LfD condemns attack on former FUTA Head

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‘Lawyers for Democracy’ (LfD) condemns the physical attack on Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, the former President of the Federation of University Teachers’ Association, when he was at the May day rally at Kirulapane, organized by the group of parties supporting the former President Mahinda Rajapakse.  
This is a blatant attack on democracy and the mandate given by the people in no uncertain terms at the last presidential election. The people voted against the fascist and racist politics of the previous government and expressed the desire to be governed under a democratic system where rule of law and human rights are respected.  


 

"The attack by this fascist and racist group shows that though the white van has disappeared, this group has not given up the white van culture which prevailed during the last few years and used by them to suppress the people by bringing fear into them. "

This attack on Dr. Devasiri is an assault on the movement that brought about this change as he, and FUTA led by him, were in the forefront of the struggle for restoration of democratic rule.  The attack by this fascist and racist group shows that though the white van has disappeared, this group has not given up the white van culture which prevailed during the last few years and used by them to suppress the people by bringing fear into them.  
While we condemn this dastardly act, it is an eye opener to civil society that the threat to democracy still exists as seen from the behaviour of this group in Parliament to obstruct the passage of the 19th Amendment. It is the demonstration in Colombo on the 28th organized by the forces led by Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera that forced this group to retract from obstructing the passage of the 19th Amendment. The Civil Society has to be vigilant to protect the people’s victory of January 8, 2015.


Lal Wijenayake
Convener - Lawyers for Democracy

‘Lawyers for Democracy’ (LfD) is a representative body of legal practitioners throughout the island.  Conveners, include Lal Wijenayake, Chandrapala Kumarage, J. C. Weliamuna, K. S. Ratnavale, Sudath Netthisinghe and Sudarshana Gunawardana, and was established on December 10, 2009’.