Country burning with problems : only media suppression and people oppression are Govt.’s solutions- Ranil Wickremesinghe
UNP and opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing Trade unions at the Cambridge place Office yesterday (27) , said, while the country is burning with raging problems , the President and his Govt. are not seeking solutions to them , but only moving heaven and earth to suppress the media which exposes the Govt. weaknesses, corruption and backstreet politics , while also oppressing the people with untold hardships.
The Govt. is so jittery and unstable , it is even trying to hide the truths seeping through the media. He was referring to the latest action of the Govt. to forbid publication of reports on military leaders and their entry to politics. This is clear testimony of the Govt.’s worry . It is very unfortunate that this Govt. is obsessed only with matters concerning its power perpetuation . It is shaken because the military leaders , if they come to politics will be a threat to it. It has no concern about uplifting the people or with country’s development and progress. If there is even a slightest threat to its power from the remotest quarters , it gets cold feet . But even if the people are in dire problems and acutely suffering , the Govt. elected by the people for the people is not worried.
It is the President who has the power to decide on the date of the election. He can call for a Presidential election before the term is over . Those decisions are of the President , and the UNP is not concerned about his decisions. The UNP has no need to focus on the Presidential elections until it is announced.. At the moment the focus is on human rights protection , Ranil added.
The emergency regulations do not preclude journalists from reporting on military or matters pertaining to Presidential candidates. Yet , the Govt. is unduly worried. The constitution is more important than the emergency laws . Section 14 of the constitution guarantees freedom of expression of the people. This should be preserved.
There is nothing wrong in the Media Reporting of a military officer going to contest Presidential election. Such news deserve publication not suppressed., he pinpointed
The Govt. is so jittery and unstable , it is even trying to hide the truths seeping through the media. He was referring to the latest action of the Govt. to forbid publication of reports on military leaders and their entry to politics. This is clear testimony of the Govt.’s worry . It is very unfortunate that this Govt. is obsessed only with matters concerning its power perpetuation . It is shaken because the military leaders , if they come to politics will be a threat to it. It has no concern about uplifting the people or with country’s development and progress. If there is even a slightest threat to its power from the remotest quarters , it gets cold feet . But even if the people are in dire problems and acutely suffering , the Govt. elected by the people for the people is not worried.
It is the President who has the power to decide on the date of the election. He can call for a Presidential election before the term is over . Those decisions are of the President , and the UNP is not concerned about his decisions. The UNP has no need to focus on the Presidential elections until it is announced.. At the moment the focus is on human rights protection , Ranil added.
The emergency regulations do not preclude journalists from reporting on military or matters pertaining to Presidential candidates. Yet , the Govt. is unduly worried. The constitution is more important than the emergency laws . Section 14 of the constitution guarantees freedom of expression of the people. This should be preserved.
There is nothing wrong in the Media Reporting of a military officer going to contest Presidential election. Such news deserve publication not suppressed., he pinpointed
