We will continue our effort towards peace - NAF

Samanmalee Priyashanthi

COLOMBO: The National Anti-war Front (NAF) yesterday vowed to continue their effort towards ensuring a peaceful solution to the ethnic conflict despite efforts by 'terrorist elements' to break the broad alliance for peace.

Addressing a media conference on Thursday's incident at the Viharamahadevi Park, NAF Chairman Kumar Rupesinghe said that the Front will hold another massive anti-war rally in Colombo on Monday irrespective of threats, since negotiations were the only way to achieve peace.

"The rally organised by NAF had around 5,000 people gathered to the Viharamahadevi Park. When one of our speakers was addressing the crowd, a group led by eight bhikkus from the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) tried to sabotage the rally.

Since they disregarded our request not to interrupt, we had to remove them from the location," he said.

Rupesinghe also called upon the Government to bring the culprits of Thursday's incident before the law and to ensure that such violations of the people's democratic rights do not take place in future.

"We have no hesitation in saying that groups from the JHU are engaging in terrorist activities. But their activities will not deter us in our efforts to lobby for peace. It is only the Government's image that would be tarnished by the actions of these groups. We welcome the Government's condemnation of the incident," he said.

Calling Thursday's incident as an 'uncivilised action', United National Party Member of Parliament Rajitha Senaratne pointed out that the attack took place when the people of the country have come together for peace for the first time.

"This shows the cowardice of these groups. The objective of our rallies is to call upon both the Government and the LTTE to come to the negotiating table. These groups seem to presume that their views should prevail over those of others. It would not be long that the JHU joins the list of proscribed organisations," he said.

Several others including Ven. Baddegama Samitha Thera, Dr. Paikiyasothi Saravanamuttu and Attorney-at-Law Nimalka Fernando also spoke.