“My life is in further turmoil” – Ganesan

 

Western People’s Front Leader, Parliamentarian Mano Ganesan yesterday lashed out at the government and law enforcement authorities, charging that they were putting his life in further turmoil in an obvious act of vengeance owing to his campaign against the government over its human right violations.

Ganesan, who is also the convener of the Civil Monitoring Commission, also complained about the alleged injustice meted out to him when he met with the visiting Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) delegation last morning.

“The IPU delegation led by Chief Senator Sharon Carstairs, PC, was informed of the government’s half-hearted attitude towards providing security to Ganesan,” the WPF office said in a statement.

The IPU was appraised that Ganesan was provided with eight security personnel and a back-up vehicle following the interim order of the Court of Appeal.

“However the back-up security vehicle is defective and not roadworthy. The Police driver of this vehicle cannot drive the vehicle beyond the speed limits of 40 kmph as it becomes uncontrollable. This has put Ganesan’s security into further turmoil instead of being an improvement, as directed by court. It illustrates the government’s ill response to this issue. The government’s vengeance is due to Ganesan’s human rights campaign,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the CMC Convener in a letter addressed to Inspector General of Police Victor Perera requested a vehicle that is roadworthy. Ganesan is presently given a ‘Trooper’ vehicle, which he states cannot be driven at speeds over 40 kmph.

“The rear door locks are defective and cannot be opened easily, let alone in an emergency. The side windows through which the security personnel may use their weapons during an emergency cannot be opened. The brakes and horn are defective.

“The speed limit stipulated by law within the city is 56 kmph and other is 72 kmph. This vehicle is well under the normal speed limits. Due to this reason I had to totally stop or bring down the speed of my vehicle so that the back-up vehicle could follow mine. Today, while travelling from Parliament, we experienced a traffic jam due to this ‘slow procession’ of two vehicles, one after the other.

“I trust that you as the Chief of Police and first respondent will agree with me that this slow motion is not security friendly but very dangerous. Therefore this state of affairs has put me into a more vulnerable situation instead of providing more protection with added, enhanced security,” his letter to the IGP stated.