Govt. resorting to ‘white van culture’ sooner than expected: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said yesterday they expected that ‘white van culture’ and undemocratic actions would take place under this government, but they never expected such things would happen so soon.

JVP MP Sunil Hadunnetti told a news conference that it was serious that abductions had started when an employee of the Swiss Embassy was abducted, as well as the transfer of FCID Director Shani Abeysekara, saying that it was a warning to other institutions as well.

He said such undemocratic actions should be nipped in the bud and added that civil society groups, Maha Sangha and those who valued democratic principles should come forward against these actions as it was against the mandate.

“People gave the mandate to President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to build a secured country and a healthy economy. He cannot take arbitrary decisions. He should respect the mandate,” he said.

Mr. Hadunnetti said CID officers who conducted investigations against politicians have had to leave the country for protection, whereas President Rajapaksa and the present government promised to ensure the security of state officials and security personnel.

“Ensuring national security does not mean suppressing officials whom the government does not like and appointing officials partial to them. Politicians should face the investigations and prove their innocence before the judiciary instead of trying to change evidence, forcing others to withdraw evidence and mediating in the activities of the Attorney General in fear of investigations against them,” he said.

He said it was thieves who fled the country in fear of police earlier but today it is the police who have had to flee the country in fear of thieves.

“CID official Nishantha Silva who conducted investigations with regard to the killing of Lasantha Wickrematunge, several corruption cases and abduction of 11 youth, had to leave the country for his safety. Those who were involved in the Central bank Bond scam were free,” he said. (Ajith Siriwardana)