We ask the President, if your government stands for Israel, to say it bluntly that we are now with America and Israel. Your duplicity has now been exposed, says Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Mujibur Rahuman.

We ask the government? What is your policy regarding the Palestine issue? We raised our voices in the streets with you and said that we stand for an independent Palestinian state. Anura Disanayake, who came to power by saying that, is now working in favor of Israel against Palestine, MP Rahuman pointed out.

The MP made these comments while participating in a protest held in front of the Police Headquarters in Slave Island on February (28) demanding the immediate release of Ifam Ahmed, who was arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Unit and is being questioned under detention orders for pasting a sticker against the ruthless Israel.

This government has started to hunt down pro palestine individuals against Israel. They are being arrested, held under detention orders and questioned. The reason is because they have put up a sticker against Israel, the MP said.

He further said:

On February 22, a young man was arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Unit of the government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for pasting a pro-Palestine sticker on a garbage bin against Israel. He was arrested and kept under detention orders and questioned. Another young man who wrote a poem in favor of Palestine in Eravur was brought to the police and a statement was taken. Another young man in the Southern Province was brought to the police and a statement was taken for making a video in favor of Palestine. It has been about three months since the police have kept the young man’s phone in custody.

Miflal Maulavi, who organized this protest in front of the police headquarters. The TID has visited and searched his home and obtained a statement. Miflal was not allowed to come to this protest today. The CCD has been holding him since this morning, saying that he should make a statement. I have to say, Mr. President, I am ashamed of you. When you were in the opposition, you spoke about democracy and for the rights of the Palestinian people and fought with us on the streets.

Israelis come to this country on tourist visas and do business. No one else can do surfing in Arugam Bay. That business is completely owned by Israelis. Israelis are building a cultural center opposite the Red Cinnamon in Colombo. I asked Prime Minister Harini Amarasooriya about this in Parliament. She admitted that the construction of that center is illegal and does not have government approval. It has been seven months since today and no action has been taken in this regard. The Police Special Task Force and the police are protecting that cultural center.

When journalists ask Nalinda Jayatissa, are you in favour of Palestine? He says yes. Then why are they arresting even the youth who are working for Palestine. What is the big issue when we post a sticker against Israel? Today, people all over the world have taken to the streets against Israel’s brutality. As of today, 50,000 Palestinians have been killed. Out of those 20,000 are children. Israel, with the support of the United States and other powers, is taking to the streets to protest against the genocide being carried out against the Palestinian nation. The youth who has been arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Unit was expressing his disgust through a sticker. How can that be a violation? President, you, the Minister of Defense, must answer this.