It is becoming clear that the government is making a shameless and conspiratorial attempt to hunt down the JVP by utilizing the entire chain of events related to the violence that took place on the 9th of this month. The JVP has sent a letter to the IGP requesting this. The JVP has sent a letter to the IGP requesting that they be given a date and time to meet the IGP to clarify the true situation.
Following is a translation of the letter sent today (19th) by the Information Secretary of the JVP Comrade Vijitha Herath.
IGP,
Police Headquarters,
the Colombo.
Sir,
Regarding the statements made by various individuals that members of the JVP are involved in violence.
We would like to draw your attention to an opinion expressed by Parliamentarian Arundika Fernando while our party leader Comrade Anura Dissanayake was speaking in Parliament yesterday (18th) regarding the violence that took place on the 9th.
MP Arundika Fernando had stated that he contacted the IGP over the phone and that the IGP had stated that 150 members of the JVP were among the 450 people arrested in connection with the violence.
The statement made that these 150 people are members of the JVP is extremely serious as no formal investigation has been carried out to find out the political background of the arrested persons, and there is no evidence or basis. We firmly state that this outrageous statement is also a part of the government’s shameless attempt to place the blame for the violence on the JVP.
As the IGP, we expect a speedy explanation from you as this accusatory statement made against our party, which stands for the defence of democracy, is serious. Also, if you have provided such information to MP Arundika Fernando, we would like to know whether you have made a special identification of the political affiliations of those arrested in this regard and accordingly take action to place before the country your classification of the political affiliations of all those arrested.
As various individuals with evil intentions are now making a futile attempt to impose the entire chain of violence on the JVP, we have called for a complete and impartial inquiry into the incidents that took place in front of Temple Trees on the 9th and the Galle Face area and also call for steps to be taken to take legal action against the perpetrators and punish them.
As the government is clearly showing a shameless and conspiratorial attempt to hunt down the JVP using the entire chain of events, we further request that a date and time be given to us meet you expeditiously to clarify the true situation in this regard.
Vijitha Herath
Information Secretary
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
19.05.2022