LTTE: Two Years Later


TNA has got the message and rejected the proposal for a senate. On the other hand the Tamil Diaspora has increased the drum beat for a war crime tribunal. While such terrible turn of events have taken place in relation to Tamil national problem, on the workers side developments are no better. From estate workers to university dons , wage earners are moving into confrontation with the government on economic and democratic issues. Workers, dons and students have gone to Supreme Court on human rights issues.


by Dr Vickramabahu Karunarathne

(May 21, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Today is the day of celebration of the war victory of the government, but the new Indo Lanka accord is a kick in the mouth by Indian Rani, Sonia. Mahinda has been forced to eat milk rice from back side.

The election results of Indian state elections brought a new factor to disturb the Mahinda regime. Now the government is equally pressed from both sides. Clearly, the government is pressed to consider the UN report proposals positively. This is very clear in the new Indo Lanka deal signed by the External affairs minister G L Perris. Removal of emergency, serious consideration of human rights violations and giving adequate compensations to victims sand families, release of political prisoners including general Fonseka and the autonomy for the Tamil home land; all these are to be negotiated with TNA and other parties. Indian government has not hesitated to show that it means business. On this issue the new dictates from the Indian government has become a real headache for Mahinda. As a puppet of Delhi he thought he will be protected by India from the pressure from the west. In the case of UN report too, he appealed to Delhi expecting them to indicate him, how to face the western campaign. Instead of protection now Delhi has increased its demand for devolution with police and land powers. TNA has got the message and rejected the proposal for a senate. On the other hand the Tamil Diaspora has increased the drum beat for a war crime tribunal.

While such terrible turn of events have taken place in relation to Tamil national problem, on the workers side developments are no better. From estate workers to university dons , wage earners are moving into confrontation with the government on economic and democratic issues. Workers, dons and students have gone to Supreme Court on human rights issues. JTUA after having a successful Mayday mobilization, continued it campaign against the bogus pension bill by work place mobilizations. Hundreds turned out to sign petitions to drop the bill expected to be passed in June. Many trade union leaders who supported president in the presidential election have come out strongly against Mahinda’s bogus pension bill. JTUA is planning mass work out on 24th which could be a mini hartal, with thousands of workers in street protests. The workers are angry that the government has taken an open anti working class attitude. While the government refused to increase the salaries of workers the allowances of managers of state enterprises have been increased substantially.

While the professionals of the state enterprises in leading positions are so well looked after the university teachers are pushed around like dirt. This has strengthened the belief that government is preparing to do away with free education. Thus one could see various components of mass opposition are developing in this country.

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