Govt. using police for political ends: NPP

While claiming that the government was using the police to intimidate and harass those who criticize the former, the National People’s Power (NPP) yesterday denounced the government’s move to use the police for political ends.

The NPP said in a statement that social activists such as Malaka Gamage, who had expressed their opinions on the Easter Sunday attacks, were being investigated by the police. The statement said that health professionals who had shared their experience of the Covid pandemic have also been investigated.

The NPP also said that Trade Unionists, teachers, students and social activists have either been questioned or arrested. “Journalists and social media activists are also being questioned,” it said. They said that the freedom of speech was a right ensured by the constitution and that it was evident from several orders given by the magistrate’s when some people were produced in court by the police recently.

“It is clear that police are being used by the government for their objectives. The only option of the government has been to intimidate critics when the government failed to resolve issues faced by the people and resolve their reasonable demands,” the statement added. “We urge the government to focus on the issue faced by the people right now. That is, to give priority to the health and well-being of the people and manage the Covid pandemic,” it said. (Ajith Siriwardana)