Third anniversary of Buddhist monk massacre in Myanmar commemorated
FTW Chairman Freddy Gamage told those present that the protest was meant to remember the brutal crackdown in Myanmar. In his address, he called on its ruling military junta to restore democracy to the country.
Leftwing political leader Siritunga Jayasooriya told AsiaNews that three years ago Buddhist monks took to the street, demanding democracy and greater respect for human rights, but were attacked, beaten, arrested and killed by the Myanmar military. “We appeal to the government of Sri Lanka and to that of Myanmar to stop the violence, establish democracy and release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest,” he said.
Rev Marimuttu Sathivel, an Anglican priest, also expressed his solidarity with the people of Myanmar (Burma). He slammed the military’s brutal crackdown and called for the democratic world to intervene in favour of democracy and freedom in Myanmar.
For Ashila Niroshini, of the movement Stand Up, a human rights organisation, there are no major differences between Myanmar and Sri Lanka because “our democracy is being wiped out as well”.