UN office under siege

[lkdood]

The large number of protestors led by Minister Wimal Weerawansa who have gathered outside the UN office in Colombo have erected a stage, blocking the entrance of the office preventing UN members from entering or leaving the building.

Weerawansa speaking to reporters gathered in the area said that they will not move from outside the office till such time UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon does not dissolve the Expert Panel.

The protestors have also started a fast unto death ‘sathyagraha’ outside the office.

Dailymirror

They also spray-painted the security camera at the gate in an apparent bid not to be identified.

"We warn the U.N. to withdraw the (investigating) panel if they want to get the employees out," Weerawansa told the protesters.

The number of employees within the U.N offices was not known.

AP

Government Minister and National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa is seen here attempting to push the barricades along with his supporters in order to block the entrance of the UN office. Pix by Nisal Baduge

 

[mcj1983]

http://www.elakiri.com/forum/showthread.php?t=714258

 

[lkdood]

 

[lkdood]

Police remove protesters

Police have begun forcefully removing the protestors who are staging a fast unto death outside the UN office in Colombo preventing the staff from coming out of the premises.

A group of protestors had forced themselves inside the UN premises but were removed by the police.

Meanwhile several UN staff have begun leaving the premises amidst police protection.

Government Minister Wimal Weerawansa who had left the scene earlier had returned and got onto the stage which remained erected at the side of the UN office.

Dailymirror

 

[lkdood]

Police have broken up a blockade of the U.N. office in Sri Lanka’s capital and are escorting employees out hours after they were trapped.

Hundreds of protesters, led by the country’s housing minister and Buddhist monks, laid siege to the building Tuesday demanding end to U.N. investigations into alleged abuses committed during the country’s civil war.

Police have forcibly evicted the protesters, dismantled a stage that blocked one gate and escorted the staff vehicles off of the premises.

AP

 

[Snake eyes]

http://www.elakiri.com/forum/showthread.php?t=714258
balanna

 

[lkdood]

http://www.elakiri.com/forum/showthread.php?t=714258
balanna

 

[lkdood]

sirasa reporter on site

 

[lkdood]

Government Minister Wimal Weerawansa who arrived at the scene of the protest outside the UN office in Colombo has warned that he would take part in the fast unto death if the IGP did not remove the police from the area.

Weerawansa who arrived at the scene just as the police had begun removing the protestors had made a telephone call to the IGP in front of the large crowd and demanded the police to be removed immediately or he would take part in the fast unto death.


Dailymirror

 

[anuru_1]

mala magulai mamath dakka tv eke news walataa

 

[lkdood]

Police begin to withdraw

The police have begun withdrawing from outside the UN office in Colombo on recieving instructions from the government and after one police officer was assaulted by the large number of protestors who have gathered in the area.

Dailymirror

 

[zero4]

oya protest eka prathipala thawa tika dawasakin lebi...
UNO office eka lankawen remove karoth eke prathipala apitama thama....
kela wima continues

 

[lkdood]

Section of UN staff leave office with police escort, others held back


A section of the beseiged employees of the UN office in Colombo left the premises with police escort a short while ago.

Witnessses said four foreigners were among the UN staff who drove out of the office in four vehicles with police escort.

The protesters tried to prevent the UN staff from leaving but police intervened and took them away safely.

More staff still remain in the building unable to leave.

The movement of UN staff was blocked when Minister Wimal Weerawansa's National Freedom Front activists arrived there and instructed the police not to allow anyone to leave.

Mr. Weerawans later called Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and told him to order the police to withdraw.

Meanwhile NFF sources said they would remain in the tent outside the UN office and stage an all-night 'Thovil' ceremony to drive out evil spirits.

The protesters were demanding that the UN drop its panel set up to probe alleged war crimes during the last stages of the war in May last year.

ST

 

[lkdood]

Jayasinghe, Wimal in talks

Foreign Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe arrived outside the UN office in Colombo a short while ago and was seen having discussions with Minister Wimal Weerawansa amidst the large number of protestors who remained in the area staging a ‘sathyagraha’.

Weerawansa earlier demanded the IGP to remove the police from the area.

Dailymirror

 

[lkdood]

Sri Lanka police abort attempt to free UN workers

Protesters have resumed a blockade of the U.N. offices in Sri Lanka's capital after police abandoned their efforts to free workers trapped inside.

Hundreds of protesters, led by the country's housing minister and Buddhist monks, laid siege to the building Tuesday demanding an end to U.N. investigations into alleged abuses committed during the country's civil war.

Police moved in and began dismantling a stage that blocked a gate to the compound and escorting staff and their vehicles out.

But forces withdrew after Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa ordered them to stop. His supporters manhandled one officer. Some U.N. staff are still trapped inside the building.

 

[lkdood]

Hundreds of protesters, led by a government minister, laid siege to the U.N. compound in Colombo on Tuesday, refusing to let the workers out until the world body canceled its investigation of alleged abuses committed during Sri Lanka's civil war.

Police tried to break up the protest in the evening and escorted some of the trapped workers out of the compound, but quickly pulled back after Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa — who led the protest — ordered them to stop, leaving some U.N. staff trapped inside.

 

[lkdood]

Foreign Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe arrived outside the UN office in Colombo a short while ago and was seen being escorted by two representatives of the National Freedom Front (NFF) inside the UN building to hold discussions with the UN

Dailymirror

 

[sitharaJAYA]

Government Minister Wimal Weerawansa who arrived at the scene of the protest outside the UN office in Colombo has warned that he would take part in the fast unto death if the IGP did not remove the police from the area.

Weerawansa who arrived at the scene just as the police had begun removing the protestors had made a telephone call to the IGP in front of the large crowd and demanded the police to be removed immediately or he would take part in the fast unto death.


Dailymirror

MODA JOKE FOR VOTED IDIOTS

 

[lkdood]

Thovile outside UN office

Minister Wimal Weerawansa led NFF supporters are performing a ‘Thovile’, a ritual ceremony of chanting, dancing and drumming to drive off evil spirits outside the UN office in Colombo where they are protesting.

The move came as External Affairs Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe was having talks with UN office representatives in Colombo in a bid to convey Weerawansa’s demand to get the UN to withdrawal the panel of experts appointed to probe alleged war crimes.

ST

 

[lkdood]

All UN Colombo staff leave besieged building

All employees trapped inside the UN office in Colombo have now left the premises, a reporter at the scene said.

Their exit followed the intervention of Foreign Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe, who arrived at the scene in the evening. He held talks with the protesters as well as the UN staff.

Protesters surrounded the UN office this morning to demand the world body end a probe into allegations of human rights abuses during the final stage of the war last year.

Although the staff have left the premises, demonstrators said they would continue the protests until the UN chief disbanded the panel.

ST