Medical specialists: ‘We should act with restraint, responsibility’
COLOMBO: The Association of Medical specialists has urged all law abiding citizens of the country to act with extreme restraint and responsibility at this critical juncture.
The association’s statement was signed by its president Dr. Lakkumar Fernando and secretary Dr. R. Gnanasekaram.
The statement was titled “violence in response to deplorable state-sponsored thuggery against peaceful protesters.”
It added: “We, the Association of Medical specialists urge all law abiding citizens of the country to act with extreme restraint and responsibility at this critical juncture.
“It is with utmost dismay we witnessed violence orchestrated by the supporters of former premier Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa who invited them to Temple trees to show the general public of his might.
“This has triggered a spate of violent reactions in the country.
“We blame the President, Ex-Prime minister, Secretary of Defence, and the Inspector General of Police for not taking appropriate measures to prevent violent attacks on peaceful protestors at Galle Face and at Kollupitiya in spite of emergency regulations.
“We urge the IGP to take immediate action to arrest the perpetrators who attack the peaceful protesters and the politicians who brought them to Colombo.
“This will prevent people from taking the law into their hands.
“At the same time, we kindly request the people of the country to behave with responsibility, to have the utmost patience and restraint without resorting to violence.
“We have come to know that in various parts of the country violence has sparked in response to what took place in Colombo in midday.
“We are quite aware of the disappointment and anger of law abiding citizen of the country and we do join hands with all of them sharing the same sentiment.
“However, we wish to plead all segments of activists not to lose track of your primary target for which all patriotic masses have put their heart and soul into.
“We all should act with restraint and responsibility leaving no room for perpetrators to find fault with the process of peaceful protest.
“At the same time, we demand rulers/law enforcement authorities to bring perpetrators to justice immediately to calm the masses down.
“Finally, it is extremely strange to see that all these violent acts happen in a country where emergency regulations and island wide curfew in force and we have a strong suspicion that we are possibly paying a pathway for military rule.”