Mannar Magistrate on the protest and agitation

In an interview with Anthony Pillai Judeson – Magistrate, Mannar, he told Asian Tribune that his telephone calls were all tapped. But he did not say who taps his telephone conversations.

The Mannar Magistrate alleged that in the Parliament also the government media reports are lies and they are totally lies and creating another picture. Their versions are bad and fault.

Asian Tribune was told that a sitting Magistrate came into questioning by the CID. It is not sure whether the CID inquired about the verdict he made in the open courts.

The Mannar Magistrate said that Minister Rishad Bathiyutheen spoke to him over the phone and he has warned him that he should not talk to him – in his capacity as a judicial officer.

He said that the Minister has not spoken to him earlier and also never met the Minister.

The Mannar Magistrate told that the Bar Association President Wijedasa Rajapaksa, who is a UNP Member of Parliament spoke to him over the phone. The Magistrate did not disclose what they spoke. Subsequently the Bar Association President announced that he wanted to file a case against Minister Rishad Bathiyudeen for contempt of court. The kettle call the pot black.

The Mannar Magistrate also said, "Until Friday Lawyers are going to boycott and after that they are going to decide whether they are going to continue or not.

The Mannar Magistrate requested Asian Tribune to talk to the President of the Bar Council , Mannar - Mr. Emanuel Caius Feldano and get more details from him.

Accordingly Asian Tribune contacted Mr. Emanuel Caius Feldano and interviewed him and that interview will be posted in the 26th July issue of the Asian Tribune.

Given below excerpts of the interview Asian Tribune had with the Mannar Magistrate Anthony Pillai Judeson regarding recent incidents in Mannar:

Asian Tribune: I am from Asian Tribune and I want to have your views, observations and comments about the recent incidents in Mannar.

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: I am a judicial officer, what you want me to do now?

Asian Tribune: I am not asking you anything. I know that you are a judicial officer, but there was a news item saying that CID recorded your statement. If possible can you give the background of what happened?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: This is the thing … if you want I can give some lawyers numbers and then you can collect those information from them.

Asian Tribune: No problem, I will contact them, give me there names and their telephone numbers? In the meantime, I need a clarification on one matter - that you came down from the bench, came out of the court and ordered the police to shoot the agitators below the knee?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: Regarding that, yesterday (23 July) the Northern Lawyers, they released a press release and that one you can get from these lawyers. You read that. That one is perfectly correct, giving a clear picture of the entire incident.

Even in the Parliament also the government media reports are lies and they are totally lies and creating another picture. Their versions are bad and fault.

Yesterday’s press release you get that and read it. They will e-mail you and after that you can get more details from the lawyers.

Asian Tribune: To whom I should talk to?

Suddenly the Magistrate was talking to someone else on the phone while I was holding. I kept on asking “Are you on the line with me.” Then I have to disconnect the call and call him again.

Asian Tribune: (I called him again and told him) I am Editor, Asian Tribune.

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: Yes .. Yes.

Asian Tribune: When I was on the line with you, you started talking with someone else.

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: Ah ? All my calls are recorded. That is why.

Asian Tribune: I don’t know. Suddenly I couldn’t get your response.

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: You contact our bar president.

Asian Tribune: Please give me his number.

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: Mr. Feladano and his number is ----------
Asian Tribune: So I can expects details from him?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: Yes … yes … definitely.

Asian Tribune: Today also lawyers are boycotting?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: Until Friday they are going to do that and after that they are going to decide whether they are going to continue or not.

Asian Tribune: But yesterday you took up the Tamil Nadu fishermen case.

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: Yes, we have to take those remand cases, otherwise the entire things will get collapsed. Only the remand cases we are taking inside the chambers and not in the open court.

Asian Tribune: We carried a news item saying you have remanded the 23 Tamil Nadu fishermen till the 6th of August.

So this allegation is that you got down from the chambers and went out and ordered the police, to shoot the agitators below the knees. You haven’t clarified on that?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: That one is totally wrong. Yesterday the Northern Lawyers said the whole incidents from the beginning. They said that these things happened and now some of the media people are turning to the other side and saying another story. Those reports are false.

Asian Tribune: Who are these Northern lawyers?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: All the Nothern Lawyers, they came to Mannar and they released a press release.

Asian Tribune: Did they interviewed you?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: No … no .. no

Asian Tribune: O.K. This press release I can get it from Mr. Feldano?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: Yes.. yes … you can.

Asian Tribune: In the meantime tell us whether the lawyers from Mannar either spoke or discussed with you about these incidents?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: They are with me, they came and they know the incident. It happened in the open court and they know.

Asian Tribune: One more question, did the Minister Rishad Bathiyutheen actually telephoned you?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: Yes .. yes.

Asian Tribune: Did he threatened you? What did he said?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: On the 17th he said, "because of your order, Mannar is going to burn." He said also some other things and after these incidents again, he called me around 1 Oclock, he phoned me and told me , "you see because of your order only all these things are happening."

Asian Tribune: And what did you say to the Minister?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: I said that you can’t talk to me. If you talk again, I have to inform to the police and take action against you.

Asian Tribune: In what language both of you were speaking?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: Tamil .. Tamil.

Asian Tribune: Did you knew the Minister earlier and were you able to identify the voice that spoke was that of the Minister Rishad Bathiyutheen?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: No .. No.

Asian Tribune: That was the first time you came in contact with him?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: No, he phoned me twice before. I told him the same thing to him, that you can’t call me and if you have a complaint you have to go to the Judicial Services Commission and complaint and you can’t directly phone me. Then also he said something and then I cut the phone.

That one also I complaint to the former Chief Justice and he said hereafter if he phones to inform him that he will take action.

Asian Tribune: Who is the former Chief Justice you are referring to?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: Ret. Chief Justice Ashoka De Silva .

Asian Tribune: Why you did not complaint to the Judicial Service Commission? Why did you choose to complaint to the former Chief Justice?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: At this time he was the Commission Member. After that there was a call and I cut the call . Also on the 17th and 18th he called me and then I decided to complaint to JSC. On 17thy I complaint and I send everything in writing and on 18th again he called me and I complaint to the JSC.

Asian Tribune: Did Wijedasa Rajapaksa, the President of the Bar Association talked to you? This is my last question.

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: Yes he talked to me.

Asian Tribune: On what capacity he talked to you?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: He is the President of the Bar Association, so he called me.

Asian Tribune: Can he talk to you like that?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: Yes.

Asian Tribune: He should also move a motion in the open courts to talk with you know?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: No I don’t think. These things have happened. Reported everywhere after that for courtesy, as he is the Bar President he can, do you know?

Asian Tribune: I don’t know whether he can talk to a member of the Judicial service – a magistrate and by talking he seems to be setting a precedent .

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: Actually I am not sure whether he can communicate with me. Lot of people, such as President Counsels, Lawyers and others called me. At that, I remember he also called me. Excuse me Mr. Rajasingham I can’t give you all these details.

Asian Tribune: I understand and appreciate your position. One more question. It is personal. How many years you are in the judicial service?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: This is my 5th year as a Magistrate.

Asian Tribune: When were you sworn in as an attorney at law?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: in the year 2004.

Asian Tribune: So you became the Magistrate in the year 2009?

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: I think those thing are not necessary , and if you want any details you get from my lawyers.

Asian Tribune: As you suggested I will talk to Mr. Feldano. God Bless you.

Anthony Pillai Judeson - Magistrate, Mannar: You talk to him and get the details. God Bless You.

Click below link and watch the Mannar incident
http://youtu.be/8_oNchmizRA

- Asian Tribune-