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Video: Govt. called exiles back to arrest them – FSP

05 Feb 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}      

Charging that the government had gone back on its stance to bring back those who were politically exiled, Propaganda Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party Pubudu Jagoda yesterday said that government officials were handling its leader Kumar Gunaratnam who had come back to engage in politics.

Speaking at a media briefing Mr. Jagoda said that though JVP dissident Kumar Gunaratnam had stated that the reasons for his visit were political, he was nevertheless issued only a tourist visa and is now being threatened of deportation for violating conditions of the visa

 “He was involved in politics when he was here and he wanted to come back for politics. He made this known to the officials of Immigration and Emigration and even then they issued only a tourist visa,” he charged.

“He is not a tourist and we all know that. He did not leave the country by choice, he was forced to leave and now he wants to come back”

 Mr. Jagoda alleged that though elaborate statements had been made by cabinet ministers calling for the return of exiled and politically victimized individuals, the government intended only to arrest them upon arrival or oust them once again.

“The media minister made a statement inviting all those who were in exile back to the country, but we see that they called them back only to arrest them,” Jagoda said.

“The Central Bank governor is a Singaporean citizen left in charge of matters with the Treasury, but after ousting Kumar they say he’s an Australian and try to keep him out of the country"

He further stated that the government is not abiding by its policies of good governance and is selectively applying it where it is expedient to do so.
“The government must tell us whether it had changed their policy or never intended to adhere to it in the first place,” Jagoda said. (Jehan Gunasekara)

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