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Protests in Jaffna against Presidential pardon excluding local fishermen
The fishing community yesterday staged a protest in Jaffna town demanding a Presidential pardon for three fishermen convicted for smuggling drugs from India.
The protest came three days after President Mahinda Rajapaksa pardoned five Indian nationals who were convicted of the same offence. The protestors carried placards and chanted slogans and marched to the office of Minister Douglas Devananda, where they met him.
Niluxi Gnanapirakasam, 22, wife of one of the local fishermen convicted, said they were given an assurance by Minister Devananda that he will take up this matter with President Rajapaksa and give them a positive message by next Tuesday. She said they have also sent a petition through the Bishop of Jaffna Rev Thomas Savundranayagam to the President, seeking the release of the local fishermen.
“They were arrested on the same charges and found guilty in the same case. If they can release those five Indian nationals from this case, why can’t they
release our husbands?” she queried. Muththuraja Kamal Christian (38) Gnanapirakasam Thusanthan (28), both from Kurunagar and Christhurasa Gilmetraj (25) from Mandaithivu, are the Sri Lanka fishermen convicted and sentenced to death for smuggling 953 grams of heroin.
Meanwhile, the Indo-Lanka Fishermen Welfare Forum leader N. Devadas told the Sunday Times that, they met the Indian External Affairs Minister this week and urged her to release the Sri Lankan nationals in Indian jails, including an individual sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for drug trafficking. The five Indian nationals were released after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to President Rajapaksa.
An appeal filed on behalf of the five Indian fishermen was withdrawn on Tuesday, (18), after President Rajapaksa apprised the Indian High Commission that the appeals needed to be withdrawn, in order to consider a Presidential pardon. Justice Ministry Secretary Kamalani de Silva said the President had decided to grant a remission of the sentence passed on the five Indian nationals, while the conviction remains, she added.
The five Indians met with Indian High Commissioner Y.K. Sinha before they left to India, and received a grand welcome on their return.