Lesbians and gay joining to establish classless society

by Dr. Vicramabahu Karunaratna

(December 21, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The human rights day 10th Dec this year passed without much publicity in the media. We cannot blame the media as the pressure from the chauvinist regime is heavy on them. Human and civil rights organizations too are subjected to this pressure. They are virtually forced to go low key by the state. Many are accused of terrorism; rest is accused of corruption. On the other hand, media was pretty busy on Karu Jayasuriya, the home minister, leaving the government to be the deputy leader of the UNP.

He said that he has done his patriotic duty of strengthening the government’s war efforts. Now that the war is coming to an end he decided to cross over to UNP. Unfortunately for Karu, neither Mahinda nor Ranil will be able to be successful in their respective missions.

Details of the disappearances

However behind this rumpus of Karu there are several human rights campaigns that deserve the attention of the public. I attended the campaign organized by the Committee for the Investigation of the Disappeared [CID]. This Campaign which was held at the Price Park, Colombo started at 10 am with the exhibition of pictures and details of the disappearances; photos of displacement, and destruction due to sinhala military conquest; recent pictures of Vanni war zone; placards and banners against the barbaric war and calling for cessation of violence. Meeting started at 11.30.a.m. Mavei Senadhirajah MP, Yohan Devananda, Joseph Stalin, and myself were the speakers while Gunasena Wijesinghe, director CID and Mahendran president UPLF, thanked the participants. Thurairatnesingham MP, Raja Uswetakeiyawa PCM , Father Sakthiwel, Saranapala Silva Secy ULF, Herbert Silva Secy, Health Union and president GULF, KJ Silva participated and supported the campaign. The peace petition of the intellectuals was signed by all who participated in the event. Before the meeting black balloons were released to symbolize the sorrow for the disappeared. A Police contingent, led by Senior Superintendent of Police [Colombo-centre], rushed in to investigate what was happening.

Some chauvinist has complained that black parachutes were seen in the direction of the harbor! However the sober SSP accepted our explanation. The petition signed proclaimed that the unresolved national problem and the attempted military conquest of the Tamil land have created the conditions for abhorrent human rights violations and unbearable sufferings of the internally displaced people. Furthermore seeking a military solution to the national problem will completely deny peace in Lanka. Hence Power-sharing with maximum devolution of power within a united Lanka is the way to peace. It called for an immediate ceasefire with the goal of setting up an interim administrative structure for the North-East of the country as a first step to permanent peace.

In my speech I made the following points. “The disappearances are closely related to the war that is going on. In 88/89 there were disappearances in Sinhala areas. At that stage there was an insurrection in the south by Sinhala youth. Nearly 40, 000 disappeared and we campaigned and took the problem to the UN at Geneva. Then Mahinda participated in the campaign and played a prominent role. That rebellion was due to unemployment and the marginalization of Sinhala educated youth. On the other hand the Tamil rebellion is due to national oppression in addition to social problems. Tamil leaders campaigned in the past democratically by mass actions; these were brutally suppressed by the state. Sinhala bourgeois leaders Banda, Dudley and JR, all promised devolution and self rule to Tamils but did not implement due to Sinhala chauvinist opposition. This created anger and hate among the youth who took up arms in desperation. Mahinda regime backed by India and global powers claims that genocide is the answer.

Disappearances in Colombo and other government controlled areas are entirely due to the oppressive strategy of the state. We must campaign to stop the war and go for a political solution. Presently this government is run by Sinhala chauvinist and they are attacking Muslims and Christians as well. They condemn and ridicule even international leaders who oppose chauvinist oppression. We must get together to campaign against this monstrosity and press for a ceasefire as a prelude to a political solution”

Rights of Muslims

On Dec 12, Human Rights Committee -Colombo of APHR led by Dharshana and Others, organized a public rally at Maligawatta. It was attended by nearly 500 people. I made virtually the same speech there. In addition I condemned the attempt by Sinhala chauvinist to suppress the rights of Muslims. Other speakers included Shanthi Sachithan-andan, Srilal, Rahuman and Ajith. On Dec 13 Companions On a Journey and Women’s Support Group together organized first ever Solidarity Games at the Shalika sports grounds, Park road Colombo 5. There were over 300, who courageously came out to assert equality for humans with a difference.

There were people from the bourgeoisie as well as the proletariat; it is in a sense a classless society. I was really happy to see that lesbian and gay people have come a long way to assert freedom and to establish equality in this country. I was requested to open the sports meet by hoisting the national flag. Though we do not believe the present lion flag as a symbol of national unification I had to oblige for the sake of a different dimension of human liberation. - Sri Lanka Guardian