Field marshal protests over security forces thrashing street agitators

SJB Gampaha District MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka called on people to learn from their counterparts in England if they want to see democracy and righteousness upheld in this country.Participating in the debate on interim budget proposals, Field Marshal Fonseka told Parliament that a Lankan expatriate doctor in London had called him and lamented people not taking to the streets against using police and anti-riot squads on protesting undergraduates.

 “It was so inhumane to watch how the police and anti-riot squads chased away protesters beating them along the way from Maradana to Borella the other day. People should not become roadside viewers when the police attack their fellow countrymen. I was told that if such a thing happened in England, citizens would take to the street and remain there until the IGP resigns. I call on Lankan people to learn from them. If you aspire for the upholding of democracy and righteousness in this country someday you will have to stand up for your rights. The Aragalaya protesters are agitating on behalf of all of us. People must support them,” Field Marshal Fonseka said.

He called on security forces not to thrash undergraduates engaged in protests. “Security force members also have children. These children are engaged in a righteous campaign. They should not be beaten mercilessly to make the rulers happy. All the officers who engaged in suppression of Aragalaya activists will have to pay for their crimes. Not only they, but also their children will have to pay for these crimes. Members of the legal fraternity will file FR cases against them. People should go before the Human Rights Commission against unjust activities of those who attack people exercising their right to dissent.“

 “I call on international community to come forward to stop this state-terrorism. They should not support this government until it continues to use the military and police to suppress people. This is an anti-people government. I call on Lankan expatriates not to send any dollars to this country until this government continues to oppress people. We may die of hunger but we must fight to get rid of these thieves.

 “The government would not be able to resurrect the collapsed economy because they are still engaged in stealing from the public purse. They are milking a dying cow. In the meantime, they boast of increasing the Samurdhi benefit allowance for 700,000 families. Giving handouts to the public is not such a heroic act to boast of. The government should be ashamed of its inability to get those 700,000 families to become a source of income generation rather than living on handouts. If we go at this rate, there will soon be a day that all the citizens get entitled for Samurdhi allowance. The president too will have to live on Samurdhi.

“People are suffering many hardships because of the economic crisis. They have to come down from their normal lifestyles as they cannot match their expenses with the salaries they get because of high inflation. “I had a secretary who used to come to work by car. Now he cannot afford the car. He has opted to use a scooter. He was formerly an officer who had commanded a brigade in the Army. Though he earns around 150,000 rupees a month plus his pension, he cannot afford to use a car. This is a reminder for the security force officers. Soon the officers retiring will have to come down from their high offices to that. If we could not change this, the present-day brigadiers and generals will have to use scooters. Therefore, when these officers attack aragalaya activists must keep in their minds that they too one day will have to come down from their cars to scooters if this government continues,” the Field Marshal said.