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I was not even in Mannar at the time of incident Minister Badhiutheen
Saturday, 21 July 2012 - 12:21 PM SL Time
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Now that the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has accused him of threatening Mannar District Judge and Magistrate, A. Judeson in the Mannar court premises last Wednesday (18), it should be able to prove that allegation, Trade and Commerce Minister Rishad Badhiutheen says.
All Ceylon Muslim Congress (ACMC) Leader Badhiutheen dared BASL President and UNP MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC to substantiate the allegations. The ACMC is a constituent of the ruling UPFA coalition.
Having adopted a unanimous resolution on Thursday evening, the BASL Chief UNP Colombo District MP, Rajapakshe told The Island that all those responsible for violence directed at the District judge should be dealt with immediately. He alleged that as Badhiutheen and his associates had interfered in the judicial process they could be charged with contempt of court.
The UNPer alleged that Minister Badhiutheen had instigated a group of Muslim fishermen, angered by a continuing legal dispute over a mooring station in the area, to attack the Court complex and the police station forcing the police to fire tear gas to disperse the mob.
The ACMC leader said that he had not even been in Mannar at the time trouble erupted. `In fact, I have never been to Mannar court premises since I entered politics,` the Vanni District MP told The Island.
When pointed out that the BASL had received the support of many Opposition political parties, civil society and powerful trade unions as well, Minister Badhiutheen said that the issue was whether he, a member of the ruling coalition, had stormed the Mannar court premises.
Minister Badhiutheen said he had been flown in to Thalladi army camp and from there driven to Uppukulam fishing village on the Mannar island, where he addressed the fisher folk. `I landed at Thalladi around 3.30 pm and it took about 15 minutes to reach Uppukulam. My arrival at Thallady was delayed due to SLAF chopper having to refuel at Palavi SLAF facility. The bottomline was that there hadn t been any incidents since my arrival in Mannar, though I have been accused of leading a mob attack on the court house. We have been accused of damaging Mannar court complex and causing massive damages. Anyway the high court, which they alleged we damaged, was yet to be declared open,` he said.
The minister urged the BASL, the National Police Commission and all those concerned about the situation in Mannar to inquire into the circumstances under which a group of Muslim fishermen had launched a protest in Mannar.
The minister said that a Sea Tiger leader identified as Amudan in 2002 had persuaded Muslims living at Uppukulam to accommodate a sizeable group of Tamils from Vidathaithivu in their village. The Tamils had been there for many years, though the Muslims felt that they could now go back to their village as the LTTE had been defeated. The Muslims, who fled Uppukulam due to LTTE threats and sought refuge in Puttalam, had demanded their land back. Although more than half of those from Vidathalthivu had returned to their original villages, a group remained there at the behest of elements, the Minister said.
The minister urged the BASL and the National Police Commission to investigate the circumstances under which the Mannar police had fired tear gas in spite of being ordered thrice to open fire on
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