The last few days saw developments in trade union protests against the attacks on employees of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC). Ever since the incident that was provoked by Minister Mervyn Silvas attack on some employees of the SLRC many attacks have been made on persons who participated in the protesting against the ministers actions. Now it has come to the point where the trade unions feel that any further harassment must be dealt with by way of trade union action. The stabbing of some SLRC employees, attempted kidnappings and the threats to life that forced some senior media employees to resign from their positions all indicate the level of intimidation that has been created.
What is even more surprising is that although the dispute has dragged on for several months the government has not proved capable of bringing about effective negotiations to win back the confidence of the employees. Instead the government actions have only contributed to aggravate the situation. The government seems to have no policy of appeasement. Instead it follows a provocative approach virtually leaving no alternative but for the employees but to retaliate.
In the midst of threats of trade union action the government took steps to prepare the armed forces to intervene in the matter. The unions have been threatened that the armed forces will take over the duties of the staff if there is any action by them. It was reported that even mobile media units have been prepared in order that they might operate from various places in the event that trade union action makes it difficult to carry on with the SLRCs usual programming. The message created by such moves is that the government deals with a dispute with even one of its own corporations as if it were a war.
With the increase in prices of food items and other important commodities the people are facing more and more extreme difficulties in the country. In the midst of these difficulties it is only natural for the people to expect that the government will take steps to address their grievances. Instead of approaching these problems by way of negotiation and dialogue and trying to find ways to reduce these difficulties the message that the government is passing is one of threats and possible repressive action that will follow against anyone who may engage in any such protests.
The targeting of media personnel also came to sharp focus with the arrest of a number of persons who were associated with OutreachSL.com. These arrests drew reactions locally as well as internationally. There were allegations of the torture of some of the arrestees and also that the arrests were done on the basis of baseless suspicion. However, until now these people have not been released.
The following observations of the Bishop of Colombo Duleep de Chickera are relevant:
The current trend of attacks against the Rupavahini staff in the absence of any arrests of the perpetrators is an indictment against the entire police force. The IGP must explain why the quality of intelligence leading to prompt arrests and investigations of those considered enemies of the State, is so clearly lacking in instances when certain media personnel are harassed and attacked by supposedly small time criminals. This disparity in the seriousness of the State law enforcement and protection mechanisms raises questions of professional bias and political obstruction and is totally unacceptable…………. Consequently all those media persons arrested on suspicion of terrorist involvement and their families must know why they have been taken in. They must also have immediate access to their lawyers and the assurance of a fair judicial investigation. If found guilty, these persons must face the consequences under the law. If innocent, they must be exonerated.
Throughout the country a fear psychosis is being created and the people are forced into the situation where they have to take enormous precautions in using their basic democratic freedoms and carrying on with their lives in a normal manner. The mentality that is being created is that of a police state and not of a liberal democracy. The basic safeguards that all people are entitled to have eroded and on every side the individuals are reminded of various threats they have to face. The average Sri Lankan citizen is now faced with a Kafkan situation.
Sri Lanka had a strong trade union tradition and in the past it was not possible to harm trade union leaders and members in the manner that is happening today with impunity. Perhaps at this time it is the trade unions alone that can fight against the type of conditions that have arisen economically, socially and also politically. Initiatives taken by the SLRC trade unions deserve the support of the human rights movement so that some form of a peaceful dialogue can be developed in order to restore normalcy to the country.
