Dismiss Brigadier Priyankara Fernando for threatening peaceful protesters
On the 4th February, officer Brigadier Priyankara Fernando, while wearing Sri Lankan army uniform, gave death threat gestures to peaceful protesters. His action have been recorded and filmed and has caused an outpouring of anger of hundreds of people. For example, leading Tamil Nadu news media News 7 had over 100,000 views and 4,000 shares of the footage – on the day of the protest alone! Tamil Solidarity online petition to complain to the Foreign Ministry in Sri Lanka and UK have reached over 1000 signatures in one day.
This mass action caused a temporary victory on the 6th February when the Sri Lankan Foreign ministry suspended Officer Fernando.
However within a day the Sri Lankan president has personally got involved to remove his suspension – causing more outrage.
This behaviour highlights the hypocrisy of the current government in Sri Lanka confirming that this government is following the footstep of the Rajapaksa Regime of ignoring video evidences and not carrying through investigations.
Tamil Solidarity, TYO, TCC and TGTE have called an emergency protest on Friday to demand immediate suspension and an independent investigation into the actions of Brigadier Priyankara Fernando.
The protest is to start at 2pm outside the Sri Lankan High Commission and end in Foreign and Commonwealth office FCO.
We demand:
- Immediate suspension of Brigadier Priyankara Fernando – withdraw his diplomatic papers
- Independent war crimes investigation
- Stop Land grab
- Release Political prisoners
- No to Maithri regime, No to Ranil – no confidence in the good governance
- Democratic rights for all
- Defend the right to self-determination
Called by:
Tamil Solidarity
Tamil Youth Organisation- UK
TCC-UK
Naadukadantha ThamileelaArasu Tgte-uk