Police red-flag those with black flags against President

• The arrest of the  two organizers created a tense atmosphere

By Sithum Chaturanga   

 The President of the Organisation of Relatives of the  Disappeared During Military Conflicts Sivanathan Jenita and a civil  society activist were taken into custody yesterday for organizing a  protest against President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to Vavuniya.   

 They had raised black flags and protested against the  President’s visit to Vavuniya to attend a programme. The arrest of the  two organizers created a tense atmosphere. 

Police said the two suspects were responsible for  organizing the protest regardless of Vavuniya Magistrate’s order against  staging protests or obstructing the way of the President. 
 Meanwhile, the protestors told police that they wanted to  meet the President to request for an international level investigation  of the disappeared. However, the police that refused this request agreed  to allow a representative of the organization to meet a Presidential  Coordinator.   

 The two suspects were to be produced in court yesterday.   

 Meanwhile, a young man who video-filmed the arrival of the  President and the Vavuniya Air Force Base was taken into custody near  the Air Force Base last morning by Vavuniya Police.   
 Police said the President who was flown from Jaffna to the  Air Force Base by helicopter and arrived from  there to the Cultural Hall and that the suspect had video filmed it.   

 The suspect said that he video filmed the President’s arrival for pleasure.   
 Police said it was yet to be decided whether he should be produced in court or released on police bail.