SJB accused of playing race card for cheap political mileage

By Saman Indrajith

The SJB was accused of playing the race card for narrow political gains, in Parliament, yesterday.

 Justice Minister Ali Sabry said that SJB Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri had attempted to make use of sub judice issue of Dr Safi Sahabdeen of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital allegedly performing sterilisation surgeries on Sinhala women to score political points at the cost of raising racism in Parliament.

A question by MP Wijesiri had been listed in yesterday’s Order Paper. He has demanded to know from the government the names and addresses of the lawyers who appeared in courts on behalf of Dr Safi and the courses of action taken against that doctor so far and the course of action that would be taken to ensure the aggrieved mothers would get justice.

Asked whether the Minister was aware of the allegations against Dr Safi, Minister Sabry said that he had come to know of the issue from the media.

Asked to inform the House of the names and addresses of the lawyers appearing for Doctor Safi, Minister Sabry said that the matter was beyond his ministry’s purview. It was a matter up to the accused doctor to decide on the lawyers to represent him. There were 795,000 cases pending before the courts and the Justice Ministry did not maintain records of the names of counsel appearing in each of those cases. The Ministry was supporting only the judicial system and providing infrastructural support for the maintenance of the system. Neither the Justice Minister nor the ministry had powers to intervene in affairs of cases being heard in the courts, the minister said.

MP Wijesiri: I did not ask about the case and its proceedings. I just asked for the names and addresses of the lawyers appearing for Dr Safi. I’ve been in Parliament for long enough to understand what sub judice is. If not from the Ministry of Justice from whom we could get the answer. On the other hand, the issue related to Dr Safi that created a public outcry, which was one of the main reasons why the SLPP won the last general election.

 Minister Sabry: If the MP needs to find out such details he could get them by asking for a certified copy from the particular court after paying the due amount for that. We do not get involved in cases as the way the former government did. We do not give calls to judges the way it did. We also do not create courts targeting specific persons.

MP Wijesiri: Now, you talk big. Let’s see where you would be once the 20th Amendment is passed.

Minister Sabry: You are asking about a case pending before a court. How could I give a response to you?

 MP Wijesiri: Let’s see what will be the future of suit-wearing President’s Counsel when the 20th Amendment becomes the law.

 Minister Sabry: Do I need to dress like you. I dress the way I like. My dress has nothing to do with this. Do not play the race card. You are instigating racism. See the content of your question. This is motivated by racism. Your party talks of co-existence while promoting racism here.

 SJB MP Thushara Indunil: The way the minister responded is not acceptable. He acts like a thug.

 SLPP MP Mohamed Muzammil: As per the Standing Orders a question could not be raised on the matter pertaining to a case pending before the court. That is against Standing Orders. How this question entered into the order paper is questionable.

 Chief Government Whip Minister Johnston Fernando: Justice Minister has come in a proper dress. It is wrong to denigrate him because he is wearing a tie and coat. What is wrong with dressing like that?