In March 2022, mass protests began in Sri Lanka against the government of president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The government has been criticized for its mismanagement of the economy, the subsequent economic crisis and severe inflation, daily blackouts, as well as a shortage of fuel, domestic gas and other essential items. The key demand of the people is that the government run by the Rajapaksa family resign. Despite the involvement of several opposition parties, most protesters consider themselves to be apolitical, and some have expressed discontent with the parliamentary opposition. During the protests, protesters chanted slogans such as "Go Home Gota" and "Go Home Rajapaksas". The protests have been mainly staged by the general public, with youths playing a major part by carrying out protests at Galle Face Green.
Protesters have
targeted members of the Rajapaksa family and government politicians.
The government has reacted with authoritarian actions, such as the
declaration of a state of emergency, allowing the military to arrest
civilians, imposing curfews, restricting social media access,
and assaulting protesters, journalists, and online activists. The government
also violated the law and the constitution by attempting to suppress
the protests. The Sri Lankan
diaspora also began demonstrations against the suppression of basic human
rights. The government's social media
ban was described as backfiring, and hashtags like #GoHomeRajapaksas
and #GoHomeGota went trending in countries such as the United States,
Singapore, and Germany. The block was lifted on the same day. The Human Rights
Commission of Sri Lanka condemned the measure and summoned officials
responsible for the block and abuse of protesters.
On 3 April, all 26
members of the Second Gotabaya Rajapaksa cabinet resigned, with the
exception of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa; critics said that the
resignation was not valid as they did not follow the constitutional protocol. Several of the ministers who
"resigned" were reinstated in different ministries the next day. Chief government whip Johnston Fernando insisted
that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would not resign under any circumstances. The protests however achieved the removal of
officials and ministers including members of the Rajapaksa family and their
close associates, appointment of more qualified and veteran officials and the
creation of the Advisory Group on Multilateral Engagement and Debt
Sustainability.
In July 2022,
protesters occupied the president's residence, causing Rajapaksa to flee
and prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to announce his willingness
to resign.
13 July: Appointment of
Acting President
On the morning of 13
July, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flew to the Maldives with his wife and two
bodyguards, and Sri Lanka Air Force confirmed that a SLAF plane was
given to the President to depart for the Maldives.
The Speaker of
Parliament announced in the afternoon that President Rajapaksa has appointed
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president in his absence.
Protesters stormed the office of the Prime Minister demanding his resignation.
Protestors stormed into
the office premises of the state-run television channel Sri Lanka
Rupavahini Corporation and demanded that news on the anti-government
protests to be broadcast. The channel went off air and resumed the live
transmission later. Another state-owned television channel Independent
Television Network (ITN) also was taken off air and later resumed the live
telecast. In the evening, protesters
reportedly attempted to breach the police barricades placed along the road
leading to the Parliament. Later
that night Acting President Wickremesinghe declared an islandwide curfew until
5:00 am next day (14).
Gotabaya is yet to
officially hand over the resignation and has fled Sri Lanka, as resignation
would end his presidential immunity.
As a result, resignation while outside of Sri Lanka removes the risk of
him being detained.
No comments:
Post a Comment