Upali Cooray, member of the Revolutionary Marxist Party, Cey lonese section of the Fourth International, and presently active in the 'Campaign for Release of Political Prisoners in Sri Lanka'
This repression is exercised under the provisions of the in Britain to explain the context in which the government is of Terrorism Act, (PTA), and the carrying out this brutal repression of democratic rights.
clergy. Prevention The present attempt to concentrate power in the hands of Jawardene, the president of Sri Lanka, which is the reason for the present repression, is linked to the failure of the government's economic policy.
When the present government, of the United National Party, came to power in 1977, their policy was to open the economy of the country to the multi-nationals and foreign capital. At first there was a great deal of euphoria about the economic growth. But now the situation is very grim.
In May 1982 a sub-committee of the World Bank presented a special report to a meeting of the aid donors to Sri Lanka in Tokyo.
This report makes it quite clear that the situation has deteriorated, and that the government has not been revealing the facts. For example, the government announced that the inflation rate in 1981 had been 17 percent, whereas this report showed that it had been 32 per cent. The country's reserves have fallen to a dangerously low level. In 1982 they equalled the cost of four weeks' imports. In 1983 they will be nil. Unless, of course, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) helps out with further loans.
This report illustrates that the government's policies had been responsible for the enormous growth in the money supply - the massive printing of new bank notes. Unless the government takes drastic new measures the situation will get worse.
The steps the World Bank report recommended were firstly, to have a realistic exchange rate'. This is just a euphemism for devaluation. This government has already devalued the rupee by 100 per cent when it first came to power, and then allowed the rupee to float', leading to a further 25 per cent devaluation. Secondly, to stop all new building pro-
And thirdly, to reduce subsidies.
Emergency 2,000 m to 200 million. Any further reductions would mean that the almost free education system and the free health service, already deteriorating, would have to go. Such measures would provoke wide opposition. In 1981 the government attempted fee-paying education but had to abandon it.
So, their present measures are to try and ensure there is no opposition to their carrying out the World Bank's dictates.
CENTRALISING POWER IN THE
PRESIDENT'S HANDS
The first thing the government did was to secure the position of Jawardene as President Jawardene (DR)
1982, dential election scheduled for 1984 to
October 1982.
They did this at a time when the major opposition party, the bourgeois Sri Lankan Freedom Party, (SLFP), was in a state of disarray. And they made a deal with the bourgeois leadership of the
Tamil United Liberation Front to ensure that they stayed neutral.
But of course it is not enough just to secure the position of the president. Now they are trying to extend the life of the present parliament for a further six years by referendum rather than holding an election.
It is quite clear why. In the presidential election they won a majority of 52 per cent, but the Tamil population was not voting as the Tamil ULF called for a boycott. Had they voted the government would have lost, the only place the government was defeated was in the North. ern, Tamil area.
If they get this through they will use a provision of the 1978 constitution that they introduced to allow the president to appoint new MPs. Every MP of the UNP has already had to sign an undated resignation letter so that Jawardene can replace them at will - he does not just want complete control over the opposition but over his own party as well.
These proposals have already caused some friction between the government and the judiciary that they appointed in 1977. The Supreme Court only approved the referendum by a majority of 4 to 3.
So, with the slenderest of majorities in the country they want to keep the five-sixths majority in parliament.
### REPRESSION INCREASES
The government extended the 'emergency powers' they introduced as the presidential elections ended for no reason at all.
jects.
The transport subsidy has already been president. Using their overwhelming ma- PTA to arrest the secretary and 22 disreduced from 400 rupees to zero.
The food subsidy has been reduced from
24 jority in Parliament they changed the constitution to bring forward the presi-
They have used these powers and the trict secretaries of the SLFP - thus paralysing this party. Many others, how
many is not known, have also been ar- those opposed to the Prevension of Terrested. Detainees can be held anywhere, and are not allowed contact with anyone. opposition from campaigning by shutting down printing presses which print anti-government material. The Party daily newpaper Attha has been closed down and the CP offices shut. Other presses have been shut down, including one which published an appeal by 82 clergy, 50 Buddhist and 32 Christian, calling for a 'no' vote in the referendum.
At the same time the government is flagrantly breaking its own election regulations. These forbid putting up posters calling for a 'yes' or 'no' vote in the referendum. Yet they have put posters on every lamp post and in every bus and train - and anyone putting up a poster for a 'no' vote has been arrested!
Arrests have been widespread, including of a large number of clergy. Human rights activists, teachers, students, and workers have also suffered. But there has been a mass response to this repression, which has been concentrated in the north. On November 30 there was a huge rorism Act and violation of human rights.
The most urgent task is to save the lives of the young Tamil militants Kuttimani and Jegan (International Viewpoint,
Solidarity activity is particularly important in those countries from whom the Sri Lankan government is hoping to get aid. For example there are both British and Swedish companies building dams financed by loans from their respective countries. Here it would be good to make propaganda explaining how the British and Swedish governments were aiding this repressive regime.
The sorts of things that should be done are to send protest letters and telegrams demanding the restoration of democratic rights, a stop to the hangings, and for the release of all the detainees held without trial.
Trade unions and members of parli-
Local
asked to give their ament should be support, and exert what pressure they can. Financial aid for legal expenses and families of detainees is urgently rethe quired. And in different countries committees should be formed to link up with the committee in London to form an international campaign.
Send protest letters to:
J.R. Jawardene
Colombo
Sri Lanka
For further information contact:
Release of Politi-
Campaign for the cal Prisoners in Sri Lanka
9 Grays Inn Buildings
Rosebery Avenue
London ECI
Great Britain