Security forces violently dismantle protesters’ camp in Sri Lanka

First modification: 07/22/2022 – 11:29

It was around 1 a.m. when hundreds of soldiers arrived, wearing helmets and assault rifles, to clear hundreds of protesters and dozens of tents from outside the presidential building in Colombo.

They vandalized tents and makeshift facilities, before confronting unarmed protesters, reports our India and South Asia correspondent Sébastien Farcis.

Beaten journalists

Dozens of demonstrators were injured and, according to unconfirmed sources, were not even treated throughout the night while the military finished their work. Several protesters were then arrested, and the leaders of the movement could not be located this Friday morning.

The journalists present were also attacked, several of them were beaten and injured, and most of them were prevented from approaching. Thus, the new president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, is using force from the second day of his term to repress this peaceful movement, which managed to peacefully expel the hated Rajapakse clan, and thus helped bring him to power.

international concern

The authorities relied on a court ruling on Wednesday, demanding that part of the bay be cleared. But the method used is questionable and has been criticized even by the United Nations.

The US ambassador to Colombo, Julie Chung, was “deeply concerned” about the military action. “We urge authorities to exercise restraint and provide those injured with immediate access to medical care,” she tweeted.

The High Commissioner (Ambassador) of Canada, David McKinnon, stressed that it was “crucial that the authorities act with restraint and avoid violence”.

“We had agreed to gradually vacate the camp”

Above all, it can rekindle the flames of popular anger. More than a hundred people are demonstrating today in front of Colombo’s main railway station, from young students to professionals, and even several members of the clergy. They condemn the incursion of the army that evicted the protesters’ camp.

“We had agreed to gradually vacate the camp, but the president sent the army in the middle of the night to attack us. It is very wrong to do that. At least 10 people were detained and several more were injured. We do not recognize this president, so we will continue to fighting for his resignation,” a protester told RFI.

(and with AFP)