A Tale Of Two Protests (And One Mustache)

So many cops,so much style


I think the current protest against the UN has government support. Why? Look at these two photographs. The one above is from the ongoing protest against the UN Panel on the Sri Lankan war. The protesters are literally hanging propaganda on the police barricades. Then look at the photo below. This is from a planned student protest on Ward Place. There were literally hundreds of cops, they secured the entire street and sent buses of cops to break up the protesters en route. If the government wanted to they could have secured the UN compound they didn’t. One thing they have dispatched equally, however, is the most awesome mustache in the Police force, also below.

So few cops, so little hair

The UN compound is in a secured area. The Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa lives down the street. That road had actually be completely closed for years, I only found out that it was open for thru traffic from the protests. This, incidentally, is awesome.

Ward Place is a public road. ODEL is on one side and it’s surrounded by homes and hospitals. Yet for that student protest they shut the whole thing down and stopped the protest entirely. I should note that students have staged sit-ins in front of the University Grants Commission before, but under the wary eye of the cops.

The cops in front of the UN were a bit less than wary. On Ward Place they were an occupying army. On Bullers Road they were a ceremonial force. Just a few, basically lounging while protesters spray painted cameras, tried to break and enter and hung posters from the barricades. The National Freedom Front has decorated the Thumulla junction with its flags. They brought a lorry into the area to unload various material. It was fully organized and fully OK with the cops.

Is this good or bad? Dunno. But I do think this protest against the UN is government sanctioned and supported.

PS: why have I been updating so little, because I’ve been updating three or four times a day on the Sunday Leader website, where this post too will be syndicated.

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22 Comments »

2010-07-08 12:08:13

Our cop!

 
D
2010-07-08 12:08:40

I sometimes feel sorry for the cops.. :S

 
2010-07-08 12:54:59

The last time I saw him his mustache was white, and that was not long ago! Great post.

Cheers!

 
Dilan
2010-07-08 13:34:19

How come he has no registration number?

Seems like Wimal has started his death fast. Hope it comes fast.

Dilan
2010-07-08 15:53:20

Although that’s wishful thinking. No doubt he will call it off when the benevolent king returns, but will go down as a ‘martyr’ to the cause, ie more votes from the (m)asses.

The way of the Dodo
2010-07-08 17:57:29

It’s amusing how people try to distinguish themselves from the masses with an inherent sense of superiority

(Comments wont nest below this level)
Dilan
2010-07-08 19:02:27

Because I am, in fact, superior

 
The way of the Dodo
2010-07-08 19:47:41

indeed

 
Thamil
2010-07-10 04:39:06

His death will come neither (a micro second) faster or slower than the time decides (or for those who are religiously Bhudist/Hindi….when the god decides!). But I think this is a public stunt combined with the support of MR & GR. In no time he will be re appointed as a minister (if not with double ministry) again.

 
Thamil
2010-07-10 04:41:01

by the executive presidency!

 
 
 
2010-07-13 18:58:00

I don’t think officers wear numbers, and he’s got an SI’s stars.

 
 
The way of the Dodo
2010-07-08 16:08:35

who needs a registration number when you got that mustache

Shammi
2010-07-09 11:36:37

Ooh, the Dodo is back!

True. I laughed my head off while watching the news, recognising the facial hair from a recent post of Indi’s.

 
 
2010-07-08 20:27:51

[...] Indrajit Samarajiva at Indi.ca thinks that the current protest against the UN has government [...]

 
2010-07-08 22:00:07

[...] Indrajit Samarajiva at Indi.ca thinks that the current protest against the UN has government [...]

 
Giri IS da 1
2010-07-09 08:28:49

… ooooohhhh how impressive ….

“why” …. “dunno”

What a loser.

 
Dilan
2010-07-09 13:04:49
 
2010-07-11 08:43:28

good post,lets stand aginst those who tarnish buddism , make a comment
http://lanka1-answers.blogspot.com/
???????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ???????? ??? ???? , ??? ????? ???? ?? ?????

 
The way of the Dodo
2010-07-11 21:47:43

Wimal Weerawansa’s mother is dead

2010-07-13 11:51:08

No doubt he will blame that too on the UN.

Dilan
2010-07-16 00:31:23

More likely, she really believed his farce unto death, and he killed his own mother because of it.

(Comments wont nest below this level)
 
 
 
2010-08-07 09:37:36

[...] also managed to a get a shot of Sub Inspector Ratnayake, who’s moustache has been extensively covered by Indi. Like Indi says, he seems to be found at any major protest. [...]

 
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