{"id":62788,"date":"2019-02-02T02:31:22","date_gmt":"2019-02-02T07:31:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=62788"},"modified":"2019-02-02T02:31:22","modified_gmt":"2019-02-02T07:31:22","slug":"233-individuals-and-19-organizations-sign-petition-urging-president-sirisena-not-to-pardon-convicted-prisoner-bodu-bala-sena-gen-secy-gnanasara-thero-on-feb-4-independence-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=62788","title":{"rendered":"233 Individuals and 19 Organizations Sign Petition Urging President Sirisena not to Pardon Convicted Prisoner Bodu Bala Sena Gen -Secy Gnanasara Thero on Feb 4 Independence Day."},"content":{"rendered":"


\n(Text of a petition signed by 233 Individuals and 19 Organizations Urging
\n President Sirisena not to issue a Presidential pardon on February 4th Independence day to Convicted prisoner Bodu Bala Sena Gnanasara Thero) <\/strong><\/p>\n

We, the undersigned civil society organisations and individuals are increasingly concerned by reports that Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara thero (hereinafter Gnanasara thero) may be granted a presidential pardon in view of Independence Day celebrations on 4th of February 2019 on the request of a few powerful politicians and religious leaders. Presidential pardons must be granted on objective criteria, including the remorse shown by the convict, the time already served, the circumstance of the case and the crime that has been committed. Without objective criteria, the use of the Presidential pardon to release convicts could seriously undermine the independence of the judiciary and rule of law in the country.<\/p>\n

Gnanasara thero is presently incarcerated after being convicted by two different courts for separate offences of contempt of court and criminally intimidating Sandya Ekneligoda, a woman human rights defender and wife of a disappeared journalist and cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda. His absolute lack of respect for the judiciary is evident from his conduct. In this, his vitriolic display of hate towards Sandya Eknaligoda, in the vicinity of the Magistrate\u2019s Court when she was attending hearings into the disappearance Prageeth Eknaligoda. His lack of remorse has also been specifically commented on by the President of the Court of Appeal in his 56-page judgment.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Background of the Perpetrator<\/strong><\/p>\n

We note that Gnanasara thero has a history of having incited violence against religious minorities in the past, leading to death, to destruction of private and public property, and inciting hate against religious minorities. He was involved in inciting hate in Aluthgama in 2014, resulting in attacks against Muslims by Sinhala Buddhists in the area and the killing of four persons. To-date, the involvement of Gnanasara thero in the incitement to hate in Aluthgama has not been investigated, or prosecuted. He has yet to be charged, investigated or prosecuted for his direct involvement in any of these violent incidents. Further, in relation to the number of pending court cases against him, i.e. intimidation and harassment of Ven. Watareka Vijitha thero, we fear that they will be undermined if he is released.<\/p>\n

There are also reports of his direct involvement in other incidents of violence against Muslims and Christians. It is also pertinent to note that he is presently incarcerated not for his involvement in hate-speech and inciting violence against religious minorities. A pardon now may also make investigations, prosecution and conviction of him more difficult for some of the violence he is alleged to have been involved in and incited. <\/p>\n

Serious blow to the Rule of Law<\/strong><\/p>\n

If a Presidential Pardon is given to Gnanasara thero when he is convicted of contempt of court, it would seriously undermine the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and administration of justice. It will also make victims and witnesses further vulnerable to similar intimidation in the future. It would illustrate the lack of commitment and political will to guarantee equality and inter-religious harmony in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

In light of the above we are concerned that any move to provide a Presidential Pardon to Gnanasara thero would result in immunity to similar hard-line individuals and groups, to act above the law and to blatantly intimidate and threaten victims and witnesses in cases involving human rights abuses and even act in contempt of court. We further condemn the submissions for his pardon made by a few members of parliament, religious leaders and others who had advocated for his release. Their submission is in direct contradiction with the rule of law and independence of the judiciary, and may contribute to a threat to freedom of expression and freedom of religion of religious and ethnic minorities. If Gnanasara thero is released on Independence Day, it would indicate that the Government supports a culture of impunity for those who engage in the type of human rights violations that Gnanasara thero has been involved in. <\/p>\n

In light of this, we the undersigned urge President Maithripala Siresena to; <\/p>\n

(a)\tGuarantee that Gnanasara thero will not be released on 4th of February 2019, and any plans to do so are immediately terminated;<\/p>\n

(b)\tDirect all agencies involved to expedite investigations into the alleged crimes committed by Gnanasara thero including in Aluthgama 2014 and prosecute him before ordinary courts with all guarantees of fair trial and without recourse to the death penalty.<\/p>\n

Signatories;<\/p>\n

Individuals<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

1.\tAbdul Ramees
\n2.\tAjita Kadirgamar
\n3.\tAmalini De Sayrah
\n4.\tAmeena Hussein
\n5.\tAmeer Faaiz
\n6.\tAnberiya Hanifa \u2013 Activist
\n7.\tAneesa Kathankudi \u2013 President, Islamic Women’s Association for Research
\nand Empowerment
\n8.\tAngelica Chandrasekaran
\n9.\tAnithra Varia
\n10.\tAnnouchka Wijesinghe
\n11.\tAnthony Jesudasan
\n12.\tAnuradha Rajaretnam
\n13.\tAnushaya Collure
\n14.\tAruna Shantha Nonis
\n15.\tAsh Rizvi
\n16.\tB. Gowthaman
\n17.\tBhavani Fonseka
\n18.\tBuhary Mohamed – Human Rights Activist
\n19.\tC. Perera
\n20.\tC. Ranitha Gnanarajah \u2013 Attorney-at-Law
\n21.\tChandra Jayaratne
\n22.\tChandraguptha Thenuwara
\n23.\tChandrika De Silva
\n24.\tChannaka Jayasinghe
\n25.\tCharith De Silva
\n26.\tChulani Kodikara
\n27.\tDamith Chandimal
\n28.\tDeanne Uyangoda
\n29.\tDeborah Philip
\n30.\tDeekshya Illangasinghe
\n31.\tDenver Mark Peterson
\n32.\tDeshamanya Godfrey Yogarajah – CEO, Alliance Development Trust
\n33.\tDevaka Weerasinghe – University Student
\n34.\tDileni Gunewardena – University of Peradeniya
\n35.\tDinushika Dissanayake
\n36.\tDorin Rajani
\n37.\tDr. A.C. Visvalingam – Retired Engineering Consultant
\n38.\tDr. Ameer Ali
\n39.\tDr. Arjuna Parakrama
\n40.\tDr. L. Solomons – Language Matters
\n41.\tDr. Mareena Reffai
\n42.\tDr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
\n43.\tDr. Ranil D. Guneratne
\n44.\tDr. Sepali Kottegoda
\n45.\tDr. Wijaya Jayatilaka – Kandy
\n46.\tEmil van der Poorten – A supporter of Human Rights
\n47.\tEvangeline Shanthini Ekanayake
\n48.\tF. Raajan
\n49.\tF. Zackariya
\n50.\tFabian Ananthamoorthy
\n51.\tFahad Farook
\n52.\tFarah Mihlar
\n53.\tFawzil Amir
\n54.\tFazal Izzadeen
\n55.\tFlorine Marzook – Independent Researcher
\n56.\tGamini Ruberu
\n57.\tGanga Wijesingha
\n58.\tGayathri Gamage
\n59.\tGeoffrey Alagaratnam \u2013 President\u2019s Counsel & past President, Bar Association of Sri Lanka
\n60.\tGodfrey Malarnesan
\n61.\tHarini Amarasuriya – Open University of Sri Lanka
\n62.\tHarshini Ranasinghe
\n63.\tHasanah Cegu Isadeen
\n64.\tHemamali Wijesinghe
\n65.\tHerman Kumara
\n66.\tHimani Wijemanne
\n67.\tHyshyama Hamin
\n68.\tIan Ferdinands
\n69.\tIffath Shibly – Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum
\n70.\tImran Rajabdeen
\n71.\tImtiaz Muhsin
\n72.\tIndika Ruwan
\n73.\tIndrakanthi Perera
\n74.\tIshara Danasekara
\n75.\tIsuru Perera
\n76.\tJ. Tariq Mahmud \u2013 Banker
\n77.\tJake Oorloff
\n78.\tJansila Majeed – Women’s Rights Activist
\n79.\tJayantha Dhanapala – Retired Ambassador and former UN Under-Secretary-General
\n80.\tJayanthi Kuru-Utumpala
\n81.\tJehanki Anandha
\n82.\tJiffry Pakeermohideen
\n83.\tJoanne Senn
\n84.\tJoseph Jeevanantham
\n85.\tJovanka Jayaweera
\n86.\tJudith Dharmaratne
\n87.\tJuwairiya Mohideen – Women’s Rights Activist
\n88.\tK. Aingkaran – Attorney-at-Law
\n89.\tK. Hemalatha
\n90.\tK. Nihal Ahamed
\n91.\tK.N. Abeygunawardana – Independent Consultant
\n92.\tK.P. Somalatha
\n93.\tKalani Subasinghe
\n94.\tKamani Jinadasa – Women’s Rights Activist
\n95.\tKaushalya Herath
\n96.\tKimaya De Silva
\n97.\tKumudini Samuel
\n98.\tKushlani Lane
\n99.\tLakmali Hemachandra
\n100.\tLakshman Gunasekara \u2013 Journalist
\n101.\tLucille Abeykoon
\n102.\tM.I.S. Marikar
\n103.\tM.I.T. Aathifa – Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum
\n104.\tM.T.R. Akbar
\n105.\tMahalaxumy Kurushanthan – Women’s Rights Activist
\n106.\tMahendran Thiruvarangan – University of Jaffna
\n107.\tMahesh Senaratne
\n108.\tMario de Soyza
\n109.\tMario Gomez
\n110.\tMarisa de Silva
\n111.\tMark Susan
\n112.\tMazeena Faiz
\n113.\tMegara Tegal
\n114.\tMilhan Ikram Mohamed – Attorney-at-Law
\n115.\tModestus de Silva
\n116.\tMohamed Anifa
\n117.\tMohamed Othman
\n118.\tMohamed Suhood – Accountant
\n119.\tMohan Nagarajah
\n120.\tMujeebur Rahman (LLB)
\n121.\tMunza Mushtaq
\n122.\tNaina Mohamed Saroor
\n123.\tNatasha Fernandopulle
\n124.\tNihal de Silva
\n125.\tNilkanta Fernandopulle – Sri Lanka Counsellors and Complementary Therapists
\n126.\tNilshan Fonseka
\n127.\tNissanka Rajapaksa
\n128.\tNuradh Joseph
\n129.\tP. Selvaratnam
\n130.\tP.N. Singham
\n131.\tPaba Deshapriya
\n132.\tPadma Pushpakanthi
\n133.\tPrashanthi Mahindaratne \u2013 Attorney-at-Law
\n134.\tPrema Gamage
\n135.\tPriyanthie de Silva
\n136.\tProf. Camena Guneratne \u2013 Open University of Sri Lanka
\n137.\tProf. Jayantha Seneviratne
\n138.\tProf. Kumar David
\n139.\tProf. Maithree Wickremesinghe
\n140.\tProf. Qadri Ismail
\n141.\tProf. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole – Member, Election Commission
\n142.\tProf. Sitralega Maunaguru – Batticaloa
\n143.\tRaisa Wickrematunge
\n144.\tRajany Chandrasegaram
\n145.\tRanmalie Fernando
\n146.\tRehab Mahamoor
\n147.\tRev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos
\n148.\tRev. Fr. M. Sathivel – Orumee Up-country Civil Society Forum & Co-ordinator, Up-
\n country Social Research Centre
\n149.\tRev. Fr. Nandana Manatunga
\n150.\tRev. Fr. Reid S. Fernando (Retired)
\n151.\tRev. Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda
\n152.\tRev. Fr. V. Yogeswaran
\n153.\tRev. Sr. Christine
\n154.\tRev. Sr. Ethel Fernando HF
\n155.\tRev. Sr. Helen Fernando HF
\n156.\tRev. Sr. Jeyam
\n157.\tRev. Sr. Mala Fernando, Superior HF
\n158.\tRev. Sr. Naali Janzs HF
\n159.\tRev. Sr. Nichola
\n160.\tRev. Sr. Rasika Pieris HF
\n161.\tRev. Sr. Sylvia
\n162.\tRio Ziegelaar
\n163.\tRita De Silva
\n164.\tRohan Abeyratne
\n165.\tRohini Hensman – (Writer and Researcher)
\n166.\tRoshaan Hettiaratchi – Attorney-at-Law
\n167.\tRoshan Dharmaratne
\n168.\tRoshan Mendis
\n169.\tRoshini Atukorala – Women’s Rights Activist
\n170.\tRosmarina Fernando
\n171.\tRuki Fernando
\n172.\tRumala Morel – University Lecturer
\n173.\tRuvan Weerasinghe – University of Colombo
\n174.\tRuvin de Silva
\n175.\tRuwanthie de Chickera
\n176.\tS. Easwary
\n177.\tS. Ithayarani \u2013 Women\u2019s Action Network (WAN) member, Trincomalee
\n178.\tS. Nirmaladevi
\n179.\tS. Niventhini
\n180.\tS. Tharshan
\n181.\tSaadiqa Fauz
\n182.\tSabra Zahid
\n183.\tSakuntala Mohini Sachithanandan
\n184.\tSakuntala Kadirgamar
\n185.\tSampath Samarakoon
\n186.\tSandun Thudugala
\n187.\tSandya Priyangani Ekneligoda
\n188.\tSanjana Hattotuwa
\n189.\tSanjayan Rajasingham
\n190.\tSanjeev Visvanathan
\n191.\tSarah Arumugam
\n192.\tSarala Emmanuel – Batticaloa
\n193.\tSelvaraja Rajasegar
\n194.\tSenel Wanniarachchi
\n195.\tShalomi Daniel
\n196.\tSham Nawaz
\n197.\tSharmila Seyyid – Chairwomen, Mantra Life
\n198.\tShehan De Alwis
\n199.\tSheila Richards
\n200.\tShenali De Silva
\n201.\tShirani Ratnaweera
\n202.\tShivantha Rathnayake
\n203.\tShiyan Jayaweera
\n204.\tShreen Saroor
\n205.\tSiraj Cader
\n206.\tSirimal Peiris
\n207.\tSithy Fahima Rizvan Sahabdeen
\n208.\tSrinath Perera – General Secretary, Free Trade Union Centre
\n209.\tSubathra Yogasingham
\n210.\tSubha Wijesiriwardena – Women and Media Collective (WMC)
\n211.\tSuchith Abeyewickreme
\n212.\tSunanda Deshapriya
\n213.\tSunel Dias
\n214.\tSuren D. Perera
\n215.\tT. Mathuri \u2013 Attorney-at-Law
\n216.\tThassim Junkeer
\n217.\tThushari Madahapola
\n218.\tThyagi Ruwanpathirana
\n219.\tUdaya Kalupathirana
\n220.\tV. Shamini
\n221.\tV. Sinthuka
\n222.\tV. Thayalini
\n223.\tVanie Simon – Women’s Rights Activist
\n224.\tVaruna Mallawarachchi – Attorney-at-Law
\n225.\tVenuri Perera
\n226.\tVimukthi de Silva
\n227.\tVraie Cally Balthazaar
\n228.\tWaradas Thiyagaraja \u2013 University of Colombo
\n229.\tYajna Sanguhan
\n230.\tYamini Ravindran – Attorney-at-Law
\n231.\tYoga Selliah
\n232.\tZahabia A. Adamaly
\n233.\tZainab Ibrahim <\/p>\n

Organisations<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

234.\tAffected Women’s Forum (AWF), Ampara
\n235.\tCentre for Justice and Change (CJC), Trincomalee
\n236.\tCentre for Policy Alternatives (CPA)
\n237.\tFamilies Relief Sri Lanka Trust
\n238.\tHashtag Generation
\n239.\tHuman Elevation Organization (HEO)
\n240.\tHuman Rights Office (HRO), Kandy
\n241.\tINFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre
\n242.\tInternational Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES)
\n243.\tMannar Women’s Development Federation (MWDF)
\n244.\tMuslim Women\u2019s Development Trust (MWDT), Puttalam
\n245.\tNational Fisheries Solidarity Organization (NAFSO)
\n246.\tNorthern Muslim Civil Society
\n247.\tRural Development Foundation
\n248.\tVallamai Travelers, Jaffna
\n249.\tWomen and Media Collective (WMC)
\n250.\tWomen for Justice and Peace in Sri Lanka
\n251.\tWomen’s Action Network (WAN)
\n252.\tWomen’s Coalition for Disaster Management (WCDM), Batticaloa<\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Text of a petition signed by 233 Individuals and 19 Organizations Urging President Sirisena not to issue a Presidential pardon on February 4th Independence day to Convicted prisoner Bodu Bala Sena Gnanasara Thero) We, the undersigned civil society organisations and individuals are increasingly concerned by reports that Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara thero (hereinafter Gnanasara thero) may …<\/p>\n

Continue reading ‘233 Individuals and 19 Organizations Sign Petition Urging President Sirisena not to Pardon Convicted Prisoner Bodu Bala Sena Gen -Secy Gnanasara Thero on Feb 4 Independence Day.’ »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62788"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=62788"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62788\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62789,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62788\/revisions\/62789"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=62788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=62788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=62788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}