British politicians have condemned the arrest of Tamil National People's Front leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and have called for his immediate release.
Elliot Colburn MP for Carshalton and Wallington and All Party Parliamentary Group Chair for Tamils (APPGT) tweeted:
"This is a chilling reminder even elected representatives of Tamils speaking about justice for mass atrocities & a political solution to the ethnic conflict aren't safe."
Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, has written to the British Foreign Secretary to express his concern and request an update on the situation and what communication the Foreign Secretary has had with his Sri Lankan counterpart.
Read more here: ‘The gravity of the situation could not be clearer’ – UK Lib Dem leader slams arrest of TNPF leader
Siobhain McDonagh MP for Mitcham and Morden echoed Colburn's comments and tweeted:
The arrest of @GGponnambalam is a chilling reminder that even elected representatives of Tamils that speak about justice for mass atrocities/genocide and a political solution to the ethnic conflict are not safe. He must be released immediately. https://t.co/LTiv2KiTNs
— Siobhain McDonagh MP (@Siobhain_Mc) June 7, 2023
Sam Tarry MP for Ilford South said that Tamil representatives "are not safe to articulate their people's aspirations of justice for war-crimes and self-determination" and called on the international community to condemn Ponnambalam's arrest.
Gareth Thomas MP for Harrow West decried the arrest as "profoundly worrying". He further stated on Twitter:
It is profoundly worrying that @GGPonnambalam has been arrested. I hope @JamesCleverly will be making urgent demands for his release. Democratically elected representatives of the Tamil community should be able to speak up for their constituents without fear of prison or worse https://t.co/2dOovxlSXY
— Gareth Thomas MP (@GarethThomasMP) June 7, 2023
Earlier today, the TNPF leader was arrested at his Colombo home and taken to Kilinochchi police station.
Mr Ponnambalam was due to table a special motion in Parliament regarding the assault and threats to life issued towards him by Maruthankerny police last week. The police department has since named him as an 'accused person' in the incident where he was assaulted and a loaded gun drawn on him by police officers in plain clothes.
Ponnambalam has since been released.
