"Jana Bala Kahala Nadaya" vs "Janagosha"

The UNP led protest about rising oil prices, was not a grand success. It was a rainy day in Colombo and also, traffic offences could have been pinned on the protesters without much effort.

Some police officers did better by intimidating and abusing protesters. One such over vigilant police officer was seen harassing two female UNP leaders. He appeared to be a follower of our bellowed Labour minister, Mervin!

Inspite of these incidences the protest was not a grand event.

On the other hand, protest was based on basically vehicle owners or drivers. That may have alienated the less fortunate sections of the population who wanted to protest.
In 1992 "Janagosha" event, Mahinda came to the Lipton circle, walking, equipped with a 'nalava' (horn) and a 'bere' (drum). He appeared more like a peasant from down south though he had, even then, all the connections of Colombo 7 bourgeoisie.

............In the present event, Ranil wanted to confine the agitation to oil prices and he failed to get the opposition together into a common action. Result is what we witnessed: a parade of luxury vehicles instead of a popular mass action.


Unfortunately the UNP was unable to come to an agreement with the JVP. At a moment like this it is difficult to expect much from a public protest if there is no agreement for common action among the oppositional parties. One could compare this to what happened on 2 July 1992.


On that day the oppositional parties in the south except the JVP that was proscribed, got together for a common action –Janagosa- the 'peoples noise'. On 3 July The Island paper commented


"In Colombo the 'Janagosa' passed without incident but elsewhere police had baton charged and dispersed protesters who had also been attacked by gangs leading to one death at Dikwella, we reported yesterday. Fifteen others had been injured when armed persons had attacked protesters who were doing nothing more lethal than lightning crackers, clapping, blowing on horns or exerting their vocal cords in a good old 'hoo'. Among those who had been arrested were Putlam district SLFP MP S.D.R. Jayarathne and NSSP General Secretary Vickremabahu Karunarathne. In Ja-ela vehicles taking part in the Jana Gosha had been confiscated."

 

In this event Mahinda was the main organizer and there was room for the ordinary pedestrian to participate. Noise making was not specialized to tooting of vehicles.


Mahinda came to the Lipton circle, walking, equipped with a 'nalava' (horn) and a 'bere' (drum). He appeared more like a peasant from down south though he had, even then, all the connections of Colombo 7 bourgeoisie. His bourgeoisie intentions were hidden in a dark corner. As Trotsky explained this is the key difference between the so called national liberal bourgeoisie and the cosmopolitan conservative bourgeoisie.


Today it is revealed that Mahinda is not a nationalist but a bourgeoise agent of global capital, may be more hardworking than Ranil. At that stage we participated in the common action as it was a popular event and also there was a pressing need to struggle for democratic rights.


In the present event, Ranil wanted to confine the agitation to oil prices and he failed to get the opposition together into a common action. Result is what we witnessed: a parade of luxury vehicles instead of a popular mass action.

 

Of course oil price hike is an important issue. At this stage government should not think of making a huge profit in selling oil and in addition, the liberal consumption of oil by the state has to be cut down drastically. But this cannot be separated from the huge expenditure on the war and the mega development programme that is going on. Latter is totally out of tune with the pressing needs of the economy; in particular the food production.


War is connected to abductions, disappearances, media oppression and many other human rights violations. Above all it is connected to bomb explosions, killings and the eternal misery of fear. There is no way one can isolate the price hike issue from the sufferings created by the war. Any democratic agitation that does not incorporate the issue of war is bound to be a flop.


Already Bala Thampo, Linus jayathilaka and other trade union leaders are busy planning a common agitation combining the two issues, the inflation and the war. This is a step forward from the unity shown on the last May Day and that could open the way forward for a common campaign