Thread by @rubatheesan

Jaffna Magistrate Court issued an Order today banning any kind of commemorative events to observe #Maveerar Day after #Kopay & #Jaffna Police moved motions separately. #Kopay police & Jaffna police named 37 & 14 persons respectively as respondents while filing B reports.#lka 1/

Senior ASG Haripriya Jayasundera submitted to court on 3 grounds arguing allowing such events pose threat to National Security:activities that would revive a terrorist organization banned under PTA (48);cites 2011gazette banning LTTE & prevent any rememberings of its cadres. 2/

ASG also argued that allowing these events might lead to disharmony among communities violating clauses of 3 (1,2) of ICCPR in which SL is also a signatory. She also requested Magistrate Court to ban such gatherings under Code Of Criminal Procedure 106-public nuisance. #lka 3/

ASG also submitted citing COVID-19 precautionary measures saying that there is a possibility that persons from abroad can enter into the country to take part in #MaveerarNaal commemorative events indirectly hinting persons from #TamilNadu might come to takepart in events. 4/

Lawyers representing respondents reiterated that it is their basic right to remember their loved ones who were killed during war.They indicated Govt is using Courts to issue bans by using Criminal Code/106 for matters they claim that would have an impact on national security. 5/

ASG regretted & apologized to Court for the insensitive remark made by Jaffna HQI last week ‘pittu & pizza’ comparison which she said, ‘poor choice of words’ & would have hurt the feelings of people in Jaffna. HQI also apologized in open court.

https://twitter.com/rkguruparan/status/1329785676410269696?s=20

End/ #lka