Press statement from Paul Murphy MEP

Paul Murphy MEP (Socialist Party/United Left Alliance)

 Press Statement           

 Member of the European Parliament condemns the abduction of political activists in Sri Lanka

  • · Illicit and repressive methods used by the Sri Lankan government exposed
  • · Sri Lankan government forced to release activists due to pressure from campaigners

Irish Member of the European Parliament and member of the South Asia delegation in the European Parliament, Paul Murphy, speaking following latest news of abductions of leading political activists inSri Lankahas commented:

“I strongly condemn the on-going abductions of political activists and campaigners inSri Lanka.

“The abduction and release of Premakumar Gunaratnam and Dimuthu Attygalle, leading activists of the newly formed Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) inSri Lanka, exposes the illicit and repressive methods used by the Sri Lankan government.

“The abduction and ill treatment of both these activists must and should be condemned by all those who defend the basic democratic rights of freedom of speech and the right to protest.

“The Campaign against kidnapping and extra-judicial killing should be strengthened. This latest violation of human rights is not unique inSri Lanka. Over 50 people are reported to have been abducted in the last couple of months alone. Lalith Kumara Weeraraju and Kugan Muruganandan, two activists, were abducted last December and, disgracefully, are still missing.

“The Sri Lankan government has so far taken no actions to investigate or stop the increasing abductions. Furthermore their complicity in these abductions was exposed when they were forced to release the two FSP activists.

“Sri Lankan government was forced to back down on this occasion due pressure put on them from campaigns such as that of United Socialist Party. The Sri Lankan government should put an immediate stop to this campaign against democracy and allow for an independent investigation into all the abductions and missing persons to be established.”

ENDS

 

For further information or comment

Finghín Kelly              +35316795030

____________________________________

Finghín Kelly

Parliamentary Assistant

Office of Paul Murphy MEP

Rue Wiertz/ Wiertzstraat 60

ASP07F262

1047 Bruxelles/Brussel

www.paulmurphymep.eu

Ph: +32 2 28 47836