We’ll march forward until people win all their rights

“The choice before us is whether to succumb to the oppression or struggle against it. We invite all people who are unwilling to be oppressed. This unjust and unfair state should not be left to another generation. We pledge that we would complete this struggle during our generation.  This May Day stage that builds people’s power for a new economy and a new society is the first step towards it,” the leader of the JVP Anura Dissanayaka addressing the JVP Red May Day rally held at BRC Grounds.

The rally attended by a very large crowd followed a long demonstration that commenced from S. de S. Jayasinghe Grounds at Dehiwela to BRC Grounds at Havelock Town.

The demonstration included many floats depicting current political events and bands. Residents along the path the demonstration took supported the demonstrators by making available water and cool drinks and there were ‘human water spouts’ spraying water on the demonstrators who marched under the scorching sun.

JVP Leader Anura Dissanayaka said, “This rally commemorating the International Workers’ Day is a very special occasion. People’s forces lead by the working masses have come from all over the island to participate in it. Tamil masses from Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mullaithivu as well as from the estate sector have come here in their thousands. We know the expectation of all the people in the North, the South, the East and the West is to change the present society and the social system and to establish a people’s administration. Capitalist rulers in the country as well as in the world have not been able to give a better life to the masses. The hope of all people, without any difference in religion and community is to lead a good life.  Even as fisher folk, whether they are from the South or the North are confronted with the same issues. All people living in this country, wherever they live are being oppressed.

The choice before us is whether to succumb to the oppression or struggle against it. We invite all people who are unwilling to be oppressed. This unjust and unfair state should not be left to another generation. We pledge that we would complete this struggle during our generation.  This May Day stage that builds people’s power for a new economy and a new society is the first step towards it.

There are several other May Day stages. There is an SLFP worms' May rally. May rallies are held separately by the head and the tail of the worm. The tail is waiting for a head and the part with the head is waiting for a tail.  Nothing of that sort would happen. We can see only the writhing of the two pieces. Ranil is having a May rally at Campbell Park. Before the election he said that he would build an economy so that a person who owns a bicycle could buy a car. Now, he doesn’t come out with such statements. Instead, he asks us to tighten our belts.  Our enemies fabricate slanders against us. They connect us with the UNP. We, with our lives, have understood what the UNP is. Hence, we do not need instructions from enemies. They say that a room at the Temple Trees has been reserved for us. We do not need rooms from Temple Trees. One day we would take over Temple Trees on behalf of the masses.  We’ll show the zoo that was air-conditioned and the kitchen with 40 chefs to the masses. We stand with the downtrodden masses in this country. We do not care for slanders of our enemies.  People can learn many lessons from what is happening now. The thieves who plundered people’s wealth are on capitalist UNP and SLFP stages. The same people who set fire to their political stages are given ministerial and organizer posts. There is no political ethics. These political parties are not fit not only to govern but also to engage in politics. However, the JVP has a legitimate right to engage in politics in this country. JVP has never broken the trust people have kept on them or violated ethics. None has lit a cigarette consumed liquor during the May rally. The country needs this discipline. We would bring this discipline to country’s politics as well. We can build this country.

Today, at Campbell Park Ranil in a feeble voice asks the working masses to sacrifice. He says it is difficult to maintain CEB and Srilankan Airways. Before coming to power he said he had a magic pole that could salvage economy in the country. This is not Ranil’s own mess but the crisis of their capitalist economic policy. For the first time country’s economy is functioning without a budget. The 2016 budget that was presented last year has been abolished. Ranil presented another budget in March. Now new taxes are added to previous taxes.  Malik Samarawickreme said yesterday that IMF had promised to make available a loan of US$2.2 billion. In our villages taking loan is something to be ashamed of. Villagers try to hide taking loans even from their immediate neighbours. However, the government pompously announces that it is capable of taking loans. IMF has promised to give the loan as the government has promised to reduce the budget deficit.  The likes of Malik and Ravi have promised IMF that they would tax the masses. They have taken a decision in cabinet to sell state institutions and given this pledge to IMF to get the loan.

It is the masses who have been asked to sacrifice. The government is not prepared to slash any of their benefits. Are those heads in state institutions who earn large sums as salaries prepared to reduce their salaries a little? Will ministers stop buying more and more vehicles for themselves?  Ministers who have no work to do buy vehicles that cost Rs.45 million each.  Individuals who plundered people’s money and property, those who have made fortunes with deals have come from Rajapaksa to perch on Maithri-Ranil regime. They would never do anything harmful to their business affairs. However, the government asks masses to tighten their belts.

When the budget for 2016 was present the debt of the country stood at Rs.8400 billion. In March this year it was said that country’s debt was Rs.9500 billion. Now, it is said the debt is over Rs.10,000 billion. This is a country that doesn’t know how much it is indebted to. Ranil asks us whether his loin clothe has come off. Now, it is said that IMF has to find the amount of debt the country owes.

When people ask for relief the government states it cannot do so as it is trapped in a debt mountain and it cannot give any relief but more relief has to be slashed. Did the people in this country take this mountain of debt? None of us are responsible for the debts.

There is only one stage that is against communalism, builds national unity and accepts equal rights. It is the JUVP stage. The communalism in the North and the South that depends on each other should be defeated. We have won sprint races. Rajapaksa regime was sent home. Now, we have entered a marathon race. This should be won.  The biggest youth organization and eh farmer organization in Sri Lanka participate in this May rally. The JVP that would not be put down by any slander or threat would march forward until final victory. All capitalist political parties have become bankrupt. JVP is the only political party that the people could call their party with dignity. We would assure that our generation would win the final victory.  Our youth, student and women’s organizations should be the broadest organizations in their sectors that would rally people around them. We should win this marathon race. There is no other better opportunity that now. Let us all sacrifice more and work hard. Let’s end this struggle in victory.  We wish everyone strength and determination to achieve it.”