by

National Peace Council

The appointment of a new Chief Justice following the impeachment of the former one has brought the public protest campaign to an end. There were strenuous efforts on both sides to demonstrate they had people’s power with them. The work of bridging the ethnic and political divides and bringing reconciliation and binding up the wounds of war remain this country’s greatest challenge. Indeed that is what the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission appointed by the government has also said.

However, the National Peace Council is very concerned that some of the lawyers and civic activists who exercised their right of peaceful protest against the impeachment have been threatened and fear for their safety. The right to dissent is a fundamental right in any society and requires to be upheld. We condemn the efforts to brand the work of those who stand up for the Rule of Law, checks and balances on the exercise of power and for international standards in governance as being unpatriotic and deserving of punishment.

The culture of different political parties to bring bus loads of civilians from different parts of the island to Colombo as a show of strength for political purposes is nothing new. However, to bring mobs armed with poles smacks of disrespect for the rule of law if not worse. Bringing in mobs from outside to attack a protest by an educated responsible group of lawyers was deplorable and deserves the condemnation of all citizens. The reason why people protest collectively is because they sense a moral transgression although they may not be individually affected. It speaks much for the conscience of our society and shows that there are people still who affirm democratic rights and stand against injustice. The conscience of human beings cannot be permanently suppressed and this is the lesson of world history.

The government would be aware that the failure of law and order and to follow the Rule of Law in Sri Lanka has already led to international criticisms and this calls for measures to avoid sanctions. Instead of allowing mobs and shadowy groups to threaten those who dissent with death as seems to be happening, the government led by the country’s democratically elected President must take its responsibility to protect the dissenters from such underworld characters with utmost seriousness. Or else sooner or later the blame will descend on the government just as in the case of the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge or the disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda.