Arrest us if possible, we will not obey Prez’s HSZ laws: Journos challenge

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana

Warning legal action against the government-issued gazette declaring high-security zones, journalist associations yesterday challenged to arrest them if possible, as they will not obey the arbitrary laws invented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to retain power and protect Rajapaksas.

During a media briefing organised by the Alliance of Trade Unions and Mass Organisations, a journalist activist said the President has no right to declare high-security zones as per his fancy, and it is clearly abusing of the powers vested in him.

Journalist Tharindu Jayawardena representing Sri Lanka Young Journalists Association (SLYJA) speaking at the briefing said the ‘Wickremesinghe – Rajapaksa’ regime is at present continuously suppressing the freedom of the press and the freedom of speech.

“President issued an Extra Ordinary Gazette declaring several high-security zones under the Official Secrets Act last week and under such act, a President doesn’t have the least authority to declare high-security zones,” he said.

“The President has abused his powers to make such declarations and had also invented new laws such as naming, which courts of law should be approached even to obtain bail for related offences.

President Wickremesinghe has disregarded the Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and even the Constitution to invent laws to his personal fancy and in a bid to protect Rajapaksas as to retain the power within the Parliament,” Jayawardena said.

These high-security zones had been introduced to restrict people’s rights to protest and demonstrate, their travel and mobility and at least to park their vehicles at a spot where they please.

He said the latest form of suppression on media would be a blueprint to be laid by Minister of Mass Media Bandula Gunawardana to set up an Electronic Broadcasting Authority to monitor the electronic news channels.

“We tell the government and the President that we will not obey these new laws invented by them and that we will still continue to protest in the new high-security zones declared by them. Therefore, arrest us if possible, as we will definitely go to courts against this new gazette,” he further said. 

• The President has abused his powers to make such declarations and had also invented new laws such as naming, which courts of law should be approached even to obtain bail for related offences 
• *Says these high-security zones had been introduced to restrict people’s rights to protest and demonstrate