Members of the anti-government protest movement known as the “Aragalaya” have declared August 9th to be the “national day of protest” (Jathika Virodatha Dinaya).
According to the “Aragalaya,” a “national day of protest” will be held in each of their cities and regions.
People will gather in their own towns, according to sources, to protest several key issues.
The issues include state repression, particularly the demand that the government dissolve Parliament, end the state of emergency, repeal emergency law, and repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
They will also demand that the government release all arrested protestors and stop hunting down protestors.
Activists and human rights organisations claim that people who are well-known in the protest movement are being targeted repeatedly.
More than 100 people have been arrested, including a Buddhist monk, and several protestors have been barred from travelling.
Police raided protestors’ homes, and security forces took activists off the streets and questioned them for hours.
According to the “Aragalaya,” during the regional protests on the “national day of protest,” a leaflet with the new demands and next steps will be distributed.
