BY SHAAHIDAH RIZA AND RATHINDRA KURUWITA

The government will not be a barrier to the Joint Opposition’s (JO) Pada Yathra; however they might self-impose a barrier and blame it on the government, said Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister for Health Rajitha Senaratne.

Addressing a media briefing yesterday he also denied that the government has not blocked any grounds in order to prevent them from having their event.

“It is absurd that they decided to book grounds only three days before the event. They should have done this several days in advance. This is the nature of the system; it is difficult to book places at the last minute because most of the places would be booked by others. Anyway, the roads are in good condition for them to walk. The walk will be good for them. I understand that most of them are very excited as it is the very first walk which some have participated,” he said.

Meanwhile, Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) issued a press release requesting the constituent parties of the United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG) Government to respect the right to protest and not to obstruct the Joint Opposition march from Kandy to Colombo.

“Mawanella Magistrate Court has issued a restraining order preventing Joint Opposition (JO) march from entering Mawanella Town. Meanwhile, on the road taken by the JO, a number of political parties have organized a number of ‘sudden’ events. Already a number of playgrounds, used for political gatherings, on the path of the protest (in Kandy, Mawanella and Nittambuwa) have been booked by one of the most powerful ministers and party members have been asked to arrive at these venues. This might easily lead to clashes between the two sides and such systematic disruptions are a throwback to the dark days of the Rajapaksa administration,” said Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon, executive director of CaFFE.

He added that CaFFE is deeply dismayed by these developments and requests the constituent parties of the United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG) government to respect the right to protest and not to obstruct the JO march.

“Obtaining restraining orders preventing activities of political opponents was a trademark practice of the Rajapaksa administration and it is disappointing to see the UNFGG government resorting to the same tactics. This was not the first time such an order was obtained, the government used this tactic to obstruct a number of protests of the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF),” he added.

Courtesy:Ceylon Today