Attempt to appoint pro-Rajapaksa CJ, Masses need not be subjugated by ‘Medamulana’ theory – PMD

There is an attempt to appoint a pro-Rajapaksa as the chief justice but the masses need not be subjugated by the ‘Rajapaksa theory’ emphasized the speakers who addressed the rally held at Hyde Park in Colombo yesterday (7th).

Parliamentarian of the JVP Anura Dissanayake addressing the rally said, “Rajapaksa regime is attempting to end democracy and trod on a path to dictatorship. Today is the beginning of the movement to rally masses against this sinister attempt. This is only the beginning. One and a half years ago it was Mahinda Rajapaksa who appointed Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake to the post of Chief Justice. Now he is hatching conspiracies to drive her away from the post.  Mahinda Rajapaksa regime does not protect democracy, the law or tradition. It doesn’t fulfill the basic needs of the masses; doesn’t give solutions for issues of the farmers; no relief is given for issues of fisher folk. Their lives have been broken down. They have taken to the streets. For the first time in history university teachers carried out a protest march from Galle to Colombo. More than two million youths have no jobs and have to hang around in streets. Rajapaksa regime has failed to solve the issues of not only university students but students who are in schools. People of all sectors are distressed and have been dragged into a calamity. The economy has broken down and there are no solutions for issues of employees in the state, private and estate sectors.

What is being carried out is an administration of fury. The judiciary has been threatened.  Democracy, freedom and law have been shattered. Those individuals and organizations that work for democracy are pursued and hunted. Lasanthe Wickrematunga, the head of a media institution, was murdered. Poddala Jayantha’s limbs were broken. Media institutions were stoned, torched, threatened or bought over. The media was the first to be intimidated. The second was suppression of web sites. Now the hindrance to Rajapaksa regime is the judiciary. The judiciary took the side of the masses in giving the judgment on ‘Z’ score. As a result the government had to allocate Rs.4000 million more. The government had to take in more to universities. The government’s plan was to reduce the number of students taken into the universities; to slash allocations for education. However, the need of the government was set back by the decision of the judiciary. This is why Mahinda Rajapaksa took the sword into his hand. The other reason is Basil Rajapaksa, Mahinda’s brother, attempted to lay his hand on Rs.40000 million of Samurdhi money. This is money saved by the poor masses in the country. Would a government that excavates ancient treasures and doesn’t allow an ancient sword to be in the Museum protect Rs.40000 million of people’s money?

Rajapaksa family is now looking for a ‘Rajapaksa’ to be posted to the judiciary. They are attempting to bring a pro-Rajapaksa chief justice. The government does not have lawyers. Their only lawyers are in the mental asylum. It is such a group of lawyers that are around Rajapaksa. They are the ones who interpret the Constitution now. They say the parliament is supreme. We could assume that the concept of Parliament is supreme. How could the present Parliament be supreme? It is where Mervin Silva is; where MPs get sold. It doesn’t have a correct representation of the masses.  Many in the Parliament are utter thieves who jump from here to there. The 18th amendment was passed using the distorted 2/3rd majority. The amendment itself is distorted. It is a deadly blow to democracy carried out for the love of offspring. How could such a Parliament be supreme?

Rajapaksa family is moving along the road map they have unrolled. The impeachment was one of its requirements. It is for this purpose the PSC was appointed and its report compiled. The Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal have become obstacles in getting this report passed. It is to avoid the judiciary they say that Parliament is supreme. We need not be intimidated by this. It is for this reason a pistol was aimed at Gunaratne Wanninayake’s head.

What kind of a rage is it? It is a regime that is insane so that it goes on slinging mud at people and threatens to shoot others. A strong front should be built against this rage. At the meeting of party leaders today the government stated they would not accept the verdict of the judiciary. The opposition stated the PSC or its report would not be accepted. The opposition opposed the report being debated in Parliament. The government’s attempt is to go for a vote in Parliament on Friday and remove the Chief Justice. They want to appoint a new chief justice by Monday. However, judges and lawyers in this country would not allow this. A massive protest campaign would commence by next Monday. The new chief justice would not be able to hear any cases.

There is a big issue regarding democracy in this country. All democratic institutions are being bulldozed. Mahinda Rajapaksa is not a civilized leader. Rajapaksa does not have any feeling regarding the future of the country. He thinks only about his family. It is the ‘Madamulana theory’. What is being prepared is a ‘Madamulana’ constitution. The people need not be intimidated by it. Now Rajapaksa’s wish has become the law of this country. How could he be different from Hitler and Idi Amin? Mahinda Rajapaksa swore before the Chief Justice in 2010 to protect the Constitution. However, he himself violates the Constitution now. This is a government that violates the Constitution. This is an illegitimate Parliament and a government. The country would be ruled by an illegitimate government from next Monday. As such, the masses should struggle for a legitimate government.

Rajapaksa regime has become a regime that has the firearm in its hand. Democracy that is being bulldozed should be protected. There should be a struggle against the rule carried out by the rage of dictatorship. A massive and strong people’s movement should be built. This struggle should end in such a movement.”

Srinath Perera PC addressing the rally said, “There have been dictators like Pol Pot and Hitler in the world. The reason for the emergence of such dictators is wielding of power by one individual. Then the right of the people to live is restricted.  As such, civilized countries adopt various ways of preventing one individual wielding power. In our country power has been separated into three institutions by the Constitution. The legislature exists as the institution that enacts laws. The executive implements these laws; the President does this through various institutions. If the executive uses power arbitrarily the judiciary takes action to protect rights of the people. In Sri Lanka the President has executive powers. The government has got 2/3rd majority by giving various privileges and perks.

There was a time when the country was ruled with the participation of the executive, legislature and the judiciary. Judiciary too became politicized thanks to the former chief justice who preaches us now. Recently, the judiciary understood that the events that are taking place violate people’s rights. Since then the judiciary took the side of the masses and started giving independent decisions. Several people-friendly judgments were given that went against the government.

At this the government decided to bring down the judiciary. An impeachment could be brought against a judge if there is any wrongdoing. However, the impeachment should be reasonably investigated. We are struggling for an independent judiciary for the people.  It is not a struggle for Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake. Can a judge be ousted just because a judgment was given against the government? Then other judges could not be able to take independent decisions. The judiciary will become pro-government. This is why we struggle to build an independent judiciary.

Yesterday a Member of a Pradeshiya Sabha was shot dead. I would assure you that the perpetrators would not be arrested until this government is in power.  Sri Lanka’s police can arrest any criminal within 24 hours if it is given to act independently. However, if shooting is carried out with the protection of government stalwarts the police can do nothing.

Under this government certain individuals have license to kill anybody at anytime at anyplace. Do we need such a system of society? When we were born we had the protection of an independent judiciary. We should let our children too have the protection of such a judiciary.

Now, there is a constitutional expert in the government known as Wimal Weerawansa. It is like a blind person describing an elephant to those who could see well. Such persons try to brainwash people through state media. They are insulting the judiciary.”

The convener of People’s Movement for Democracy Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath, The President of Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri also addressed the rally.