Anti-government protestors have been camped outside there for a couple of weeks now, so coming there to protest 'in support' of the Prime Minister is a deliberate move to instigate trouble.
The pro-government protesters are INSIDE Temple Trees which indicates govt. support; how else could they enter and make use of the premises so easily. Bus loads of supporters were also brought in from the Moratuwa MC.
A journalist outside Temple Trees was assaulted by pro-Mahinda Rajapaksa supporters. Reports are that a buddhist monk was also assaulted and that police are not being proactive in suppressing violence.
🧵Jumping in a little late here, but to suggest that GGG is a covert JVP, NPP, IUSF, SYU operation is very misleading. They are certainly doing much of the heavy lifting (more power to them) but having been there from day one, I can say that there has been every possible....1/
...representation imaginable WITH the exception of anyone known or perceived to have ulterior motives or agendas. This is why the politicians were and are, largely, persona non grata there. 2/
This does not mean the protest is apolitical - it is very political, but NOT ONE person there - for as long as I walked the length and breadth of it - was propagating any party as the solution to the issues we are facing. 3/
What’s become abundantly clear to me this crisis is the international media’s great irrelevance in today’s media landscape. 1/
There was a time international media attention was necessary to amplify but the internet and use of social media has made this greatly redundant 2/
There are truer, more accurate reports on SM from credible people on the ground that far outweigh international media’s 30-sec ‘bite’ on ‘what’s happening in Shriii Lankaa’ 3/
My silent thought for many weeks now has been, ‘when will this end?’ Unfortunately, even after all that transpired today, I am left with the same question: When will this end? There is STILL not a hum from @GotabayaR - how prideful can he be to still hang onto power? 1/
It is the prideful stubbornness that brought things to a head today. And his unwillingness to let go - even at this point - only means MORE instability, and more violence in the country. 2/
When warned of impending economic issues - they ignored. When warned of food scarcity - they ignored. When warned that their continued disregard of people’s demands could lead to violence - they ignored. 3/
Video from when I arrived at GGG earlier today. By this time pro-govt supporters had already attacked both #MainaGoGama and GGG. Tear gas had already been fired.
#GotaGoHome protestors were attempting to put fire out. People were upset, angry but still staying in control. They were exhorting armed forces to intervene.
And then Mujibur Rahman arrived from Galadari side. He was walking fast and purposely w/ few others past #GGG and towards where pro-gov. supporters were some distance away. He was STOPPED by GGG protestors who were INTENT on deescalating situ and didn’t want any1 going there.
I want to reiterate: this carnage and violence you see is the fault of the Rajapaksas. For months now protestors did everything in their power to keep things peaceful. Their demands were ignored. 1/
They were pushed to the brink, and today, mobs were unleashed on them and peaceful protest sites burned down. An entire nation was incited to violence as a result of this. We DIDN’T want to see this happening. But it is now. 2/
What we are seeing is horrific. Pro-govt. supporters are being hunted down in the Temple Trees/Cinnamon Grand area. I am media, but was turned on because violent anti-gov protestors didn’t want ‘eyes’ on them. 3/