Constitutional Affairs Minster D. E. W. Gunasekera yesterday warned that America having interfered in Iraq could try to internationalise Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict as well.Gunasekera, was speaking at a press conference attended by all political parties in Colombo,to condemn the hanging of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

"I have a fear that America will now try to interfere in Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict and apply international pressure. That is when the problems will start."

Flanked by Deputy Plantation Minister Hussein Baila, UNP MP Rajitha Senaratne, JVP MP Wimal Weerawansa,SLMC MP M. Nijamudeen, Deputy Vocational Training Minister P. Radhakrishnan, NSSP leader Wickramabahu Karunaratne and leaders of several other political parties, Gunasekera

described Saddam’s killing as a political assassination.

"It was not a judicial verdict but a political verdict. It boils down to political assasination. He was in the custody of the Americans and American justice was meted out to him."

Gunasekera, said that Iraq’s Prime Minister had signed the death warrant in violation of the country’s constitution which bestows such authority on either the President or Vice President.

Anti Sunni remarks just prior to Saddam being hung was an ugly spectacle to watch, he observed.

Kalutara District UNP MP Rajitha Senaratne said that Saddam was hung for killing 147 Kurds but that looks like child’s play when you count the thousands that Bush has killed.

Saddam, he said was not a fundamentalist and almost the entire world has condemned the type of American justice that was dished out.

"The Americans are stuck in Iraq and unable to get out, but they will be ousted very soon by the brave Iraqi people."

Senaratne said that the UNP condemns Sadam’s killing and would join all other political parties to lodge its protest with the US embassy in Colombo after Jummah prayers on Friday.

By: Zacki Jabbar
Courtesy: The Island - January 5, 2006