" Women's Action for Social Justice " is a composite of 174 organizations consisting of farmers, fisher-folk, estate labour, garment workers, migrant workers those in various other fields and men with experience, formed for the betterment of the society.
This network which stands for social justice firmly believes that there is no solution for war other than a political settlement. With this end in view we have been engaged in forming a public opinion and have commenced a dialogue for the establishment of human relations between the ordinary people in the North and the South.
Earlier when the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) was in force, all Sri Lankans irrespective of ethnicity and religion had the opportunity to live without fear. They enjoyed some sort of freedom too.
But now in view of the war situation prevailing in the country people are living in fear. Individual killings and mass massacre of people instil a sense of fear amongst the ordinary masses. The resultant destruction of properties and environmental damage have retarded the social and economic development activities.
Fanning BY the Media
It is loathsome to note the way the media personnel report through both the electronic and print media distorted facts about the war. In view of the false reports published in the media, ordinary masses have been deprived of the opportunity to get at the facts. The bias attitude of the media has made the people in the North and the South aggressive and has fanned the flames of hatred amongst the various ethnic groups. This attitude of the media has aggravated the present situation.
Permanent Displacement
War is not a necessity of the people. The majority of the inhabitants wants to lead a peaceful and simple life by fulfilling their least essential requirements. But the present war situation has deprived those in the North and the South their right to lead a family life. Most people tend to forget that whilst some in the south celebrate the Christmas and the Sinhala New Year on a grand scale, 175,000 people are confined to the Jaffna Penusula in the North, 50,000 children are faced with the continued war which has become a very grave issue, 50,000 have migrated to Batticaloa from Vakarai as displaced, approximately 100,000 in the South and the Central Hills have lost their dwellings and everything due to floods and land slides and who live in temporary make shift camps in hunger and fear.
Those in authority should take prompt action to stop the ravaging war which has pressurized and dumped the ordinary masses into an abyss. The postponement of peace talks due to whatever reason would only aggravate the national problem. Time has come to take action not to subjugate to the forces bent on war without resorting to peace talks. We should not forget the risk of pushing the country into the hands of the world powers on the pretext of bringing about peace in the country. Those who are responsible and those who are intent on arriving at a political situation should work together without any party discrimination.
What is happening is that the Ministers and the Ministry Officers whist enjoying all the political benefits, get their salaries and allowances increased, implement adverse programmes which are detrimental to the masses of the country and eontinue the war which would ultimately plunge the country into a chaotic condition and displace more people and increase the poverty of the masses. People expect to have good leaders devoid of narrow political aims.
People cannot refrain from listening to the woes of the mothers who cannot provide food to their hungry children. Nor can anybody allow this situation to continue.
Hence, we as unarmed women of the South, Central Hills, North and East request the President as the Head of the country and the LTTE leader who wages war in the name of the rights of the Tamil people to come to the negotiating table to settle this long standing issue and bring about peace.
Amongst the various projects identified as those for the development of the country such as Upper Kothmale Hydro Electro Power Plant, Express Highways, Tourist Zones, International Air Ports construction of large scale ports, expending collosal sums of money mainly for the benefit of big entrepreneurs are being promptly implemental, restlessness amongst the ordinary people exists as no action has been taken to solve the problems of tens of thousands of the displaced.
Escalation of the cost of living
There is an increase in the uncertainty of the livelihoods as a result of the war situation and other catastrophes. Those who earn their monies on a day to day basis doing odd jobs are the worst affected by the sky-rocketing prices of the essential commodities. As a consequence the burden placed on the masses in the North is ten times heavier than that placed on the masses in the South.
We cannot forget the wailings of women for those who have lost their beloved spouses, children and relatives and for those displaced due to the war which has been raging for more than two decades. Hence we request the President as the leader of
Our Demands
- Prompt stoppage of individual killings and massacre of people.
- To commence discussions immediately to go beyond the CFA signed by the two parties to stop rivalries and the war till such time peace is restored.
- To co-erce to stop immediate publishing of reports in both the print and electronic media in a partial manner to rouse the masses.
- To prevent activities in whatever form to create division amongst the various ethnic groups.
- To create an atmosphere for the ordinary masses in the North, East, and plantation areas to live freely and engage in their livelihoods and to protect their rights.
- To refrain from placing unnecessary burdens on the masses in the North and South due to war.
- To appoint women too to represent the Sinhales, Tamil and Muslim communities in the North, South, East and the Plantation areas as representatives of the Sri Lanka Monitory Mission.
- To conduct all activities in the country in such a way so as to build confidence, co-ordination and mutual relationship amongst the various ethnicities.
- We as mothers condemn the recruitment of children to the war that is going on in the North, South and the East. Hence to take immediate action to protect the Sri Lankan future generation.
- To take action to re-settle the displaced in their own villages and to stabilize their livelihoods. We who work in close collaboration with the farmers, fisher-folk, estate labour and those in other fields wish to convince. His Excellency The President and the LTTE group to interfere in taking the above steps to restore peace in the country.
"Women's Action for Social justice" Network
SAVISTHRI-Womens Net Work
Vanitha Shrama Nikethanaya
Janawabodha Kendraya
Co-operative Women's Society
Mother's Movement for combating Malnutrition
Govi Thoraturu Maddyasthanaya
Family Relief Service Centre
Mahajana Salasum Komisama
Nirmani Circle
Rural Womens Front
Dabindu Collection
Videsha Seva Aitheen Surakeeme Sanvidanaya
Southern Fisheries Organization-Galle
Ruhunu Magampura Govi samithi Sanvidanaya
Southern Fisheries Organization – Matara
Binthanna Kantha Ekathuwa
Southern Fisheries Organization – Hambanthota
Penvimoshana Gnanodayam
National Fisheries Solidarity
Lanka Guruseva Sangamaya
Uwa-Wellassa Govi Kantha Sanvidanaya
Movement of National Land and Agricultural Reform
Community Education Centre
Manawasampath Surakeeme Sanvidanaya
Rajarata Janaprobodhani Padanama
Community and Environmental Development Foundation
Madiyugam Sanvidanaya
Peoples Health Movement
Matale District Kantha Ekathuwa
Vikalpani Sandanaya
Kantha Shakthi
Womens Foundation - Wellassa
Kadawatha Kantha Ekathuwa
Peoples Collective for Peace Development
Relief Service Womens Organization
Kantha Diripiyasa
Wavili Gramiya Praja Sanwardhana Maddyastanaya
Shramabimani Kendraya
Samaja ha Samayika Kendraya
Kalutara District Deewara Sahayogithawa
Women Centre
Arunodaya Parisarikayo
Praja Diriya Padanama
Community Development Organization
Manawahimikam, Sanwardhana saha
Eastern United Womens Organization
Neethi Sahana Karyalaya
Pulse Sri Lanka
Gami Kantha Padanama-Kadawatha
Pubuduwa Women's Section
Praja – Colombo
No comments:
Post a Comment