Strong reactions in several countries to storming of protest camps

THE STORM: Soldiers arrived at the protest camp of many Sri Lankans on the night of Friday, chased them away and tore down the tents. Photo: Rafiq Maqbool / AP

On the night of Friday, soldiers went into action against a protest camp in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo. It has provoked strong reactions in several countries.

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Sri Lanka has been characterized by an economic crisis, and the unrest escalated further when Ranil Wickremeshinge was elected as the new president on Wednesday.

Soldiers from the Sri Lankan security forces moved against the protesters overnight Friday local time, and against their camp outside the president’s office in Colombo.

IN SOLIDARITY: Indian students gathered in New Dehli in solidarity with the Sri Lankan people. Photo: ANUSHREE FADNAVIS / Reuters

Today there have been demonstrations in several countries as a result. In India’s capital, New Delhi, several members of the student organization Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) have been arrested by the police.

It is said to have happened while the students were demonstrating against the storming in Colombo. In addition, they were going to the UN offices in India to deliver a letter in solidarity with the Sri Lankan people, according to Reuters.

ARRESTED: Here, a member of the student organization KYS is arrested by the police during the protest in New Delhi. Photo: ANUSHREE FADNAVIS / Reuters

Demands that Singapore arrest former President Rajapaksa

The Tamil Guardian writes that there have been demonstrations in several other countries as well, including in Malaysia.

Protesters gathered outside Singapore’s embassy demanding the arrest and prosecution of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa for genocide, according to the Tamil Guardian.

NOT GIVING UP: Despite the storming and clashes with soldiers, the protesters continue to show resistance to President Wickremesinghe. Photo: ARUN SANKAR / AFP

For the past two decades, the Rajapaksa family has controlled politics in the country, including during the civil war in Sri Lanka, writes The New York Times. Several Sri Lankans claim that the Rajapaksa family is to blame for the problems facing the country.

Earlier in July, then President Rajapaksa escaped from Sri Lanka to Singapore.

OATH: On Thursday morning Sri Lankan time, Wickremesinghe was sworn in as president, despite protesters saying they will not accept the election. PHOTO: AP

In Malaysia, a letter is said to have been delivered to Singapore’s High Commissioner in Malaysia, in which Tamil Malaysians are said to have expressed their displeasure at Rajapaksa being allowed to stay in Singapore, reports the Tamil Guardian.

According to the Tamil Guardian, there have been similar trials in the UK, France and Germany.

Soldiers reportedly attacked BBC journalist

At least 50 protesters were injured in the clashes, including journalists who were beaten by security forces. Two people are to be admitted to hospital, according to Reuters.

The BBC writes that the soldiers who stormed the protest camp became aggressive when the demonstrators resisted.

INJURED: A protester is taken into an ambulance after being injured during the clashes with the soldiers. Photo: Eranga Jayawardena / AP

The protesters are said to have been pushed away from the area they had besieged, but when two BBC journalists went back to document what happened, they are said to have been met with violence.

– A man hit my colleague and took his phone. We tried to explain that we were journalists doing our job, but they continued to be violent, says one BBC journalist.