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FSP alleges political thuggery unleashed on Rambukkana protestors 

20 Apr 2022

 
  • Claims thugs with backing of local politico also protected by the Police 
  • Demands proof of protestors attempting to set alight bowser
  • Asks why injured have bullet wounds on their backs if orders were to shoot below the knee 
  The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) yesterday (20) claimed that a group of people connected to a local politician was involved in beating up the protestors that were being dispersed by the Police at Rambukkana on Tuesday (19).  “It is very clear that the Police did not have to shoot to disperse people in Rambukkana. It is also very clear that the Police are lying when they say that they used minimum force. They shot at people who were asking for fuel. We know that the protest at Rambukkana was done peacefully,” claimed FSP Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda, while addressing the media yesterday.  “They had obstructed the railway crossing and had stopped a bowser. The protestors had taken their lunch there and when the dinner was being prepared, the Police fired tear gas at them. There are photographs which show that when the Police were firing tear gas at the protestors and chasing them away, a line of motorbikes remained unharmed.  “However, photographs at a later time show the same bikes destroyed. Was it the Police who destroyed these? Or was it a local team of thugs? From what we know, there had been a group of thugs there as well, at that time, connected to a local politician, and protected by the Police.” He questioned as to whether there is proof to show that the protestors attempted to set fire to a fuel bowser, as claimed by the Police.  “The Police also say that a motorbike was set on fire. This is like the recent Mirihana incident, when a bus was set on fire by one individual during a peaceful protest. Similarly, a video in Rambukkana shows two people, wearing helmets, setting fire to a motorbike. There is also another video of a three-wheeler on fire and people in the video claiming that it was the Police who did it,” said Jayagoda.  Jayagoda added that there is another video showing people attempting to stop a fire at a local fuel shed, questioning: “If it was the protestors who were trying to stop the fire, then who tried to set the fire? If the orders were to shoot below the knee, then why do the injured have bullet wounds on their backs? Why are the injured who are giving statements to the media saying that they were selected and then shot by the Police?”  On Tuesday, the Police opened fire at protestors near the Rambukkana railway crossing, resulting in the death of Chaminda Lakshan, and leaving over 30 others injured, with three of them still in critical care.  On 31 March night, a people’s protest was held in Mirihana, Nugegoda, close to the private residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Video reports show an individual setting fire to a bus and protestors attempting to topple the barricades at the entrance to the Pangiriwatta Lane. Tear gas and water cannons were used against the protestors by the Police and 53 suspects were arrested following the incident. Many amongst them have alleged that they were severely assaulted and tortured by the Police and the armed forces, which has since led to a large public outcry. The arrested suspects were later released on bail. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) later claimed that Avant Garde Security Services (Pvt.) Ltd. Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi had sent about 200 people to the Mirihana protest to disrupt it.


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