'Why Are We Treated As Slaves'

I returned on Wednsday from Mannar. The bus journey was really a tough. We got into the bust at 6.30 in the morning and reached Murungan at about 4.00 in the evening. We spent the night at Don Bosco Institute where there are about 150 boys being looked after from the affected areas. Although we did not meet any of the priests that evening the boys extended to us their cordial hospitality. Many children there were attending the village school and about 20 others are being given vocational training such as in computer skills, carpentry, motor mechanism and so on. I found the children there live a very free and happy life.

As I did not know Tamil (Fr. Terrence can speak little Tamil) I had a communication problem in the absence of anyone who could speak English. But then two senior students from the computer class met me. I really admire their courage to communicate with me in English.

On the following morning we met Fr. Pius, a Salesian priest who has just returned from India after seeing his ailing mother. He was very welcoming us and treated us with very friendly and warm hospitality.

We heard also about another community in a place called Kunchikulam, opposite to Madhu Rd, there is a community of 300 families, who traditionally have lived on hunting, bee honey collection and so on. But they are now been been forbidden to go hunting for security reasons since the army has now come in there. As a result, their means of livelihoods is seriously affected. This has caused serious problem to those people. The priest whom we met would like to have even some dry rations for distribution.

If for security reasons the army forbids them from engaging in their means of living, the authorities should be able to provide them an alternative means of living.

I was happy to hear that about 15 people from the Kalimoddai camp where the people arrived from the uncleared areas are detained, have been freed.

After breakfast, we went to Nattan and spoke to the priests there. In the Nanttan camp the displaced people from Arippu and Selavaturai are living. We had a long conversation with a displaced family from Arippu. This family has been engaged in sale of prawns and crabs before they were removed from there. Thy are awaiting the day when they could return to Arippu and start their livelihood.

They all still wondering why they can't return to their homes and engage in their fishing, since Mannar is now a 'liberated area'. If liberated people must be able to live a freer life than before.

We met on the second day, several other priests in the Cathedral. The parish priest told us a very interesting story. With the permission of the bishop, he has gone to collect a lorry load of sand from a property belonging the bishop. Prior to that he has received letters of permission from the grama sevaka, the district secretary and also from the SSP. But, when he started cutting and loading sand into the lorry, an army official has objected to it and prevented his actions and told him that that the permission given by the Police is not valid and he should have permission from the area commander. He has failed all his efforts to reason out with the officer showing his the permits already in possession. Finally, he has stopped his work that day and has got permission from area commander to bring sand from the bishop's own property to the cathedral site. The priests during that week have been engaged in burying 7 dead bodies killed by unknown gunmen in the Mannar area.

The priests citing this examples asked us, 'Is this democracy in the so called liberated area' and 'Why are we made slaves in this country'?

In Mannar town the SLT telephones except the mobile phones have not been functioning for about a week. So communication was extremely difficult. Finally when we returned from Mannar to Colombo on Wendsday, we were checked at 10 places, the last was at Waikkal. At every occasion we had to get down from the bus with our bags and walk a distance.

When we got down from the Mannar bus at Medawachchiya, we had to come a long way to get the Colombo bus. The three wheeler charge was Rs. 80.00. We started at 6.30am from Mannar and it was 4.30pm when I got down at Peliyagoda. The question that the priests asked why we are treated as slaves is still haunting me.

Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda

Sramabimani May Day Celebration.

About 80 young workes of Sramabimani Worker Forum stood in a picket line and shouted slogans for about 45 miniutes on the 1^st of May at the Seeduwa Juction. Their demands were 'reduction of cost of living', 'a living wage for the FTZ workers', 'payment of salary increments laid down by the government'. Some other slogans read, 'Don't we have a right to live', Don't' we have a right to a healthy environment'

After the picket at the junction, the workers walked in procession from Liyanagemulla up to the Sramabimani centre, which took about another 30 minutes. A Buddhist monk, a priest and two religious sisters walked with the workers.

A meeting was held at the centre, at which four persons addressed the gathering. After the welcome speech by Sugath Rajapaksha the chief organizer, a worker from NEST who has been recently dismised for being involved in trade union action, delivered the first speech.

He invited the workers to pay attention to their own plight as the workers as caused by high cost of living. Refering to the expereinces of NEST workers, he narrated what consequence they were made to suffer, when they made a very inncocent demand, namely an increament of Rs. 250.00 a month, as a part of what the the government has recommended to the private sector.

He said, 'we came to the city hoping for better pastures but we have fallen from the frying to the fire. As workers if we continue to close our eyes to these realities and keep silence, we would loose everything. Therefore, we need to organize ourselves and fight for our just rights.

Other speakers were the Buddhist Monk, Fr. Sarath iddamalgoda, Sr. Noel Christine and Vincent Weerakkody.

Of course in an area where the worker population is about 30-40 thousand, the impact of a demonstration by 80 workers could not bring about any substantial change. But, we are happy that this time we were able to have a public event unlike on the previous occasion when the walk was held in the interior. However, according to information we have this is the only public event held in FTZ area to celebrate the May Day.

Last year too the Sramabimani Worker Forum held a similar May Rally.

The workers are afraid of taking part in public protests. They fear of being identified by the management. Among the workers also there are also some workers who carry tales wanting to curry favour with the management.

It is not an easy task to organize such an event. Several meetings were held at the boarding level to sell the idea of May Day demonstration among the workers. When asked some of these young workers in fact did not know what the May Day actually meant.

Our original plan was to hold this event on the 4^th of May, but the date was changed to the 1^st of May on the on the suggestion of a group of workers. It was most disheartening thing that very people who suggested the change of date were not present at the demonstration. It reflects also the challenge we face when working among this generation of youth.

Christian Solidarity Meeting on the National Issue

Yesterday we had the committee meeting at the CSR. A position paper was read out and it is acceptable to all who were present. I think it is a very good one.

But none of the sub committees have not met including mine. But it was agreed that those who were present will see that their committees will be ready for the general meeting on Saturday.

We have to see that the big number which attended last month remembers that they have to be present this week too.

At present I am trying translate the position paper into English. I hope I will be able to send it before Saturday.

Morning session on the 14th has to be devoted to study the position paper and afternoon the committees will have to work out their plans.

Thanks

Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda

I joined the march held on the 30th of May. It was organized by the workers who are unjustly treated by their employers and those victims who suffer due to industrial pollution.

People's March to defend their rights.

All our activities are aimed at building a people's movement. People more particularly the poor ought restore their power to defend their rights.

Having that in view we had a people's march on Friday to protect workers rights and environmental rights of people around the industrial zone at Ekala. About 600 people participated in it. Two Buddhists monks and two Christina priests and two nuns walked along with people.