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D. M. Jayaratne, Secretary of the People’s Alliance said that the Government was trying to suppress the opposition. “The terror unleashed on the supporters and well-wishers of the People’s Alliance and other opposition parties immediately after the last Parliamentary Election with their homes and property being burnt has now taken a new turn,” he said. He said in a press release that the UNF Cabinet was engaging in a conspiracy to cripple the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s political activities by arresting its key activists. Press Release05.04.2002The United National Front Cabinet is now showing signs of its usual dictatorial attitude in trying to suppress opposition viewpoints and parties. The terror unleashed on the supporters and well-wishers of the People’s Alliance and other opposition parties immediately after the last Parliamentary Election with their homes and property being burnt has now taken a new turn. The UNF Cabinet is engaged in a conspiracy to cripple the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s political activities by arresting its key activists. Some media have reported today that moves are afoot to arrest former ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Pavithra Wanniarachchi - both members of the SLFP’s Central Committee, as well as PA Parliamentarian Dilan Perera. On the one hand this is an attempt to obstruct the President and on the other to suppress the People’s Alliance. There is a carefully planned programme to weaken the Presidential security service. As a result the President’s life is in grave danger. It is also clear from the posturing to arrest key activists of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party that there is a major conspiracy to suppress the legitimate opposition. The fabrication of lies to arrest opposition party members has become the main task of the UNF Cabinet. It is in this context that the subtle media campaign carried out by the state media and the media aligned to the United National Party assume greater significance. The main purpose of this campaign is to influence the judicial system of this country in respect of those persons whom they wish to arrest. The United National Front has used the media to create an impression of guilt regarding these persons in the minds of the general public and the judiciary. Similarly the United National Front Cabinet is enforcing an unofficial censorship to ensure that opposing viewpoints are not articulated. We have learnt that electronic media institutions are being strongly influenced to discontinue current affairs programmes, which are not in favour of the ruling party. Suppressing the opposition and incarcerating them on the one hand and the curbs on media freedom through the directly pressurising the mass media on the other hand, have become a grave threat to the democratic and fundamental rights in this country. The People’s Alliance calls upon all citizens to take the forefront in safeguarding these threats. D. M. Jayaratne Secretary People’s Alliance
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