We were
struggling during the last period to build a
social democratic movement to face the dictatorial
and repressive policies of the government. But
this attempt was nullified continuously by the
intervention of chauvinist forces.
There is a
school of thought which believes that the
government could be challenged only by a
leadership that is more Sinhala than the Mahinda
camp. These misplaced radicals devote their time
to contact racist elements who fall out from the
ruling coalition. In addition they try to promote
alternate UNP leaders to act as saviours of the
Sinhala nation.
In other
words an important question is posed to those who
are coming into the anti government agitation. Are
we to take the stale set of slogans of Sinhala
chauvinists as the first and foremost weapon to be
used against the government? Quite apart from the
question of expediency of such a strategy, it will
inevitably boomerang on the opposition.
Breaking
the barriers of language
On
the other hand, the tendency that advocated social
democracy, of some kind, was able to get together
parties and organizations breaking the barrier of
language and nationality. Though they got together
several times before, the intervention of the
Sinhala majority disturbed the unity and parties
could not agree to a common struggle.
However the emergence of unity between the Tamil
democrats and the left in the recent local
government elections, became and impetus for those
who stood for social democracy. The term social
democracy is used here not in the same sense that
it is used in the west, in modern times. It means
a broad agreement on democracy and equality.
New
discussion broke out in all parties after the
election. Even the JVP had to recognize the power
of this unity between the revolutionary left and
the Tamil democrats.
JVP youth
leaders, who in the recent past worked hard in the
Tamil areas, found that their past policy of
promoting the war, has introduced a Chinese wall,
between the Tamil oppressed and them. This sent a
shock wave through the student base of the JVP.
They were also impressed by the influence achieved
by the Nava Sama Samaja party among the Tamil
oppressed.
The new
way out
In this
scenario it was a big relief for those who stood
for a new way out, to participate in a discussion
that was launched on 23rd November under the
patronage of Rev Maduluwawe Sobitha, using the
banner National Movement for Just Society. MP
Dayasiri, MP Sumanthiran, DPF leader Mano
Ganesan, Bahu of NSSP, USP leader Siritunga,
Priydarsani women’s leader and university
teacher’s union spokesperson, participated in this
press conference.
It was
reported that Vickramabahu made the following
speech at this meeting:
“Today there is
a serious challenge to democracy in this country.
On the surface, one sees only democratic
tendencies. We can have press conferences and
protest meetings. Elections are held and
parliament, provincial councils and town councils
are functioning, courts are operating without
state intrusions. But all these are pretensions.
There is a political terror regime working behind
the scene. Justice is not done and people live in
terror. It started in the Tamil areas, but now it
has come to the south as well. The power of this
illegitimate institute can be seen in the recent
events.
Senior political adviser to the
President, Bharatha was killed by security
personnel in broad day light in Colombo suburbs.
WPC minister’s house was surrounded and searched
by security forces. White van has abducted several
around Colombo, while it is a common event in
Tamil areas. Not only general Fonseka but
thousands of Tamil political prisoners are kept in
unknown places, while the government admitted over
800 are kept under PTA.
The nature of the state terror
regime could be seen by the amount allocated to
the defence and related departments in the budget.
Latter dominates the entire budget. Executive
presidential power is used by the terror regime to
legitimize its actions. Executive presidency,
envelopes and covers the political terror regime.
There is logic behind keeping the General in
prison, because, this political terror is driven
by Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism and militarism. If
the General is given freedom, his influence in the
armed forces will be an obstacle to politicisation
of the military apparatus. Hence he is kept in
prison through a travesty of justice. His image is
demolished by subtle campaigns. He will not be
killed but his personality will be demolished.
They survive on the theory that the
war against Tamils brought fortune to Lanka. The
terror regime is mainly used to protect foreign
investors and brokers. It protects the plunder of
local resources. The truth is that the war brought
the biggest misfortune of political
state terror on every body. We lost our freedom
and our national resources. We can win democracy
and freedom only by defeating state terror that
hides behind the
executive
presidency. Rev Sobitha explained that
Gandhi challenged the British Raj; then the
biggest world terror, by mass actions. We must get
together to launch such a mass struggle to defeat
this dictatorial terror
regime.”
