The UNP yesterday reiterated their call for an independent Police Commission and Constitutional Commission through the 17th Amendment, claiming that blatant violations of the law are taking place in the run up to the North Western and Central Province Elections. With claims that innocent supporters in the Central Province have been ordered to be arrested, and claims of threats made by the Police to UNP supporters, the UNP called for a stop to ‘state terrorism’.

UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella stated at a press conference yesterday that the government in the wake of losing popularity in Nuwara Eliya, had issued orders to the Police Stations of the area to round up close to 1000 UNP supporters. He charged that a fax containing the names of these 1000 supporters had been sent to all Police Stations in the Nuwara Eliya district ordering the Police officers to arrest these individuals immediately.

“The supporters on the lists are helpers of two UNP MPs in the North Central Province, Sathasivam Digambaran and Ravindran Ganeshan,” Kiriella informed. “And these 1000 men have done nothing wrong. We are upset at the news that their names have been faxed to the Police stations in Nuwara Eliya. While the terrorism of the North is being fought and defeated, the ‘state terrorism’ of the South is increasing with these acts.”

Kiriella explained that support in the Central Province has been veering towards the UNP, due to the difficulties faced by the masses through the current regime. “Poverty has increased by 50% among the estate workers: they have no work after the crash in the tea industry: the young men who come to the cities are arrested. In the face of these hardships their only consolation is freedom. But even freedom is denied to these people with such incidents.”

Kiriella called for the government to stop propagating state terrorism in the guise of stopping the terrorists of the North. “We have seen MPS killed and media personnel killed, and no in- depth investigations to see who’s responsible. There have been millions of rupees in state funds that have gone to waste, and laws have been violated with incidents like the one we witnessed in Nuwara Eliya this week. We ask the government to stop such acts.” Kiriella claims that the UNP’s struggles in the last three-four years to implement the 17th Amendment is important now more than ever. “We want to see an independent Police Commission which could work to protect the masses without interference. As it is, they are controlled by those right on top. Even if they wanted to do what’s right, they cannot.”

Kiriella also clarified details regarding the case of UNP Puttalam MP Palitha Ranga Bandara whose vehicle was seized after 16 rounds of ammunition was found in it last week. “The vehicle in question, 61-1211 did not belong to Ranga Bandara and was a rented vehicle, a fact brought forward in courts today. However, we have just learnt that the DIG of Police had called up Ranga Bandara’s security personnel named Ranjith and ordered him to file a Police complaint against Ranga Bandara.”

He went on to explain that Ranjith refused to file the complaint, and was then threatened by the DIG with the threat of a white van being sent to get him if he didn’t comply. “Now you know where the white vans originate from,” Kiriella stated. Ranjith has since, filed a written complaint at the Police Headquarters against the DIG. Ranga Bandara has also filed a case at the Puttalam Magistrate (Case No. 16-150) against the authorities who had attempted to fabricate evidence against him.

“We do not blame the Police. We know the Police Force comprises good men who are helpless because the Force is not independent,” he said.

Kiriella called for the 17th Amendment to be implemented so that a proper legal framework can be established, within which honest men can do their duty and protect those who need to be protected.