Three leaders of Sri Lanka's New Sama Samaja Party (NSSP) have been detained in connection with an arms cache which police claim to have discovered in a building housing a Health Workers Trade Union. Jean Dupont reports. NSSP General Secretary Vickramabahu Karunarathne has been released on bail, and will appear in court on 9 June, in connection with the alleged discovery of 32 weapons in the Colombo headquarters of the Health Workers Cooperative Society. Police have still not released Ajith Fonseka, President of the co-operative society, and P.D. Saranapala, General Secretary of the Janaraja Health Workers Union, which has offices in the same building. Both men are members of the NSSP central committee, though the workers' centre is open to health workers of all politica persuasions.
In a statement after his release on bail, Karunarathne stressed that the NSSP "categorically denies" all allegations against its members. "Reac tionary forces are trying to implicate the NSSP in a conspiracy to use concealed weapons," he said. "By these lies they hope to discredit worker struggle against price increases, the genocidal war [against the Tamils], repression and privatisation.
"Their other aim is to proscribe the NSSP," he continued. "Yes, our party defends the right of the masses to rise up against this unjust capitalist system But we have always disassociated ourselves from individual terrorism and intimidation as methods of revolution. Such tactics actually undermine the active movement, and sap the democratic initiative of the masses."
In 1989 the UNP government issued arms to the NSSP, and other components of the United Socialist Alliance, so that they could defend themselves against the Sinhala chauvinist Deshapremi Janatha Vyaparaya (Patriotic Peoples Movement). At least 24 NSSP members were murdered by DJV chauvinists. Trade union centres were also issued with arms, after a leading Communist Party trade union leader was also killed.
According to an earlier NSSP press statement, "The NSSP returned all its arms when the government demanded them. It has not given arms to the Health Workers union centre, and is therefore not responsible for this arms discovery The arrest of Bahu Karunarathne, NSSP General Secretary, is definitely a political conspiracy to isolate the NSSP because of its resolute opposition to the privatisation programme of the Chandrika government. The NSSP is also a clear opponent of the war against the Tamil people. Bahu Karunarathne has been identified as a determined opponent of the government's policies. Since his election to the Colombo Municipal Council he has become a very popular mass leader. * The NSSP asks friends and comrades abroad to send messages demanding the release of Ajith Fonseka and P.D. Saranapala, and the dropping of charges against Vickramabahu Karunarathne to Her Excellency the President, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Presidential Secretariat, Colombo 01, Sri Lanka. (fax +94-1-333703) and The Secretary, Ministry of Defence (fax 94-1-54-1529) Please fax a copy of your protest to the NSSP at +94-1-334822. Donations to the legal fund should be sent to United Federation of Labour, A/C 16 500 599 62, Peoples Bank, Union Place, Colombo 02, Sri Lanka
Analysis with attitude — and half price for those under 26
International Viewpoint: the Fourth International's hard-hitting monthly magazine
YOUR NAME..
Belgium
ADDRESS
Denmark
Germany
CITY
CODE
Greece
Holland
Spain
COUNTRY
E-MAIL/®
Sweden
Australia/NZ
Send no cash with order. We will invoice you.
Canada
• PECI, PO Box 85, 75522 Paris, cedex 11 France
regular youth BEF 2000 BEF 1000
DM 110 J DM 55 U
6000 dr J 3000 dr
195 J $50 6000 pts 3000 pts SEK 400 J SEK 200
$ 33 $ 17 0 C$ 80 C$ 40
U
International Viewpoint
Russia *