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Group tears down black flag protests
View(s):Black flag protests organised by the Catholic Church were held throughout the country yesterday to voice pain and disgust at the government’s alleged unwillingness to establish the truth behind the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
While the protest was observed silently and peacefully in most places, one incident was reported from the Wattala area where a group allegedly led by the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman had cut down flags being put up by protesters.
Black flags were hoisted in the vicinity of churches yesterday while banners calling on the government not to cover up the truth behind the terror attacks too were visible. Black flags were also seen at houses, shops and other buildings, mainly in areas with a large Catholic community.
One incident was reported at Maththumagala, Wattala on Friday night where a group allegedly led by a local politician had cut down black flags that were being put up near the Pradeshiya Sabha premises.
Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Thiyagi Alwis told the Sunday Times he was not present at the scene as claimed by social media, but one of their former council members had a dispute over putting up black flags near the council.
Yesterday’s protest followed one on March 7 where worshipers arrived at churches dressed in black ahead of the second anniversary of the attacks.
Church services were also held yesterday in memory of the victims of the attacks, including one led by Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith.
The Archbishop had called on Catholics to observe the day by holding silent protests and without congregating together due to the pandemic.
The protest was being held as neither the Catholic Church nor the community was satisfied with the progress made in efforts to uncover the conspiracy behind the Easter attacks, Rev Fr Cyril Gamini Fernando told the Sunday Times.
While the Attorney General recently asked the Chief Justice to appoint a trial-at-bar to hear indictments against 25 accused connected to the attacks, Rev Fr Fernando said there were still many unanswered questions regarding the wider conspiracy behind the attacks. “There is no transparency regarding the investigation. We are still focused on trying to obtain justice for the victims here, but if that fails, we will be forced to take our efforts to the international community,” he stressed.
He revealed that steps have already been taken to inform the Vatican regarding the present state of affairs and said the church was hopeful of some developments on that front in the near future.