by

Rathindra Kuruwita

Supporters of the United National Party (UNP) and the Federation of National Organizers (FNO) clashed opposite UNP HQ, Sirikotha yesterday, for over one hour. Over 30 persons from both sides were injured, according to participants from both sides.

Commenting on the clash, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said, while the Opposition is gathering academics and educationists, the government is gathering armed goons to attack them.

“We were holding a meeting of education professionals when these goons arrived and threw stones at Siri Kotha. They threw stones at the Buddha statue in the garden too. Police did nothing until our supporters began attacking the goons in self- defence.

A senior Construction Ministry official led the goons, but he was not arrested despite our requests,” UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake said.

Karunanayake claimed that the police acted in a biased manner and that they only intervened when the government goons were being overpowered. Police allowed the FNO to hold a protest without obtaining approval from them. They should be arrested for assault and damaging of private property, Karunanayake said.

FNO said that around 30 of their supporters were wounded while several UNP supporters also sustained injuries in this clash.

The incident occurred when the UNP was holding a conference with the Eksath Addhyapana Sewaka Sangamaya (United Education Services Workers Union). In addition, a meeting of grassroots UNP activists was also taking place. Around 100-150 FNO supporters had then arrived, chanting slogans against the ‘Ranil-Maithri Secret Pact\, when a heated argument ensued between the two sides.

The argument quickly deteriorated into chaos after FNO supporters pelted the UNP HQ with stones, and over 2,000 UNP supporters retaliated. Both sides started attacking each other with stones. FNO supporters who were outnumbered retreated to a lane opposite Siri Kotha with the police acting as a barrier between the two warring sides. FNO supporters were later allowed to escape ‘unnoticed’ by the police.

The UNP supporters and MPs spoke to senior policemen who arrived at the scene and asked them why a senior Construction Ministry official, who led the FNO supporters, was not arrested despite repeated requests and proof. Commenting on the incident police media unit said, even by 6 p.m. yesterday they were not able to determine what had transpired.

FNO Convener Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara said that it were UNP supporters who attacked peaceful protestors.

“The police were also attacked by UNPers. They say that they were having a meeting of academics, are you telling us that it were academics who attacked us?” he asked.

Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) said that this was yet another instance where police inaction led to bloodshed. CaFFE said that the police should have taken action against FNO supporters before violence occurred. By allowing the group that initiated the attack, the police have shown their bias.

“This is what’s happening countrywide. Police don’t take any action against government supporters who instigate violence. They only intervene when Opposition activists retaliate,” CaFFE said.

Courtesy:Ceylon Today