Fasting monks complain to SL Human Rights Commission

By Yohan Perera - Monks who were abducted while on a death fast in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station calling for the release of General Sarath Fonseka earlier this week lodged a complaint at the Human Rights Commission yesterday against IGP Mahinda Balasuriya and several other officers at tached to Fort and Compannaveediya police stations

Ven Lunugamvehera Kalyanaransi Thera, the Convener of the people’s forum for redemption of General Fonseka, who was among the monks engaged in the death fast said a complaint was lodged with the commission as the police officers have used abusive language on them when they were arrested on Monday.

He said they were dragged by some group in civvies while the police looked on.

The Ven. Thera alleged that the Government had committed a grave sin by harassing Buddhist monks.

He said the monks together with other peace loving people will continue the struggle to get General (Fonseka) freed from detention. “We are prepared to lay down our lives to get this national hero freed,” he said.

The complaint which the monks lodged with the Human Rights Commission said they were forcibly abducted by a group in civvies and the police assisted them to do so.

The monks argued that the arrest should have been made under Section 13(1) of the Constitution. The reason for arrest should be explained to a suspect before he is arrested according to this law.

“This was violated as no explanation was given to us because they violently pulled us and pushed us into a bus,” the monks said
The monks therefore demanded compensation from the IGP and the other police officers who were involved in the case.

Four monks including Ven Kalyanaransi Thera, Ven Attanayake Vijitha Thera, Ven Dunagala Panyasara Thera and Ven Wakamulle Udiththa Thera were engaged in a death fast calling for the release of General Fonseka earlier this week.

© Daily Mirror