Sri Lankan Protests: Views of an Insider

In conversation with Ahmed Thahir, a social activist from Matale Town, Sri Lanka:  

1. What do you think are the major causes of the Sri Lankan Economic Crisis?

The Sri Lankan economy had a welfare system which was not ideal but sustainable, helping lots of poor people in our country. As a developing country, we had a quite impressive economic growth after the civil war ended, but most of the development came through debt. Under Mahinda Rajapakse, we made many debts for several infrastructure projects. Some were pro-people projects but most of them were meant to uplift Mahinda’s own charismatic image, such as the Lotus Tower, Hambanthota Harbour etc. Many people believe that China is partly at fault for the economic crisis in Sri Lanka due to constant US propaganda, but China is responsible for more or less 10% of the debt in Sri Lanka only, and from 2015 to 2019, now President and then Prime Minister Ranil borrowed lots of international sovereign bonds and from western institutions, which has contributed to the current crisis. After the the 2019 elections, the tax cuts Gotabya Rajapakse presented to the rich sponsors weakened the country's treasury. He thought to balance it with tourist money but the pandemic curbed that opportunity. Then, his stupid ideas to stall various imports to solve the crisis made things worse, such as the bans on vehicle imports and fertilizers. Additionally, our Central Bank governor tried to solve the economic crisis by printing billions of rupees which supercharged inflation! 

2. 'The Rajapaksha government did provide an array of welfare schemes for the common people' - myth or reality? What is your opinion? 

As I mentioned, Sri Lanka was blessed with some good welfare systems such as healthcare and education. Right after ending the civil war (by committing lots of war crimes), the Rajapakse government tried to implement some food welfare schemes. I wouldn't say it transformed lots of lives, but it helped people, and the development projects which it undertook helped create lots of jobs as well. But they followed the footsteps of every other power-hungry leader to secure future elections and made everything worse. They killed many journalists and activists, militarily occupied the North to show that they were in favor of Buddhism and relied on racism. They even seeded many racist movements in Sri Lanka. The Mahinda family also knew about the possibility of Easter bombings beforehand but remained silent to use it as a 2019 election campaign. Many speculate about Mahinda and his brother’s direct involvement in the bombings. 

3. Is the current Wickremesinghe government willing to avoid the austerity principles suggested by the international economic forums in return for monetary aid and break free from the neoliberal straight jacket?

Ranil portrayed a fake image of an international leader who can get any help from international forums and he is cunning enough to do it. As an opportunist, he will do anything, including collusion with any neo-liberal institution and try to use their monetary aid to grab a good influence over Sri Lanka.  

4. Does the incumbent civilian government have a rescue strategy in place? or Are they suffering from a lack of planning like their predecessors?

Currently, there is no concrete government plan on how to fix the economy but the people are hoping that all their problems will be fixed. Ranil is already trying to get his name engraved on any small improvement (like increase in hydro-electric power which is mainly due to the rain). 

5. What is the current condition of livelihood of the common people?

It is bad… Diesel and petrol prices have increased by more than 500% in the black market and people are traveling on bus footboards. This has killed more than 10 people. The price of every product is sky high and those with a good income are also struggling to travel even in the bus and two wheelers. The fuel crisis has affected at least 2 million people. 

6. Are civil liberties preserved in the streets? What is the attitude of the police and military?

Gotabya tried to oppress the protesters by intimidating and even abducting them through the police. Later, he was afraid it might backfire and so he stopped doing it. But Mahinda sent his thugs to beat the protesters. It backfired! Currently, Ranil is trying to turn the common people against the protesters. He is conducting meetings with the armed forces to win their support. Recently, he has ordered the armed forces to remove the protesters from Galle Face so that he can attend a ministerial ceremony. The armed forces have beaten some of the protesters, journalists and lawyers who were present there at 1am, 22nd July.

7. Is the Tamil population equally participating in the popular protests? Is the current social dynamics depicting cooperation or community hatred? What is the current status of the anti-muslim and anti-christian communal groups? 

Yeah, they voiced their support to the protests and even held their own protests against the government. But the government has suppressed them more than it did on the people of Colombo. Currently, the majority of people are aware of the anti-minority propaganda. But the Ranil government is still trying to use it as an excuse for their failures.

8. What are the major demands of the protestors, especially the youth?

They want to change the rotten system…

9. What is the rate of participation of workers, peasants, and their respective trade unions and organizations in these protests?

Trade unions are the strongest allies of the protestors. The trade unions were there to threaten to strike. The working class people have participated in the protests in large numbers.

10. What is the role of civil society organizations in these protests?

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka has helped the protest to stay alive. Many NGOs have helped the protestors with aid at the agitation sites.

11. What is the status of the Left, especially the communist parties, amidst the ongoing protests?

The communist parties and all the Left organizations have joined the protests from the beginning. The student unions have stayed in the front and acted as a mouthpiece for the protests. Now, Ranil is trying to weaken the protests by arresting the student union leaders. Most of the pro-neoliberal lobby, who voiced against Gotabya, is now shaking hands with Ranil to speak against the protestors and Left organizations, out of fear that the latter might grow some influence on the people. 

12. How is the present situation different from the phase when Janatha Vimukti Peramuna was conducting a revolutionary armed struggle?

When the JVP was conducting the revolutionary armed struggle, they met with horrific retaliation from the government. The common people feared the JVP as well as the oppressive government. But currently, JVP has garnered more support from the people, especially from the youth. JVP speaks what people have in their minds. The irony is, it was Ranil who oversaw all the JVP torture sites under the then President JR Jayewardene. Now, he’s the incumbent president!

13. Do you think that the lack of a strong revolutionary party prevented the Left from taking hold of the situation to instigate nationwide radical pro-people socio-economic and political changes?

Yeah, there is a vacuum for a revolutionary Left party but people still remember the horrors suffered during the 80s, both from the government and JVP. The powerful NGOs and media are spreading the propaganda of the oppressors. I hope this situation will eventually change and we will be able to achieve our maximum…

Ahmed Thahir's Twitter Handle: https://mobile.twitter.com/martian9521

Picture Courtesy: Gulf News

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