After night of terror, activists accuse government of smokescreening

•  Footage emerged on social media as well as live broadcasts from the site to show how Police were hesitant to block the Rajapaksa supporters from entering Gotagogama, despite the fact that they bore clubs and batons
• Critics including politicians and civic activists have questioned the sophistication of these attacks which appeared to be coordinated and swift
• Within several hours, nearly 40 houses belonging to members of Parliament and local government institutions were destroyed, and we are perplexed as to how this happened. The movement and coordination appear to be excessive
• The government must accept responsibility for the attacks that were orchestrated by them. In truth, there were a number of attempts to incite the general populace to violence. However, it was resolved before the situation became worse

On May 9, 2022, several hours before former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa announced his resignation, Gotagogama, a peaceful protest site demanding the resignation of the President and Prime Minister,  was attacked. Supporters of Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa marched towards the Presidential Secretariat defiant of the state of emergency declared earlier, to launch an unprovoked attack on peaceful protesters who occupied the Galle Face Green for one month.

Rajapaksa’s supporters arrived at Temple Trees on Monday morning, expressing their unflinching support towards the Prime Minister, demanding Rajapaksa to stay on. Following a defiant speech by the premier, the same supporters were seen launching an attack on Mainagogama, the protest site established at Temple Trees. The Rajapaksa supporters then marched towards Gotagogama, just a few hundred metres away, where a poorly reinforced Police barricade stood waiting.

Even the members of Parliament are frightened. They have refused to attend the session of Parliament, citing security concerns

Footage emerged on social media as well as live broadcasts from the site to show how Police were hesitant to block the Rajapaksa supporters from entering Gotagogama, despite the fact that they bore clubs and batons. A series of violent events unfolded since then, resulting in the death of nine individuals, including a Parliamentarian and two Police personnel.

In Colombo, violent mobs surrounded the Temple Trees, which resulted in a pre-dawn operation to evacuate Rajapaksa where security personnel dispersed thousands of protesters who breached the gates of the Prime Minister’s residence. Elsewhere in the country, houses of Rajapaksa loyalists including parliamentarians were torched, recording at least 136 cases of property damage according to the Ministry of Defence. Critics including politicians and civic activists have questioned the sophistication of these attacks which appeared to be coordinated and swift. The Daily Mirror spoke to the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) whose participation in a number of public protests were heavily criticised by the ruling faction, but were welcomed by protesters on the ground. 

“Government must accept responsibility for the attacks” -
Former IUSF Convener Lahiru Weerasekara
“There was widespread opposition to the attack on Gotagogama from citizens. Following that, a wave of protests and opposition erupted across the country. However, people who are truly in need do not have the resources to obtain such high quantities of fuel or to coordinate their efforts.

These fires are nothing more than smokescreens for the government’s ambitions. They are working on a significant plan”

Within several hours, nearly 40 houses belonging to members of Parliament and local government institutions were destroyed, and we are perplexed as to how this happened. The movement and coordination appear to be excessive.

The current ground situation is that people are unable to complete their vital daily duties because they lack fuel. All the properties owned by these legislators are heavily guarded. In the midst of these fires, where were all of the security officers on duty? Who knows how they managed to get away without being caught.

It is important that history should not repeat itself”

Police in Rambukkana opened fire on locals after they allegedly attempted to ignite an oil bowser, which we all remember. When all of these houses were set on fire, how can we believe the cops remained silent? So, who was living in these houses, and where were they located? Do you think that everyone escaped because they had received a tip that individuals were coming to set their properties on fire, and that was the only way they could have gotten away?

There was not even a single servant, gardener, or even a pet dog present when the fires were started at those residences. This does seem a little suspicious, don’t you think? What do they want us to believe is that this government, which is headed by a former military officer and is led by numerous former military officials in a variety of prominent ministries, has been sitting around cluelessly waiting and watching the entire time?

Police will try their level best to shoot below the knee  level. That is the procedure here. Unfortunately it hit the stomach or  something, because every policeman is not a marksman”

The government must accept responsibility for the attacks that were orchestrated by them. In truth, there were a number of attempts to incite the general populace to violence. However, it was resolved before the situation became worse. We are glad of that development. Even when the goons stormed the Galle Face, our demonstrators remained calm and deliberate. These fires are nothing more than smokescreens for the government’s ambitions. They are working on a significant plan.”

All of the properties owned by these legislators are  heavily guarded. In the midst of these fires, where were all of the  security officers on duty?”

“If people resort to violence, not a single lawyer will be able to defend them” -
Former Human Rights Commissioner and Attorney-at-Law Prathiba Mahanamahewa
“People have been roused to action. It is important that history should not repeat itself. People are not allowed to take the law into their own hands. If people take the law into their own hands, as has happened in Somalia, the result will be anarchy and unrest. If people resort to violence, not a single lawyer will be able to defend them.

Considering all the limited resources we have available, everyone should come together on a shared platform to produce solutions. Now, even the members of Parliament are frightened. They have refused to attend the session of Parliament, citing security concerns. So, how can we pass legislation and institute reform? Immediately, all of the opposition parties should get together and establish a single platform on which to build a comprehensive strategy. People should refrain from acting on the basis of their emotions.” 

Journalists question legitimacy of Ministry of Defence following Cabinet dissolution

In light of the troubling developments this week the Ministry of Defence held a media briefing yesterday, attended by Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Kamal Gunaratne, Army Commander Shavendra and Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenne. Journalists representing local and foreign media questioned the officials on recent events including the legitimacy of the Ministry of Defence following the dissolution of Cabinet. Excerpts:

Journalist: TNA MP Sumanthiran has stated that all Ministry secretaries cease to hold office when cabinet is dissolved. Your response? 
Kamal Gunaratne: I have not requested this post. I have no desire to remain in this post without any powers to do so. Once the Cabinet was dissolved I was given those powers again, I was appointed legally. The appointment was made after seeking advice from the Attorney General. There is nothing to hide. I have the legal powers to take decisions. I have been appointed and given the powers of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence within the Constitution of Sri Lanka. 

Journalist: There are allegations that the government’s failure to implement law and order in the country has led to the continuation of violence. The government was not hesitant to harass hundreds of people who were violating curfew. But authorities had failed to prevent violent protesters attacking peaceful protests. 
What is your response? 
Kamal Gunaratne: There is a procedure that we should follow. Just because somebody is violating the curfew, we don’t want to go and shoot at people because he is also another fellow Sri Lankan citizen. Whether his intention is a good intention or a malicious intention, we can’t just kill people. 
There are directions to shoot people below the knee. Okay, I will aim at the knee, but accidentally it might hit the stomach. Therefore, there is danger. We don’t want to harm any citizens of this country. That is why we wanted to implement everything step by step. 

Journalist: Through these reports that the former Prime Minister is being protected at the Navy base, the signal that it could send to the protesters is that the military might take the side of the political leaders. If the protests continue demanding the resignation of the President, will the military continue supporting the President, or will they allow the people’s voice? 
Shavendra Silva: Of course the President of this country being elected by the people, with a vote of 6.9 million. There is a procedure in Sri Lanka, according to the Constitution we have to work. I hope that you all should have known about it. 
We as the tri-forces will work according to the Constitution, and we will protect the state. That is what we are going to do, what we’ve been doing and what we will do in the future as well. 

Journalist: Did the intelligence apparatus fail to identify the risks leading up to the mob violence of May 9 and inform accordingly to prevent attacks on the Temple Trees? 
Kamal Gunaratne: The Police were informed that the crowd that came to Temple Trees were en route to Galle Face, only at that time, as far as we know. That is why the Police were called to immediately prevent that. There is an inquiry into this, therefore we won’t comment on it. 

Journalist: Given the kind of attacks against politicians on all sides, what kind of steps would authorities take to protect politicians in future? 
Kamal Gunaratne: The Ministry of Public Security will consider this matter seriously, and they will take necessary steps. Being the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, I’m not in a position (to comment) because it will have to be after a comprehensive discussion between the Secretary of that ministry and the senior police officers. 

Journalist: There were videos posted on social media, where the Police rather than firing in the air, they were targeting various people, civilians, right at the chest level. Would you like to clarify something on that? 
Kamal Gunaratne: We don’t fire at civilians. We start with warning shots. Warning shots mean you have the weapon, rounds are inside, aim at the sky and release one or two shots. If the mob is more violent and their intention is a malicious intention of killing our own fellow citizens, even with that Police will try their level best to shoot below the knee level. That is the procedure here. Unfortunately, it hit the stomach or something, because every policeman is not a marksman.