Harin writes to IGP on President's remarks

COLOMBO (News1st): Parliamentarian Harin Fernando has written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on the remarks made by the President on Saturday. Video footage and a transcript of the President's remarks have been attached along with the letter sent by parliamentarian Harin Fernando to police chief Chandana Wickramaratne. In his letter, MP Fernando claimed that the President has failed to differentiate between a seditious, genocidal terrorist tyrant and a legislator exercising his fundamental right to freedom of speech in Parliament. The parliamentarian insisted that he will fulfil his duty by continuing to say things that displease the President, regardless of the risk to his life, as long as the President continues to fail in his duties. "Given the serious nature of the threat made by President Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the security forces and Minister of Defence, I have no reason to doubt him when he implies that he is capable of doing me harm," the letter read. MP Fernando pointed out that past Presidents have been called by their names or initials and that no one has been threatened with death for using the names “JRJ”, “Premadasa”, “DB”, “Chandrika”, “Mahinda” or “Sirisena”. He said that he finds it difficult to believe that members of the Buddhist clergy have truly advised him to resort to violence unless the President proves otherwise. The parliamentarian said he is painfully aware that many journalists, activists, and parliamentarians who criticized the President when he was defence secretary have either disappeared or been assassinated, and that in many of these cases, the attacks were preceded by implied threats or frivolous litigation initiated by politicians and officials. Fernando pointed out that it is his fundamental right to say what he wishes without fear of being summarily executed like a terrorist. Fernando emphasised that since that if he is killed for refusing to be silenced, he will assume it will be at the behest of the only man who has ever threatened to kill him. The MP said that a copy of the letter is being sent to the Speaker of Parliament, the Attorney General, heads of foreign missions in Colombo and the United Nations Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, and on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions.