Need Democracy: Right to Freedom of Expression should be assured

The Chilaw majistrate gave firm order not once but twice, when the Police officers from Chilaw attempted to get BANNING ORDER of 15th Campaign commemoration of 2nd anniversary of assassinated fisher leader Antony Fernando at Chilaw town. In Anuradhapura and Peradeniya university students Satyagraha have been banned and chased away the police, when the student did not follow the orders from the majistrates from both the places. The depth of fear of the regime has been exposed when they used Police to disturb and ban the protest. We salute the majistrate of Chilaw and welcome his decision that Police has all the powers to stop any public harassments if the protestors block the road etc. According to the news paper articles, some are news paper head lines and the way of What majistrate guided the Police is significant at this juncture. Ewen before we attend the protest campaign tomorrow, we achieved a victory and free publicity as there was court order over ruling the police request. We all do our best to make the event in a most peaceful manner. Not only Chilaw, at Pothuwil, Ulla in the east coast organizers are also face disturbances. Izadeen, our coordinator and Raajan/ Gayan informed us that they were asked to attend Ulla Police today. OIC of Pothuwil police has informed the team that how they should behave at the protest. "We will have to arrest the crowd and organizers in particular if the protestors become violence and begin throw stones." At the same time, the pressure on IDPs since 1990 has been mounting too. Herman