(Lanka-e-News -12.Nov.2015, 11.45PM) 31 LTTE suspects who were in detention for a long period without cases being filed by the terrorist investigation division against them under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) were released on bail based on an order given by Colombo chief magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya last evening.(11th)
One of the promises made by the government of good governance in respect of political prisoners who were arrested under the prevention of Terrorism Act and held in custody for a long period without cases being filed was , action will be taken by it to release them , and cases will be filed against others whom legal action can be taken.
Citing a case in point to illustrate the prevailing unjust situation, opposition chief whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake said , one suspect (political prisoner) was held in detention for a long period , because he had an identity card with him signed by Daya Master , but the latter who signed was granted pardon and is free.
When the prisoners who were in custody under these unjust circumstances therefore staged a fast, the government in response stated , before Deepavali day , the prisoners who are detained without charges being filed for a long time will be released , and as regards others , cases will be filed against those whom legal action can be taken. Yet before Deepavali day (10) no political prisoner was released. Consequently , again a fast unto death was commenced inside the prison, and in the Eastern province , all shops were to be closed on Friday the 13 th ,and a hartal was planned to be staged on that day .
On the Deepavali day (10) , the government said , the AG’s department has taken action to release 31 political prisoners on bail on the 11 th , and it is also planned to release 30 detainees subsequently on bail , based on a communiqué issued by the Commissioner General of prisons yesterday .
Nevertheless when bail applications of the 31 detainees were made to Aruni Attygala the Colombo additional magistrate on 11 th morning , they were informed that the AG’s instructions have not been received yet . The applicants were therefore further remanded until 24 th November. The detainees who came hopefully went back to prison disappointed.
In the afternoon however , after the AG’s department forwarded the relevant documents , the lawyers for the detainees again filed a motion when the case was called up again , and the chief magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya released the 31 detainees on two personal bails . Each detainee was ordered to furnish two personal bails of Rs. 1 million each.
It is worthy of note , had the government released these detainees before the Deepavali day (yesterday) as anticipated , it would have given cause for the entire Tamil population to feel elated and delighted. By the government delaying this , its action taken to release the political prisoners only incurred the displeasure of the people .
It is a pity , there are also groups who do not know to reap the fruits of their labors. They make their most welcome actions most unwelcome owing to their own stupidity.
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by (2015-11-13 00:59:12)
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The Sinhala State is always idotic when it comes to matters relating to Tamils. Now they prove to
the UN, after all the laudable promises of the newly elected Govt. that they cannot see beyond
their nose! The Sinhala State is bound to decline in every aspect of politics.
-- by punchinilame on 2015-11-13
