Attack on animators: Govt. must explain

Thugs appear to be having a field day. They set upon a group of fasting Samurdhi and Govi animators in a dastardly manner in the wee hours of Thursday bringing the protest to a close. In a separate incident the previous day, a Colombo municipal councillor, Mohammed Imthiaz had been killed by a gang in broad day light at Maradana, his home borough. The killers of Mr. Imthiaz or those who attacked the Samurdhi and Govi animators have not yet been identified, but the two incidents are proof that criminal elements are ruling the roost in the country.

It looks as if gun toting and club wielding criminals can stop anyone at the behest of someone powerful. In the case of Mr. Imthiaz's murder, the motive of the killers is yet to be established and investigations are still on. But as regards those animators injured in the attack, it could reasonably be assumed that the protest was crushed for purely political reasons since their protest was to the detriment of the interests of a particular political party.

These animators are a PA creation. They are now demanding confirmation in service and reinstatement in service of some trade union members who have been suspended. They were the PA activists who spearheaded its political campaign at the grass roots level four years ago and were rewarded for the service rendered with Samurdhi and Govi Niyamaka appointments.

Therefore, the protest by these Niyamakes against the very government that created them may have been viewed by the political potentates as an attempt by the creature to devour the creator. Or some powerful politico did not want his minions to embarrass him and the government when an election is round the corner. The protest by the unemployed graduates in the North Western Province had been called off the other day. But these animators in Colombo remained stubborn. As a result, one is justified in pointing a finger at the government. However, this is only an allegation and the government might do well to have this incident probed and culprits brought to justice if it is to scotch off the various rumours about the dastardly attack on these Niyamakas and clear its name.

Allegations apart, what disturbs one most is that this incident is a manifestation of the readiness of the powers that be to mobilise even thugs to quash warring trade unions. Nascent as the trend may be, unless checked in time such methods are likely to lead the country to a situation where thugs will sit in judgment over trade union matters. When the then government meted out dark justice to workers who struck work in response to the clarion call of the left of the day in 1980 against a seemingly monolithic regime, the parties that constitute the PA today, cried foul and vowed to avenge the victims.

But even today a large number of the so-called July strikers remain forlorn and destitute notwithstanding their leaders ens-conced in seats of power and their pledges. Now these trade union leaders cum ruling party politicians are also looking the other way while those who were instrumental in propelling the PA to power in 1994 are being assaulted by thugs in the same manner as the workers were in 1980 by the UNP.

Here is a situation where the government is denied the luxury of harking back to the UNP rule with a view to sidestepping the issue. A group of its own activists who were crying for justice or at least a patient hearing are at the receiving end, and it has no way of passing the blame on to the UNP or any other party.

The government owes an explanation regarding the attack to the public and the trade unions. At least the left leaders in the alliance must register their protest with the government against Thursday's incident. This is a government which claims that it is prepared to talk to even terrorists to settle the north and east conflict. Why can't the same government settle the on-going dispute with Samurdhi and Govi Niyamakas through negotiations? After all they are the PA's own boys and girls, aren't they?