Reacting to the news of three persons being arrested at Talawekelle, one in possession of T-56 rifles, Democratic Peoples Front (DPF) leader Mano Ganesan says that it is nothing but political reprisal by the government.


In a media release the DPF leader states that the arrest of Bharathi Dasan, a party activist was due to his being considered an obstacle in the intrusion of a newly formed trade union among the plantations which is headed by Mano Ganesan’s brother Prabha.


Parliamentarian Prabha Ganesan who was elected from the Colombo District under the United National Front (UNF) banner later joined the government along with Palani Digambaram.


The DPF media release in full:
 

“The arrest of Bharathi Dasan at this juncture is clearly a politically motivated activity of the government. He contested as our party’s candidate in Nuwara Eliya district under the UNF. Ganesan commenting on the arrest of DPF activist Bharathi Dasan in Talawakella yesterday evening said further that rebel MP Praba Ganesan has formed a trade union in the up-country last week by the name of Democratic Peoples Congress.


Those behind this new trade union consider Bharathi Dasan an obstacle for them in Nuwara Eliya district. This arrest of Bharathi Dasan, we believe is the political reprisal meted to our party for our principled stand. It is one of those recent onslaughts faced by the opposition groups targeted by the government.


Bharathi Dasan joined our party only in February this year. He was a senior member of late minister P. Chandrasekaran’s Up-Country Peoples Front until then. Prior to this he was a member of the CWC under Minister Thondaman. He even contested under the ruling UPFA ticket as the Nuwara Eliya candidate of Minister Chandrasekaran’s party at the 2009 Provincial Council elections. Both the UPF and the CWC are partners in the government then and now. Now suddenly the police have arrested him claiming that he had been to Kilinochchi during 2001. It is obviously a political arrest.


The DPF is a democratic party which always respects the law of the land. We have faced many such onslaughts and false accusations in the past. We have overcome everything and are continuing our principled journey. We will respect the law and cooperate with the police, if necessary. But we will not give in to intimidation and will tolerate efforts to politically victimize us.”