
    or MPs,as the clerics they don’t prefer.Even they attempt to request
    they know that there will be no attention for their humblest pleadings.
    The GOSL never care of the voice of opposite parties as they have 2/3
    majority.The only way which may be possibly help will be the
    international pressure.I want to ask the Muslim acadamics who visit
    this site a question.Is it possible to any of you to raise this issue
    with the pakistani or Irani embassies and to request them to persuade
    the GOSL to release him? Rather than repeatedly mourning.

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    Suranjith
    Court reporter I don’t know why he introduce himself as a reporter. he is a real bullshit not a reporter. Asad Sally may have thousand cases in courts it not make him guilty only court should sentence him as guilty till that he is only a suspect.don’t use the name of reporter.

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    This arrest is a very serious issue where everybody needs to pay attention.

    All need to investigate to check who are Directing and Guiding Rajapakses on this sinister and districtive path and to chech if there are any foreign hands involved.

    Yes,ever since we got Independence the whole Governing of country was politicised rather than developping.

    Rajapakses took it to the Climax with a family dictatorship taking over top VVIP positions, taking incharge 95% of Budget and economy while installing over 600 family members to all the top government,economic, political and administrative positions.

    How can one develop a country when 95% of cabinet ministers who do not have a University degree.80% do not have GCE Advance Level and 90% are not fluent in Inglish Language or English Literate while all their secretaries and advisers are political recruits.

    Just do some research to find if Rajapakses had a single Conference with the University Professional body, Economists, Engineers, consultants,Preofeeional enterpreneurs,Foreign consultants or Administrators to direct the country in proper direction..Infact He is spending 90% of time visiting Pansalas “Temples” meeting buddhist clergy, meeting villegers and hugging small children.

    Rajapakses introduced a bogus Mahinda Chinthana to mislead the 80% Villege uneducated population with a 100% political agenda and not for the development of the country.

    I am afraid who direct and advise Rajapakses on this sinister Political and economic path and if ther’s any foreign hand involved in this.

    IT IS TIME THAT ALL THE COUNTRY LOVING PATRIOTS AND THE OPPOSITION PARTIES SHOULD GET TOGTETHER TO FIND WHO ARE ADVISING AND DIRECTING RAJAPAKSES ON THIS SINISTER AND DISTRUCTIVE PATH AND ALSO TO CHECK IF ANY FOREIGN HAND IS INVOLVED.

    IT IS THE DUTY OF ALL SRI LANKANS TO TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY FROM ABSOLUTE UNEDUCATED, MISDIRECTING DICTATORIAL and AUTHOTATORIAL REGIME.

    WHAT HAPPENED TO AZATH SALLEY TODAY COULD HAPPEN TO YOU TOMORROW.

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    Jayantha-well said.

    Today, our country needed real freedom and development not ethnic problems. Behind the BBS, Norway, Israel and Gothabaya are there. We are facing big financial crises. Because of that day by day, all product prices are increasing. Govt. want to divert the people from thinking of that, they started ETHNIC issues. We all (Buddhist, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, etc.)live together like brothers and sister. Now, govt. backing Buddhist monks and some similar groups are trying to divide the people each others.

    Cost of living is going up, (Daily need Food prices, Gas, Petrol, Water & electricity….) Govt. is still not caring about that, their concern only Hambantota and Road developments.

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      Peace Seeker,

      I thought President Rajapakse’s advisers are his loyal Astrologers and Buddhist Preletes.

      But if you are saying…………. “Behind the BBS, Norway, Israel and Gothabaya are there”. Oh my God….mala Juwa Okkoma Kapothi. Double check this by going to Youtube or google and go to infowars and anonymous and see the difference.

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    In the so-called epitome of democracy, within two years of the Patriot Act being imposed after 9/11 bombing, 310 persons were arrested in the USA. Owner of ‘Pufferbelly Toys’ Stephanie Cox of St. Helens, Oregon was arrested by U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the Patriot Act. She claimed she was innocent and there never was a case. There had been so many similar arrests since. Today the US has expanded the Patriot Act to various other fields to prevents cyber attacks and etc.

    Indeed, CIA had also arrested their very own agent an American named Susan Lindauer who worked for the CIA in Iraq and Libya, Yemen, Egypt and etc, for suspicion of whistle-blowing and kept in custody for over five years. That is how powerful ‘The Patriot Act’ is. But none of these arrests has been a problem for Amnesty International. AI only wants Sri Lanka PTA be removed; not that AI has a point but why selective targeting by these cronies is my question. they do not know that more the US cronies go against Rajapakses voters tend to glue to him.

    Now, why does the US need such a nasty act (The Patriot Act)? Simple answer they give is to secure the grater interest of the US and its public. At lest, that’s what the majority representatives who approved to pass the law say. And, I wouldn’t disagree with them. Anyway, who are we to question it? The Act came about after the September 11th attacks on twin towers.

    Nevertheless, it has made a number of changes to U.S. law. All for Uniting and Strengthening America and prevent terrorism. It redefined the term “domestic terrorism” to broadly include “dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State” and are intended to “intimidate or coerce a civilian population,” “influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion,” and etc.

    Now, if Americans use their Patriot Act to thwart instability to their homeland why not Sri Lanka follow suit using our own PTA. If there are complaints by public and intelligence agencies are satisfied as to Salley has been coercing his people for chaos and/or pandemonium and he is a factor for instability, and break the prevailing peace, he should be arrested and questioned on it until the scheme is exposed.

    If BBS or any other monk had done similar incitement, they too should be dealt likewise. But exposing sham operations against the nation and challenging connivers and schemers for debate is not preaching ‘hate’ or driving people for violence. At least that much must be clear to everyone. We must remember had Monks, the calibre of Migettuwatte Gunananda not done it in the late nineteenth century against then plotters, the Christian evangelists we wouldn’t be where we are.
    Leela

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      A leader who is relying only on the advises given by his Astrologers and Buddhistr Preletes as to how to govern the country will definitely lead it to doom. Youtube on infowars and anonymous and check the diffrerence.

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    Hey what about real terrorists who killed and did havoc during the 30y of war with tamil, having a great time with govt protection. like.KARUNA. PILLYAN. DAYA MASTER AND KP. what type of act for these real terrorists?

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    If I remember correctly, Azath Sally is a nephew of Minister Fowzie, who has been with the SLFP for several decades. If this is what happens to people with such connections, imagine the fate of ordinary people.

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      Yes Azath is the Nephew of Fauzi and a cousin of Nauzer. I Know this coz I was in class with Azath and moved closely with his family

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