Following the release of Jaffna Mayor, Viswalingam Manivannan, Fisheries Minister, and alleged human rights abuser, Douglas Devananda, claimed that Sri Lanka’s President was going to “pardon” Manivannan, despite the lack of any evidence of criminal conduct.
Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kootani (TMTK) leader, C V Wigneswaran, has questioned this alleged pardon as it would imply that he had committed some offence despite the police not providing the court any evidence in Court.
Manivannan has been released on bail and not charged under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act however this harassment was clearly intended for political reasons.
Devananda has stated that prior to Manivannan even being taken to court President Rajapaksa had consented to a pardon and bail and demanded that police act as accordance. This Wigneswaran notes, “brings out the fact as to what extent the Police Department and the Courts had lost their independence”.
Wigneswaran concludes his statement by asking:
“If ordinary citizens are going to be harassed in accordance with the whims and fancies of those in authority, of what use are the Courts? Are the police People’s Police or handmaids of the President? We need an explanation”.
Read his full statement here.
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