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by Jayantha Sri Nissanka and Bharatha Malawaraarachchi and Asanga Warnakulasuriya

The JVP yesterday staged a sit in protest in the Well of Parliament against the police attack on its supporters during the party's anti-MoU demonstration in Colombo on Thursday. The angry JVP group led by Wimal Weerawansa stomped to the aisle and sat cross- legged satyagraha style with banners held aloft to be greeted by cat calls from the government.

Pandemonium reigned in the House as government members continued their noisy response to the JVP particularly MPs Olitha Premathilake, Sydney Jayaratne and Dillip Wedaarachchi who kept reminding the party of its gory past. The episode forced the suspension of sittings for fifteen minutes by Deputy Chairman of Committees Siri Andrahennedi who earlier ruled out a JVP request to make a statement on the attack in the House, which led to the sit-in protest.

As the Chair ruled out that there was no Point of Order in Weerawansa's argument, the JVP members led by Wimal Weerawansa commenced shouting slogans and displayed posters.

However, Chief Government Whip, Mahinda Samarasinghe and Minister Bandula Gunawardane intervened to diffuse the situation and were seen leading the vociferous government members out of the Chamber.

During the commotion Sergeant-at-Arms, Wijaya Palliyaguru were seen protecting the Mace. While this drama was being enacted in the Chamber, police officers were seen clearing the Public Gallery of students from Panadura Agamathi Balika Vidyalaya.

After the suspension of the sittings, proceedings commenced peacefully as the House took up condolence Vote on ex-members.

Thereafter, in the evening a motion on the postponement of the opening the Jaffna Library went by default as the mover JVP's Ramalingam Chandrasekeran was not present in the House.

Meanwhile The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna yesterday vowed to continue its anti-government agitation until the government abrogates the MoU signed with the LTTE. The party made this disclosure at a press briefing held in Colombo yesterday.

JVP General Secretary, Tylvin Silva also said that the JVP condemned Thursdays " government instigated" police attack on its demonstration and journalists which it claimed was aimed to thwart the mounting public opposition against the betrayal of nation to LTTE.

JVP Media Secretary, Wimal Weerawansa alleged that the water used in the police water cannon attack was mixed with ammonia and aimed not only at JVP leaders and protesters but also journalists who came to cover the event and also the ordinary people.

He also said that a photographer attached to "The Island" newspaper was hospitalised after the attack while his camera worth nearly Rs. 500,000 was damaged." In most demonstrations, a warning is usually given to party leaders by police at the barricades, but yesterday the situation was completely different where the police used the water cannons without warning", Weerawansa said.

The party requested the government to carry out an inquiry into Thursdays attack on journalists and for compensation to be paid for the damaged camera of the journalist.

The Media Secretary also revealed that a massive protest organised jointly by the JVP and the PA against the "betrayal of the nation" will be held within the first week of March where they expected to attract a crowd over one million.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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