Colombo protest against UN ends in failure
By Damith Wickremasekara
National Freedom Front supporters, led by Minister Wimal Weerawansa, marched to the UN office in Colombo on Tuesday, launching a protest campaign which eventually set off a chain of reactions during the week.
They were carrying placards with some of them reading “Hands off Sri Lanka” “Moon – Double Standards”, “Scrap the UN Panel”. Others displayed caricatures, with one of them depicting President Barack Obama with the UN Chief.
An effigy, paraded by the protesters, had a board strapped on it saying ‘Ban Ki-Moon’. After a noisy protest, the group broke through the police barriers and approached the UN gates, which were closed. A few yards away, they set fire to the effigy.
The group then hurriedly put up a tent opposite the gate of the UN office. They soon realised that a CCTV camera was right above them. A protester, standing on top of the gate, tried to cover it with a plastic bag. But his efforts were not successful.
Soon one of the NFF activists arrived there, armed with black paint and sprayed it around the camera which might have blocked the filming process.
By this time, protesters had surrounded building, preventing the UN staff from leaving or entering the premises. Some people visiting the UN office were also trapped inside and were forced to remain there throughout the day.
Addressing his supporters, Weerawansa condemned the UN advisory panel on Sri Lanka. “We will continue our protest until the panel is withdrawn,” the Minister declared. “They are starting with a panel but would end up with a war crimes tribunal,” he charged.
Some 100 policemen including riot squads were also at the scene. Tension mounted in the evening when the UN staff members were trying to leave the premises. The UN office made a request to police to clear the way for the staff. But the protesters refused to oblige.
A senior police officer discussed the issue with NFF official Mohammed Muzamil because the gates had to be opened so that people could leave the office in their vehicles. “Tell them to leave their vehicles and walk out by foot and come later to take their vehicles,” he responded.
Police also took preventive measures to block some protesters from entering the UN compound by scaling the gate. A police team was deployed inside the compound to prevent people from storming the building.
Police and NFF supporters clashed as police took steps to provide a safe passage for the exiting UN staff. Most of them were young police recruits.
Senior police officers were heard shouting “Do not attack the people. We do not have orders to hit them”.
Some of them were seen assaulting Piyasiri Wijenayaka. “Don’t hit him. He is a former MP,” shouted an NFF activist.
Police were seen carrying him away and placed him under a tree. He was later removed to a hospital in the city. Police then formed a human chain to help the UN staff to leave the office in about 15 vehicles. Some unruly protesters jeered at the UN employees as they left the office.
Mr Weerawansa returned to the scene around 5.30pm and was alerted about the police assault.
“Kauwda munta yanna dunne? Koyi ekada ape kattiyata gehewe (Who is the fellow who allowed the staff to go; Who is the fellow who hit our supporters?),” he thundered.
His party supporters tried to identify the policemen who assaulted them. “We will not allow a single person to leave the office until Ban Ki-moon removes the panel,” Weerawansa remarked. “We understand that one of the police officers had spoken to the people at the UN and thereafter assaulted our supporters. We will find him,” he said.
Mr Weerawansa then called the IGP and asked him to order the policemen to leave the area. Minutes later, he made another call and started a conversation. He then walked up to Senior DIG K. P. P. Pathirana who was standing about 20 metres away and handed the phone to him saying that the Defence Secretary was on line.
The phone was on speaker mode so that others could hear the conversation. People at the scene, who overheard the conversation, claimed that clear instructions were given to DIG Pathirana to withdraw the police. He was heard saying “OK, Sir”.
As the DIG returned the phone, Weerawansa reportedly shoved the DIG while a few others pounced on the senior officer with one of them hitting his cap off. A fellow police officer picked it up. Another NFF supporter pulled him by his uniform while others punched him. Policemen intervened to save him. The DIG was seen limping away and policemen withdraw to some 100 metres away from the protest site.
Police trucks also pulled out from the area.
At 6.15pm, External Affairs Ministry Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe arrived at the scene to talk to the protesters. He urged them to allow the remaining UN staff to leave the office. Mr. Jayasinghe later went inside the UN office, escorted by STF officers.
Mr. Jayasinghe came out in five minutes and inquired from Mr Weerawansa about their demands.
Mr Weerawansa said the UN office should be pressurised to prevail on the UN chief to agree to their demands.
This time, NFF representative Wasantha Bandara joined Mr. Jayasinghe as he returned to the UN office.
Mr. Jayasinghe returned after 30 minutes and was seen whispering to Mr Weerawansa before leaving the location. Mr Weerawansa was then heard telling an aide that “the US is claiming that we are holding these people as hostages”.
As the rumpus continued, the NFF made preparations to stage a Thovil ceremony outside the UN premises. A few minutes later, Mr Weerawansa agreed to allow the remaining UN staff to leave the office. Minutes before they were allowed to leave, Mr Weerwansa told the men involved with ‘Thovil’ to scare the UN staff with ‘Dummalla’, which is used to light up the place during Thovil ceremonies.
Three vehicles then left with the UN staffers – all foreign nationals. The demonstrators threw ‘Dummulla’ at the vehicles while protesters continued to jeer at the employees.
Mr Weerawansa alleged at a press conference later that police started assaulting the protesters after the UN staff bribed a senior police officer. “He is the biggest bribe-taker in police,” he charged. The protest continued on Wednesday without any serious developments while the UN staff were given an unofficial holiday. They were reportedly instructed to ‘work from home’.
On Thursday morning, however, Mr Weerawansa launched a protest fast to push his demands.
In a marked contrast to the first day, UN vehicles were seen driving in and out of the building in an apparent afterthought by the NFF activists who might have realized the repercussions of their actions on Tuesday.
Several cabinet ministers were among those who visited Mr Weerawansa until he ended his action yesterday. - courtesy: The Sunday Times -
6 Comments
It seems that this man has even broken the law by behaving in a manner causing nuiscance and obstructing and abusing the Police in carrying out their duties. He gets away scot free with all this. What about the damage he has caused to the image and reputation of Sri Lanka. Will the Govt take action to arrest this hoodlum?
Weerawansaya Haraka
Weerawansa's Sathyagraha was a political farce from the begining and should not have been taken seriously. It follows the same pattern of events more than one year ago in Tamilnadu when Thirumavalavan and Karunanithy called off their protest without being asked to give up.
Then both were called jokers by the Rajabaksa supporting Sinhala media and nationalists.
What shall we call this man Weerawansa? Had Somawansa stayed with Rajabaksa he would have been persuaded to do the same comical theatrics.
For those who missed the discussion I am reproducing what I wrote on 8th July 2010 below:
"Another Thirumavalavan (Vidduthalai Chiruthaikal of Tamilnadu) in the making.
In a few days (hours) time the president and the Sangha will appeal to the Sathyagrahi to abandon his fast onto death action. And the Sathyagrahi will duely oblige.
He will be received as a hero who challenged the mighty west and made the country proud of its democratic traditions and beief in nonviolent culture.
The difficult part is that we will be expected to belive in all theses stage managed theatricals.
Long live Thirumavalavan and Weerawansa."
Colombo protest against UN has not ends in failure, but only the begining of more demos to come against UNM's partial attitudes towards a nother soverign State.
While not agreeing with Weerawansa and his tactics, President Rajapakse should stand his ground and refuse entry visas to the three jokers appointed or to anyone associated with this issue sent by the UN or the Western nations.
Ban-ki has not received approval from the security council or NAM consisting of 118 nations. Let this idiot bark as much as can. Once he loses his position he too will become like the 'silly band' in the UK. Let us see what rubbish they bring up in four months without stepping inside Sri Lanka!
Appearing in maharaja TV, Wijitha Herath the JVP MP had been acting as if he is Moon’s Sinhala speaking press man. Wagging a typed paper, Herath told the viewers of ‘Sirasa’;”it is a clause in this 'agreement' that paved the way for UNSG Moon to appoint a commission on Sri Lanka.” I say; it is a lie, and it’s the same lie that he uttered few days earlier as well.
So, in my opinion; it is not Wimal the biggest con artist of our time as Janz of ‘the Leader’ says, but Herath. I challenge Herath to quote a relevant clause or clauses in the said statement or ‘agreement’ that he says, Moon is allowed to appoint a commission on his own.
We all know that anyone can pick words from a dictionary and make sentences. So, Herath should not pick words from here and there of that 'agreement' and make sentences to be the point man of Moon. He must come out straight and clean. Herath should show us the clause or clauses that gave authority for Moon to appoint his commission if he can. I am enclosing a copy of that 'agreement' herewith for easy reference for everyone.
JOINT STATEMENT BY UN SECRETARY-GENERAL, GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA
(As issued by UN)
Following is the joint statement by the Government of Sri Lanka and the United Nations at the conclusion of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s visit to Sri Lanka on 23 May:
At the invitation of Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, paid a visit to Sri Lanka. During the course of his visit, he held talks with the President, Foreign Minister as well as other senior leaders of Sri Lanka. During his stay, he also consulted other relevant stakeholders, members of international humanitarian agencies and civil society. The Secretary-General visited the internally displaced persons (IDP) sites at Vavuniya and overflew the conflict area, near Mullaitivu that was the scene of the conflict.
President Rajapaksa welcomed the Secretary-General as the highest dignitary to visit Sri Lanka in the post-conflict phase. This was a reflection of the close cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United Nations as well as Sri Lanka’s commitment to work with the United Nations in the future.
President Rajapaksa and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon agreed that following the end of operations against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Sri Lanka had entered a new post-conflict beginning. In this context, the Government of Sri Lanka faced many immediate and long-term challenges relating to issues of relief, rehabilitation, resettlement and reconciliation. While addressing these critical issues, it was agreed that the new situation offered opportunities for long-term development of the north and for re-establishing democratic institutions and electoral politics after 2 ½ decades. The Government expressed its commitment to ensure the economic and political empowerment of the people of the north through its programmes.
President Rajapaksa and the Secretary-General agreed that addressing the aspirations and grievances of all communities and working towards a lasting political solution was fundamental to ensuring long-term socio-economic development. The Secretary-General welcomed the assurance of the President of Sri Lanka contained in his statement in Parliament on 19 May 2009 that a national solution acceptable to all sections of people will be evolved. President Rajapaksa expressed his firm resolve to proceed with the implementation of the 13th Amendment, as well as to begin a broader dialogue with all parties, including the Tamil parties in the new circumstances, to further enhance this process and to bring about lasting peace and development in Sri Lanka.
President Rajapaksa and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed a series of areas in which the United Nations will assist the ongoing efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka in addressing the future challenges and opportunities.
With regard to IDPs, the United Nations will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the IDPs now in Vavuniya and Jaffna. The Government will continue to provide access to humanitarian agencies. The Government will expedite the necessary basic and civil infrastructure as well as means of livelihood necessary for the IDPs to resume their normal lives at the earliest. The Secretary-General welcomed the announcement by the Government expressing its intention to dismantle the welfare villages at the earliest, as outlined in the Plan to resettle the bulk of IDPs and call for its early implementation.
The Government seeks the cooperation of the international community in mine clearing, which is an essential prerequisite to expediting the early return of IDPs.
The Secretary-General called for donor assistance towards the Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP) jointly launched by the Government of Sri Lanka and the United Nations, which supports the relief, shelter and humanitarian needs of those in IDP sites.
President Rajapaksa and the Secretary-General recognized the large number of former child soldiers forcibly recruited by the LTTE as an important issue in the post-conflict context. President Rajapaksa reiterated his firm policy of zero tolerance in relation to child recruitment. In cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), child-friendly procedures have been established for their “release and surrender” and rehabilitation in Protective Accommodation Centres. The objective of the rehabilitation process presently underway is to reintegrate former child soldiers into society as productive citizens. The Secretary-General expressed satisfaction on the progress already made by the Government in cooperation with UNICEF and encouraged Sri Lanka to adopt similar policies and procedures relating to former child soldiers in the north.
President Rajapaksa informed the Secretary-General regarding ongoing initiatives relating to rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-combatants. In addition to the ongoing work by the Office of the Commissioner General for Rehabilitation, a National Framework for the Integration of Ex-combatants into Civilian Life is under preparation, with the assistance of the United Nations and other international organizations.
Sri Lanka reiterated its strongest commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, in keeping with international human rights standards and Sri Lanka’s international obligations. The Secretary-General underlined the importance of an accountability process for addressing violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The Government will take measures to address those grievances.