True story of Roshen Chanaka-murder emerges through Right to Information Act

True story of Roshen Chanaka-murder emerges through Right to Information Act

The struggle launched by workers of Katunayaka Free Trade Zone in May in the year 2011 ended with the struggle to protect their rights with 22 year old Roshen Chanaka breathing his last. At that time the police assaulted workers of the trade zone by running behind them and surrounding the factories concerned. The young female workers were assaulted and they were battered by clubs, iron rods and iron chains. The female workers were reprimanded with harsh words. In the process Roshen Chanaka died as a result of

shooting by the police.

The fatal shooting took place on May 30th while his death was recorded on July 1st. From that day onwards Roshen's mother had for a continuous period of 68 months been pleading for legal justice over Roshen's death with co-operation of the Free Trade Zone.

Roshen's mother came into possession of the Mahanama Tillekeratna Report about Roshen's death last week. As such hopes have been kindled and a way has been paved to achieve some justice concerning Roshen who was murdered by officers who incidentally protected peace and order. The said Report has confirmed the Right to Information of the public together signalling the freedom of the public and protection as a green light showing signs that justice is being meted out on Roshen's death.

Roshen died on July 1st. The final report of Mahanama Tillekeratna Commission appointed about his death was released on July 15th 2011 and so it was 2 months after he was killed. What Roshen's mother says is that however much she requested for this report from the last government, from the Ministers and MPs and even after this government came into power, what she received was only promises and not any report as such.

The Right to Information Act No. 12 was passed on 4th August 2016. The Right to Information office was opened on 4th February 2017. It was on the following day, 5th February that she made a plea for information to expose the Mahanama Tillekeratna Report. Thus the mother was summoned to President's Secretariat when she made the request for this information. Subsequently she has received a communication to the effect that though she was to be given the Report, later as the Report being released would result in a threat to State protection, the request has been rejected. However the effort was not abandoned. With the Right to Information being rejected an appeal was forwarded to the Commission for the Right to Information. As a response to that appeal Roshen's mother finally came in possession of the Report of the Mahanama Tillekeratna Commission.

Conclusions of the Report are as follows:

"I propose that every one of those who have sustained injuries and have been admitted to hospital with fractures should be entitled to compensation and be free from punishment anymore. If facilities were provided so as to fire water cannons, this situation could have been prevented. With only 22 police officers being wounded having being stoned does not permit in any way to take police law into their hands and engage in brutal activities.

As a result of the main gate being closed by the police the villagers have been civilised enough to rescue the workers who were injured and also enclosed. The last finding was that according to what some workers expressed was "let not this kind of thing be repeated". What emerges as the common story among the village and intellectuals is that the government was behind this. No such evidence was presented in my presence. There are animosities among trade unions. Though Anthony Marcs have leadership to the protest nothing took place as such. The investment board had not mediated at the proper time for the purpose of understanding the necessity among the workers. After the speech made by the Minister, handbills were printed at Sri Lanka Freedom Party headquarters and distributed, the pledge made by Minister Lokuge shattered the hopes of the workers.

The police ought be made aware of the fundamental rights. Workers of the Free Trade Zone generate a huge amount of funds to the country. The police have violated the penal code, the criminal procedure code, the police ordinance and the constitution of the country. At least after the shooting the uncivilised behaviour of the police should have come to a halt. Verbal attack, assaults launched with clubs, iron rods and iron chains as well as grabbing the gold necklace and money of a security officer etcetera are matters that should be taken note of by lawful citizens. If the image of the government, the Honourable President and the police force is to be safeguarded, action should be taken irrespective of the ranks and other matters of all senior officers.

Report -- Rasika Hemamali