Columns

•  Peaceful protest outside President’s Mirihana residence turns violent; Govt’s spin doctors’ move to link Islamic extremism with the protest backfires
• President holds crucial meeting with coalition MPs to discuss the deepening crisis; most MPs give a skip to SLPP meeting with Basil
• President preoccupied with finding foreign exchange to pay for fuel shipments; ship agent turns down request for deferred payment
• No signs of early relief from IMF; three-member advisory group appointed to advice President
•  Jaishankar satisfied with progress being made in efforts to find solutions to Tamil issues; urges TNA to be pro-active

The Mirihana protest: Controversy rages over what caused a peaceful protest to turn violent

Sri Lanka continues to sink into a morass as public protests continue countrywide over increasing food, fuel shortages, power cuts, and the non-availability of LPG (cooking gas) among others.

On Thursday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa could not spend the night at his private residence at Pangiriwatte Road in Mirihana. However, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, insisted at a news conference on Friday that he was at home. More than 1,500 people, mostly middle-class residents from Nugegoda area, staged a protest. Among the slogans they shouted was one asking him to quit. They also alleged that his government was corrupt.  Others included: “Prosperity for rulers while hardship for people” and “Country is for all and not for one family.”

After more than two hours, a section of the crowd attempted to break through the barricade ahead of the President’s private residence. At one point, they managed to roll down a barricade but their advance further was slowed by Police commandos with wicker shields and batons. When that section of the crowd became restless, Police fired teargas. An anti-riot squad that was in place directed water cannons. More than 55 persons have been arrested.

The President’s Office claimed in an official statement, “It has been revealed that a group of organised extremists who were among the protesters near the Jubilee Post in Nugegoda had started a riot and created a violent situation. This group, carrying iron bars, clubs, and sticks, had provoked the protesters, and marched towards the President’s residence in Pangiriwatta in Mirihana, causing a riot. Many of those involved in this violent incident have been arrested and many have been identified as organised extremists. They had led the protest shouting the slogans; let’s create an Arab Spring in this country. Detainees have revealed that the riot was carried out using social media anonymously to provoke the people to destabilise the country.”

Extremist label

Hard on the heels of the statement, the President’s Media Division also hurriedly arranged a news conference. That event did not bear out what their own news release said about a so-called Arab spring nor about extremists. The remarks had angered Muslims who are with the Government. They complained that the suggestion was that their brethren were involved. Hardline groups were using this to stir up sentiments. The news conference was attended by Ministers Prasanna Ranatunga, Dilum Amunugama and Keheliya Rambukwella. Said Minister Ranatunga: “The word extremist groups have been mentioned not in the context of a religious extremist group, but what we were trying to say is there were extremists with other groups. They are political extremists.”  An embarrassed Ranatunga was trying to give his own interpretation. The Tourism Minister had to be cautious not to frighten tourists from visiting Sri Lanka for fear of extremists.

Added Minister Dilum Amunugama, “I cannot answer questions about the statement from the President’s Media Unit. You will have to ask them. The use of the word extremist is wrong. You can call them terrorists.” Minister Rambukwella joined in to say “The use of the word Arab Spring should be taken in context. You cannot take it in the context related to Muslim or Islamic countries. We have given our own interpretation.”  Even in one single incident, officials and ministers were contradicting each other not knowing what to say. In fact, they had been assembled together hurriedly.

If this was bad enough, Senior Police Media spokesperson, Senior DIG Ajith Rohana had his own news conference. He declared, “The evening had initially started off without incident, with about 200 people initially staging a peaceful demonstration at Jubilee Post in Mirihana, Nugegoda at about 6.00pm. By 9pm, the numbers had swelled, and protesters had moved from there towards Pangiriwatta. Police allowed the protest to proceed.

“The situation, however, had changed by about 10.30pm, with protesters becoming violent, blocking the road, and damaging public property. Police were forced to intervene at this point. First, they advised the protesters to disperse and when that failed, they started using water cannons. When this too failed, police were compelled to fire tear gas and use force to break up the demonstration. There were several who were bleeding, one of them with blood covering his entire face.

“Three police buses were damaged while one was set alight and completely burned. A police trishaw and two motorcycles were also burned, along with a bus belonging to the Sri Lanka Army. The vehicle of the Mirihana Headquarters Inspector (HQI) too was damaged, along with two buses of the police Special Task Force (STF) and one water cannon truck. Private property, including security booths, was also damaged. Initial estimates placed the total damage to property at nearly Rs. 39 million.”

By Friday afternoon, police had arrested 53 suspects – 52 males and a female, in connection with the violence.  The Colombo Crimes Division and the Western Province South Crimes Division are conducting a probe into the incident with assistance from officers of the Scene of Crime (SOCO) Division, Fingerprint Division, and IT Division, he said. Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has opened its own investigation.

The violence had left 24 police officers, including an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), injured. Eighteen of the injured are members of the STF. Nine officers were still being treated at the Kalubowila Hospital, the National Hospital, and the Police Hospital. The SDIG claimed he could not give out details of civilians who were injured in the incident as he did not have those numbers.

On Friday evening, 27 suspects allegedly involved in the mob attacks in Mirihana were produced before the Gangodawila Magistrate Courts. After a lengthy hearing six suspects were remanded until Monday while the remaining were granted bail.

Police informed court that 26 more suspects were receiving treatment in hospitals and would be produced later. The case was taken up by Magistrate Prasanna Alwis. Eight President’s Counsel appeared pro bono on behalf of the suspects and the magistrate was informed that some 400 other lawyers, too, were appearing on behalf of them. The President’s counsel who appeared were Saliya Peiris, Maithri Gunaratne, Anuja Preamaratne, Kalinga Indatissa, Ikram Mohamed, Anura Meddegoda and Tisath Wijegunwardena.

There were emotional scenes outside the courthouse when the bus bringing in the suspects arrived. Crowds cheered and clapped until they alighted. A police officer had to ask lawyers to refrain from clapping inside the precincts of the courts, but the spontaneous reaction was an expression of support for the protestors.  Investigations are underway to ascertain if certain groups conspired to provoke peaceful protesters at the location or through social media into engaging in violence, SDIG Rohana claimed. Investigators were analyzing CCTV footage and other evidence.

President meets Govt. MPs

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa summoned an emergency meeting of the National Security Council on Friday. The events outside his private residence formed the subject of discussion with police officers on call to explain the position about their areas of authority. Steps to be taken were discussed but details cannot be revealed. The decision to declare a State of Emergency was taken by President Rajapaksa at this meeting and promulgated at midnight. The troops now have police powers of arrest or even carry out searches.

President Rajapaksa told ruling coalition MPs during a government parliamentary group meeting on Friday evening that he had throughout asked the Police not to deal harshly with protestors. However, he said he was informed that a peaceful event was taking a nasty turn. He claimed that he asked the Police to take whatever action they deemed necessary to bring the situation under control. That was because there had been an organized group behind. He pointed out that there were many routes leading to his private residence.

The three-hour-long meeting at Temple Trees turned out to be a critical one. It was Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who invited parliamentarians to voice their views. First to speak was Minister Ramesh Pathirana, a co-spokesman for the Cabinet of Ministers. He said the Government had alienated the middle class. They were moving away, and this was a matter of serious concern.  Rising to speak next was newly appointed Minister S.B. Dissanayake. Hardly had he begun his speech by accusing the previous government of the ills of today, when he was jeered and shouted down. He was not allowed to continue with his speech. Hassling continued till he sat down.

Tissa Kutti Aratchchi complained that there was a serious threat for MPs from the ongoing protests and other activities. He called for the imposition of a curfew for two days – Saturday (yesterday) and today (Sunday) when countrywide protests are to be held. Coalition leaders did not respond to the proposal at the meeting. Charitha Herath declared that “we have power with dignity but without ideology.” The situation was like what President Ranasinghe Premadasa and Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike had faced before. “We are in the same situation,” he said. Endorsing this view and elaborating on it were Sudarshini Fernandopulle and Sisira Jayakody. Minister Namal Rajapaksa noted that it was important to test the next 48 hours.

When the meeting was under way, news arrived on the telephone that at that moment the Moratuwa Mayor Samanlal Fernando’s house was being attacked by protestors. Minister Sarath Weerasekera walked up to President Rajapaksa and told him that steps had been taken to provide him security.

The parliamentary group meeting was to be followed by another meeting of the coalition MPs. It was to be chaired by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and held in the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) office. They were to discuss arrangements for the party’s May Day rally. In view of his departure to Washington DC, the meeting was being held early. SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said the venue for the May Day rally would either be the Galle Face Green or the Campbell Park.  Many MPs at the Temple Trees meeting said they would not attend the second event since it was night and unsafe for them to travel. However, a few, mostly Basil loyalists took part.

A surprise development in this regard is a telephone call Sumith Wijesinghe, Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and head of the May Day organising committee gave his former Minister, Udaya Gammanpila. He urged him to forget all differences and take part in the SLPP rally, a call which Gammanpila dismissed with laughter, according to a source close to him. Troubles are not altogether over for the ruling coalition leaders.

The partner parties who have come up with a “road map” for developing Sri Lanka want to have their own May Day rally separately and are planning for it. “We have asked the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to join us. We are awaiting its response,” Udaya Gammanpila, one of the two ministers who were removed from their portfolios said. The other is Wimal Weerawansa whose National Freedom Front (NFF) will also take part. He said the venue was either Kirillapone or the Hyde Park in Colombo. The ten partner parties, he said, “will go ahead with their plans to democratically oust the Government,” he reiterated.

Fuller details of the incident outside the President’s private residence appear elsewhere in this newspaper. I spoke to a few of those who were the first to turn up outside. They spoke strictly on grounds of anonymity for fear of reprisals. “It was a peaceful protest calling upon President Rajapaksa to immediately resolve the problems faced by the people. Some ‘outsiders’ forced their way to wreck our peaceful protest.” Said another, “This is a ruse by somebody to crush future protests.” A third added, “We have suffered all these weeks, but no one has heard our cries. Now, they want us to look like villains bent on violence. This is very dangerous.”

A more disturbing feature is how some journalists, television reporters included, were brutally assaulted by the Police. They were doing their duty covering the event. They are now accused of being participants in the protests that had turned violent. Is this a clever ruse to instill fear into the journalists of the “risks” they face when covering such events. “If they are being cornered for doing their jobs, that is a very dangerous trend and is a serious threat to democracy. The government should not rush into such actions without studying the facts,” said Siri Ranasinghe, President of the Editors Guild of Sri Lanka.

Staging democratic protests without resorting to violence is the right of every citizen. However, in this instance, it must be pointed out that it was outside the private residence of President Rajapaksa. Why the Police, particularly after the protest led by former MP Hirunika Premachandra, did not barricade the area to secure a wide perimeter outside (from the main road turn off) is a serious question. Another is why no regular patrols were not deployed. After all, it is a well-known fact that President Rajapaksa lived there and the need to keep the area under constant check is the responsibility of the Mirihana Police. This is not the first time Mirihana Police have come in for severe criticism. Residents in the area are often reluctant to visit the station for they complain they do not heed their grievances promptly. There have been reports of rising crime and drug abuse cases within their area.

This headquarters police station is barely 300 metres away. Very clearly, panic set in only after the crowds grew in the area. If they had acted early and put into placed regular counter measures, the burning of those vehicles could have been avoided, besides injuries to those present. At the end, the people are made to be the scapegoats. Only a thorough inquiry will reveal the multitude of lapses on the part of the Mirihana Police but whether such a course of action, with a politicized system, is possible remains a critical question.

On Friday, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Pangiriwatte Road to inspect the scene of the protest. The Premier, the eldest among the Rajapaksas, has also been playing the role of a political counsellor of sorts for family members who are frontliners in the ruling coalition. He persuaded one member, holding a very high office, not to take any action which could exacerbate the ongoing crisis. Such a move would have impacted on all other areas of governance and shaken the whole country.

Though highly unusual, President Rajapaksa has been devoting almost all his time finding foreign exchange to pay for urgent procurements. That showed that he had to carry the burden of even Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa. In the recent past, the latter has been seeking Sinhala translations of English documents related to the impending dialogue with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). For the translators, some of the banking jargons have not been that easy and are telephoning different quarters to ascertain Sinhala names.

This week, it was the case of the release of a load of urgently needed fuel. The vessel bringing the stocks had weighed anchor outside the country’s territorial waters until payment was made to it. The President had summoned the agens of the vessel and offered a personal guarantee that payment of US$ 52 million for 32,500 metric tonnes of fuel would be made in the coming days.  He asked him to urge the captain of the vessel to unload his cargo in the meanwhile. However, the agent had explained that it was beyond his means and urged that the payment be made in advance. The vessel in question is said to have left Sri Lanka without unloading. Good luck came in the form of a vessel loaded with 40,000 metric tons of diesel under the Indian credit line arrived at the Colombo Port yesterday.

The inability to obtain fuel earlier, was how the public came to be advised not to queue up outside fuel stations for two days. The message gave no reason, leaving the impression that the delay was a technical issue and not due to nonpayment. Such misleading messages have become all too common. The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has also been using the same tactic to justify extended hours of power cuts. The commission said it was because of excessive usage. What is excessive usage? Do not the great pundits at PUCSL realize that the consumer pays for the electricity he or she uses, and it is they who should determine whether it is excessive or otherwise? It is not provided free by the PUCSL.

President Rajapaksa’s preoccupation daily, finding foreign exchange for procurements, makes clear that the ongoing crisis is far from over. Some leading supermarkets are shutting down their branches. The reason – they are unable to obtain diesel to run the generators. This by itself has led to shortages. One leading supermarket chain has reported eight different break-ins at its outlets in different parts of the country– a pointer that thieving is on the rise. Resultant shortages in food.

IMF assistance

Strange but true, in the light of the desperate situation, the Government appealed to Bangladesh for a further US$ 250 million dollars. The request was also canvassed through Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Abdul Momen who was in Colombo for the BIMSTEC summit. Earlier, Sri Lanka obtained US$ 200 million from Bangladesh and later obtained a deferment in payment.

This situation has become worrisome since there is no known source from which funds are due. The Government has pinned its hopes on support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Any release of funds from the IMF is not likely for months after official level talks. Already President Rajapaksa has appointed a three-member Advisory Committee to assist him in the talks with the IMF. It includes Indrajit Cumaraswamy, a former Governor of the Central Bank, and Shanta Devarajan, a former World Bank economic expert now attached to the Georgetown University. A third was later named on a suggestion by Lalith Weeratunga, Senior Advisor to the President. That is Sharmini Cooray, Director of the Institute for Capacity Development and Director of the IMF Institute. Before heading the Institute, she was Deputy Director in the IMF’s African Department. A tug of war over who should constitute the Sri Lanka delegation to the IMF talks continues. This Committee has already sent in a six-bullet point document to President Rajapaksa.

Jaishankar’s meeting with TNA

A significant event in Colombo this week was the meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM), Subrahmaniyam Jaishanker and a delegation from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).  Jaishankar was in Colombo for the BIMSTEC summit.

“Vanakkam,” intoned Dr Jaishankar greeting TNA leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan last Monday at the India House. He then asked him” Saukiyama?” or are you well.  That was in Tamil. The Indian EAM was born in New Delhi and is one of three sons of Krishnaswamy Subramaniyam and Sulochana Jaishanker who have their origins from Tiruchirapalli and Chennai in Tamil Nadu respectively.

Samapanthan gave an overview of the discussions they had with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on March 18 and asked Sumanthiran to explain the details. Sumanthiran declared that the President and his team wanted to discuss and negotiate a long-term political solution for the Tamil’s demand for devolution of power once the draft constitution is translated within the next two months. This, he declared, was agreed. However, he said, that the President further agreed to resolve several immediate issues faced by the people of North and the East — releasing persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and held over a long term (over 10 years), and the cases of others in custody should reviewed; an immediate halt to land takeover by the military and the Government for reported archaeological investigations, wildlife and forest preservation etc; addressing the need for investigation of the disappeared and establishing a North-East Development Fund. There is no finality on this. However, TNA sources said that they hoped to receive funds from the Tamil diaspora and Tamil Nadu through this mechanism for development purposes.

Jaishankar had nodded in agreement and commented at the end that he felt satisfied that a process of negotiation had started and seemed to be clearly defining scope. He said the Indian government fully supported this process and encouraged the TNA to be proactive. He said for the first time he had heard by and large the same details being shared by the Government side as well as the TNA.

Jaishankar said India would encourage both parties to remain proactively engaged with belief and sincerity. He said President Rajapaksa has assured him that he is fully committed to delivering on the four immediate confidence building measures identified by the TNA as immediate issues to be resolved.

According to sources familiar with the discussion, the TNA team was also advised by a key member of the Indian team to enhance its dialogue with opposition political parties. In other words, it was felt that they were not interacting with the opposition groups very much. A TNA source said the remarks were “very significant” but declined to elaborate. Associated with the meeting was Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay.

TELO Leader Selvam Adaikalanathan intervened and tried to explain his party’s decision to boycott last Friday’s meeting with the President and said in Tamil that if India too was involved in the discussions as a possible mediator, then the TELO might reconsider attending future meetings with the Government. In response, Jaishankar said in Tamil that there were no plans or intentions for any direct involvement of India in any such talks.

Ahead of TNA’s talks with President Rajapaksa, diplomatic sources said, Adaikalanathan had been told to take part in the event. According to these sources, the TELO decision to boycott, despite advice, was the result of one of its key members holding office in a friendship organization where China is involved. However, TELO members deny the charge though they concede one of their top- rungers is a Joint Deputy Chairman of the organization.

In the same week, a delegation from the London-based Global Tamil Forum (GTF) led by Suren Surendiran, a group banned in Sri Lanka, had a meeting with top officials in the US Department of State. A tweet from the Department said: “The US values our relationship with diaspora communities who helped build bridges of understanding between Americans and the rest of the world. Assistant Secretary (David) Lu met with Global Tamil Forum at GTF online to discuss democracy, human rights, and economic challenges in Sri Lanka.”

With the State of Emergency in place, and a 36-hour curfew declared from 6 p.m. Saturday till 6 a.m. tomorrow, the government has already deployed troops district wise. It is determined to ensure no countrywide protests take place today. Thus, the battle lines are clearly drawn between the government and the public who are protesting.

This is whilst considerable international attention is being focused on developments in Sri Lanka, as the following tweets, will indicate:

The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Closely monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka. Out of an abundance of caution …..

The European Union: Concerned by the state of emergency, EU strongly urges Sri Lankan authorities to safeguard democratic rights of all citizens, including right to free assembly and dissent, which has to be peaceful. Challenging times for Sri Lankan people- EU continues to follow situation closely….

Sarah Hulton, British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka: Concerned by reports of the use of force against journalists and protesters, and the recently imposed Emergency Laws. A citizen’s right to protest peacefully is an essential part of democracy.

Julie Chung, United States Ambassador in Sri Lanka: Sri Lankans have a right to protest peacefully – essential for democratic expression. I am watching the situation closely, and hope the coming days bring restraint from all sides, as well as much needed economic stability and relief for those suffering.