By Redley Silva
JJB’s Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Vijitha Herath responding to a question raised by a journalist at the media briefing said Prez AKD re-issued the Extraordinary Gazette under the Public Security Ordinance to have legislative power to deal with any unexpected threats to national security during the forthcoming General Election. There was no threat to national security during the Presidential Election. And, the Defence Secretary, Sampath Thuiyakontha, in response to a question raised by a journalist on the same matter, said they have identified sources of potential threats and that the issuing of this Extraordinary Gazette was a ‘routine matter.’ First, an Extraordinary Gazette cannot be considered a ‘routine matter.’ If defence intelligence agencies have identified the sources of potential threats, then they should take preventive measures instead of continuing with the so-called routine procedures.
Former Human Rights Commissioner Ambika Satkunanathan told the FT newspaper (28/09/24) that she was deeply disappointed that President Anura had called on the armed forces to maintain public order and that it was unnecessary and continuing practice of militarising police duties. Although this Extraordinary Gazette was enacted to be effective for the entire country, this measure has had a repressive and oppressive impact, particularly, on the daily lives of the minority communities of the North-East. AKD was elected President by the people aspiring to abolish the abnormal conditions that have been ‘normalised’ so that all the people can return to normal living, including the North-East people. Therefore, this anti-civil rights Gazette should be withdrawn immediately, and the maintenance of public order should be de-militarized.
Redley Silva
