Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Pray what is going on? Why is there delayed action on justice? Is it a change of heart of just undue pressure from outside?

Everyone who has a pea brain’s knowledge on the law were saying that no matter who pulled the trigger, the fact that Duminda Silva convoy had so many unlicensed weapons was tantamount to the need for an arrest warrant, on the person leading this convoy as otherwise these weapons would not be carried without his approval. Even though the person charged was still undergoing treatment, it was important for the justice system to be seen to be independent for a judge to issue an arrest warrant and guard the patient not only for his protection, but also as a flight risk.

The cavalier way in which he was transported out to Singapore, where the authorities and this I mean the Rajapakse family gave protection for the flight out, has to be condemned. Better late than never, an arrest warrant has been issued by a magistrate even though the person has flown the coop by the grace of the very Government who should be enforcing the law!

I am uncertain if this is just an act and show, so that people in civil society will change their attitudes of ‘the different implementation of the law for different strata of society’. No matter what it is, it shows that finally there will be some accountability of the actions, and that the level of dissatisfaction within the ruling party at the complete impunity with which the legal system has been violated, was getting too hot to handle. It was apparent that even at the Acquisiton Bill only two government spokesman spoke in the debate, as it was difficult and almost impossible to justify putting into law an Act that will destroy business confidence for the sake of a few handouts to yes men!

It is important now that the action is followed up, by issuing a request to the Singapore government to detain and dispatch the suspect back to Sri Lanka, and if he is still in a delicate state, then an air ambulance be used to do the needful. If this follow up action does not take place immediately then the court order amounts to a “hill of beans” in la la land of the lotus eaters, who have been deprived of basic freedoms, and the continual denial of the remaining ones.

The simmering dissatisfaction by the people arising from the original incident is yet to be placated, and time will not let this go by. The groundswell of support within the Bharatha Laksham strongholds of Kottikawatta, Mulleriyawa and Kolonnawa are readying for a war of attrition to seek justice, even if they have to go to International courts, if redress is denied in the local justice system. Do not forget the reason for going overseas is not to be anti-patriotic but that the local justice system is not independent of the executive which is interfering all the way.

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