On the Recent Magistrate's Decision on the Remanding of Police Officers

You have given prominence in your Web Page to a comment by some one who calls himself Gotabhaya criticising a judicial decision by the Magistrate to remand Police officers suspected of firing live bullets at an unarmed crowd and causing the death of a youth.

The Magistrate has given the decision based on the evidence presented and it is indeed regrettable that you have given prominence to such criticism particularly to some one who hides behind a pseudonym.

Is Gotabhaya saying that firing live bullets at unarmed demonstrators is justfiable. If any one feels aggrieved by a Magisterial decision there are other avenues available such as appeals to higher courts and to criticise such decisions because it does not agree with one's political leanings is indeed disgusting.

The Judiciary is the last resort we have and to undermine it by criticising judicial decisions is an attack on all citizens of the country.

By publicising such criticism the promoters of your Web Site may even be liable to be charged with contempt of court.

Tudotr Munasinghe

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