Witnesses in May 9 protester attack asked to surrender passport
COLOMBO – Fourteen protesters at Sri Lanka’s Galle Face Green who are witnesses of the May 9 attacks by supporters of former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa have been summoned by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to surrender their passports and banned from travelling abroad, in line with a court order until investigations are over.
Senaka Perera, head of People’s Lawyers Association, who is appearing on behalf of the witnesses, said the travel ban had been imposed on the request of the Attorney General’s department and the notices have been issued by the CID.
Following the May 9 attack, the 14 protesters had appeared as witnesses and filed complaints at the Colombo Fort Magistrate Court.
Rajapaksa loyalists brutally attacked unarmed and peaceful protesters who had been demanding the resignation of the prime minister and the president. Police said the attackers had been brought to Colombo in buses by lawmakers and local councillors of the Rajapaksa-led ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
After the clash, anti-government protesters attacked Rajapaksa supporters across the country in violent clashes that killed at least 10 people and injured nearly 300. They also torched scores of houses and other properties including vehicles owned by SLPP parliamentarians.
“Only seven of us filed a complaint with the Magistrate, but they want 14 passports to be surrendered. They have imposed a travel ban on us when we haven’t even gone home for nearly 50 days. If we can’t leave the protest to go home, how will we leave the country?” asked Jagath Manuwarana, an actor who is a regular at the ‘GotaGoGama’ protest site.
Many volunteers have come forward to argue the case for protesters.
“This is the first time they have called for a travel ban to be placed on victims and witnesses,” siad Lasantha Manoj, another lawyer, adding that the 14 protest victims have been called on to surrender their passports so that victims would be present in the country during identification processes.
Fr. Jeewantha Peris, an active protester who also been called in to surrender his passport, said, “We don’t agree with this because witnesses are never given a travel ban. By tomorrow morning, we will submit our passport to the Fort Magistrate.”
Police Spokesperson Nihal Thalduwa said on Wednesday (25) the police have arrested 25 suspects with regard to the May 9 attack on protesters.
The majority of the lawyers who support the protestors say imposing travel bans against protestors is unfair.
The police CID and Court officials were not immediately available for comments.
The peaceful protest at Galle Face will mark the 50th day on Saturday (28).
-economynext.com