Court verdict victory for human rights defenders
The conviction of a Buddhist monk who had threatened the well-known campaigner against enforced disappearances, Sandhya Eknaligoda, is a victory for human rights defenders in Sri Lanka, Amnesty International said today.
A magistrate’s court in Homagama handed down a six months’ sentence and a heavy fine to Galagodatte Gnanasara Thero for threatening Sandhya Eknaligoda in court, when she appeared in 2016 to pursue justice for the enforced disappearance of her husband, the famed Sri Lankan cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda.
“This is an important verdict for all people who fight for human rights in Sri Lanka. A clear message has gone out to those who seek to intimidate, threaten and silence people seeking justice,” said Omar Waraich, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for South Asia.
(Source: Daily Mirror)
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Jubilation from AI isn’t it? Did this Buddhist monk assassinated Eknaligoda? If the murderer of Ekanaligoda is caught and punished AI can say this. Who is Ekanaligoda? Some says he is a journalist. Can anyone tell me which news media he serves? Any news paper in SL? TV? BBC? Keep HR aside. There are people (ministers in Parliament) who threw stones to Manner Courts. Same minster said to have threatened a judge. The law in SL apply selectively. MI please put pressure to catch the culprits and bring them to the books.
AI considers this verdict a Victory for Human Rights.
The majority Sinhala Buddhist Population and Sinhala Buddhist leadership (the Mahanayake Theras) consider this verdict a travesty of justice.
It is time AI learnt that Buddhist Priests are above the law in SL; they have all rights to abuse a poor woman (in Court premises) who was in Courts seeking to find the whereabouts of her long lost husband.
Dear Mr/Ms Kneeranjala Kheerthi (Niranjala Keerthi), Why you bring Mahanayake Theras. Did Mahanayake Theras open their mouths? So far they are silent and please acknowledge this and refrain from making false statements. Hope Ms. Ekanaligoda will find her husband’s killer soon (if he has been killed!!) and will be punished.
Amarakoon,
You reckon Buddhist Monks could conduct islandwaide protests against the jailing of Ven Galgoda Atthe Gnanasara without the blessing of the Mahanayakes? You must be joking, Mr A.
As said earlier, this Ven Galgoda verbally abused (in raw filth) in a Court premises, a woman looking for her husband, who was last seen taken into custody by SL Forces.
Amarakoon, there are many thousands and thousands of other women, mothers and wives, looking for their sons and husbands lost under similar circumstances in the South, in the North, in the West and in the East of the country.
Most criminals involved are wearing Lilly white clothes and masquerading in the corridors of power dreaming of high office, receiving tainted Mendis Arakku money and they are proud of it, too.
There are other sets of barbarians masquerading as War heroes.
Amarakoon, you are just another pr*** among other male chauvinists in this country.
Mr/Ms Kneerajala Kheerthi (Niranjala Keerthi), You are in the wrong footing my friend. Buddhist monks too have freedom of expression too.
You failed to get my Point. You brought Maha Nayakas into your post. So far Maha Nayakes never opened their mouth. So far they are silent. So, please do not drag Maha Nayakas here. That was my point.
Then you talk about thousands of wives looking for their sons and husbands. I completely agree with you on this point. Thousands of women asking about their Husbands killed by the terror group LTTE and JVP. I am with you buddy.