JVP Leader warns of Colombo being put under siege to fight govt. suppression of dissent

by Saman Indrajith 

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the day may not been far off when people surround the city of Colombo in protest against the suppression of their voice against unjust and undemocratic governance amidst the country’s worst-ever economic crisis.

 Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte on Saturday, Dissanayake said that the government had failed to solve problems faced by the people.

“This government is bankrupt and deploys the police and security forces to carry out brutal attacks on protesters.  Our party’s youth wing Socialist Youth Union (SYU) held a protest on 24 Sept. It was a peaceful demonstration carried out in a manner that ensured no damage was caused to any public property. But the police obstructed the protest and brutally attacked the demonstrators.

“They arrested 82 persons and seven have now been hospitalised. Ranil Wickramesinghe is acting like a dictator, violating the freedom guranteed by the Constitution. Dissanayake asked if the people had no right to protest at a time the masses including children and youth were suffering due to the consequences of the destruction caused by the wrong economic policies and destructive political culture in this country.

“Does Wickremesinghe think the people will remain quiet in the face of oppression? He is a leader with no popular mandate. However, he is now unleashing repression on the country’s people despite being one of the main accused who led the country down this destructive path,” he said.

Dissanayake said a broad social movement was being forged. “The government will not be able to stop that movement with attacks and threats. Unless the government stops suppressing dissent, it will not be long before scores of citizens surround the city of Colombo. Wickremesinghe will have to hide in barracks,” he said.

The JVP leader called on all protesters and others concerned about the country to make common cause. “We ask everyone to join a broad movement to rise against this destructive and repressive regime as well as its destructive economic policies,” he said.

JVP Central Committee member Bimal Ratunayake also addressed the press.