A protest demanding the release of Tamil rapper Ganeshkumar Sangeethsan, who remains detained under Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), was held outside the Sri Lankan Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on Wednesday evening.
The demonstration, held on June 10, saw civil society activists, religious leaders, trade union representatives and members of the public gather outside the seat of the Sri Lankan executive to call for the rapper’s immediate release and the repeal of the PTA.
Protesters carried placards condemning the continued use of anti-terror legislation and calling on the National People’s Power (NPP) government to act on its election pledges.
Slogans displayed at the protest included “Who protects the people from state terrorism?”, “No to terrorist laws”, “Abolish the PTA”, “Withdraw the PSTA”, “NPP government, fulfil your election promises”, and “Free singer Sangeethsan”.
Sangeethsan, widely known as HipHop Sangee, was arrested after Sri Lankan authorities alleged that he was attempting to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam through his songs.
His arrest has sparked outrage across the Tamil homeland, where protesters, artists, political representatives and civil society groups have condemned the use of anti-terror legislation against artistic and cultural expression.
The protest comes amid growing calls for his release. Similar demonstrations have been organised in recent days in Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Valvettithurai, among other locations in the previous days.
Amnesty International, Tamil diaspora organisations, politicians on the island, Tamil Nadu, Canada and other parts of the world have also condemned his arrest and called for his release.
The PTA has long been condemned by Tamil political representatives and human rights organisations for enabling prolonged detention, coercive interrogations and the suppression of Tamil political expression. Despite repeated promises by successive Sri Lankan governments to repeal or replace the law, it remains in force and continues to be used against Tamils.
Photographs: Rajkumar Rajeevkanth