Opposition to Thuggery in Sri Lanka
This article is reproduced from Voice of Women, No 3 (March 1981), an excellent feminist journal produced by women in Sri Lanka. Started by a women's group of the same name, the first issue came out in January 1980. The journal covers a wide range of areas, including women and health, wifebeating, the problems of women on plantations, religion, the dowry system and detailed monitoring of sexism in education and in the mass media. It is published in Tamil and Sinhala as well as English. Voice of Women is available from 529 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo • 8, Sri Lanka.
For a long time women in Sri Lanka for trade union and political rights. Heroic women have given their fullest co-operation to every strike, rally and procession
since the beginning of the labour movement in the 1920's. They stood united with male workers in the 1923 general strike, as well as in the tramcar strike in 1929 and in
1945
Over a period of nearly 50 years, they have made an immense contribution to the Suriyamal Movement and to left politics. But while participating in these progressive mass movements they have been systematically harassed by thugs and by the police. History illustrates this only too well. For instance, during British rule even women on a flower-selling campaign, 'every flower is an attack against imperialism, facism and war; wear Sooriya flowers for freedom and peace', were threatened by the police. In the 1945 tram strike Ponsinahami, a woman worker became involved in a fistfight with police and all the women who took part were subjected to countless insults and ridicule from the opposition.
The capitalist economic system steals woman's labour by urging her into childbirth and housework for which she receives no pay, and into other jobs for which she receives very little pay at all compared with men. Then, when she comes forward to express her ideas on those facts and others which deeply affect her life, is it capitalist virtue that incites the police and others to defile her body ?
At about 12.30 in the afternoon on June 5th 1980, a group of thugs attacked the women teachers of Maharagama Training College. The teachers described this incident to Voice Women as follows : "From 6.30 to 8.30 on the morning of the 5th, we carried out a successful picketing campaign In of the 5th, we carried out a successful picketing campaign In accordance with the national 'day of action' to express our opposition to the ever-rising cost of living. After 8.00 am we went for lecture and at 11.00 am about 150 of us went to a funeral. At 12.30 pm we came back in CTB buses, got off and entered the college.
"Just then a CTB bus entered the college gates. Though the security guard lifted a hand it did not stop. Some people got off the bus, shouting threats at us which, translated literally, meant 'we will eat you' and began to hit us with rubber belts, with stones and with their fists, all the while uttering indecent words. They got us on the ground and covered us in oil until our clothes were completely blackened, and they put oil in some people's eyes and ears. Some they threw on the ground and hammered. They tried to run over a friend of ours. Some people fainted and some ran to the hostel. Our male colleagues were having their lunch at that time.
"We wrote down the number of the bus — it belonged to the Maharagama depot. We couldn't Imagine why we had been attacked In this way. At 4 o'clock that day the police arrived and took down our statements. At about 6 In the evening we were taken to the Kalubowlla Hospital at the expense of the college. We remained there for three days while receiving treatment and we still haven't fully recovered. One of those hammered was an arthritis case and after this Incident she fell III again.
"After June 5th we carried on an unbroken strike."
A similar incident occured on July 15th in Kekisawa. On that day nurses took part in a token strike demanding trade union rights. Thugs later Invaded the boarding place of six nurses from this hospital and attacked them. One nurse was taken to the hospital as a result of her injuries.
The nurses then took part In another token strike in opposition to thuggery and to denounce the attack. The organisation of Voice of Women sent a letter to the President, expressing opposition to the Maharagama incident. We also issued a statement to the newspaper concerning what happened to the nurses in Kekisawa. The statement Is published below.
SISTERS DO NOT BE AFRAID TO COME FORWARD
Some people think that women should be silent always and leave men to protest against social evils. We disagree : we feel that women must come forward to speak of the issues which concern them, and they should now agitate against these degradations and the criminal forces behind them.
Voice of Women spealand denounces them as anti-democratic. To subject working women to attacks of this kind in an age when women are taking an ever bigger part in our society is to hinder the progress of the whole society. Nor is it appropriate to a free and just society.
The government has acknowledged the contribution of women by establishing a Women's Bureau and by taking part in such things as the recent conference in Copenhagen which was concerned with uplifting the status of women. We expect, therefore, to be able to rely on their support in this matter.
Individuals who indulge in these insulting activities ought to be punished, whatever their political connections. The protection of the women of our country against such degraded criminals is not only the duty of the government, but also the duty of all those who value democracy and national respects.