March 29, Colombo: PA spokesperson Sarath Amunugama addressing a press conference yesterday censured the government on its deafening silence with regard to the US-led attack on Iraq.
Earlier JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva, addressing the protestors who were attacked with tear gas while on their way to the US Embassy, heaped scorn on Ranil Wickremesinghe for being silent on the issue despite his public proclamation that he would do anything for peace.
Dr. Amunugama questioned the government on whether its silence meant that it supported the US war on Iraq. He challenged Rauf Hakeem and other Muslim parliamentarians to make known to the country their stand with regard to war against a Muslim country. Dr. Amunugama was also critical of the government’s decision to increase the price of fuel at a time when world prices had fallen, since it had earlier promised to adjust local prices according to world market prices.
Tilvin Silva who spoke at the protest rally stated that the United States had become the number one terrorist state in the world and that its excuse for war—that Iraq had chemical weapons—was weak. He further stated that the protestors themselves had minutes earlier been attacked by chemical weapons, a reference to the water cannons reportedly mixed with chemicals and fired by the police.
Mr. Silva also predicted that the US would next attack countries like Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. However he stated that as long as Ranil Wickremesinghe were there, the US would not attack Sri Lanka as they were able to exploit the country at will. Mr. Silva strongly refuted allegations by pro-government NGOs that the JVP was accepting money from Iraq to launch such protest campaigns. He said that they were not so foolish as to get attacked by tear gas merely to get money.
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