Taking action together in spite of violence
The conflict between the two main ethnic groups, the Tamils and the Sinhalese, and the breaking of the cease-fire on January 16, 2008 between the government and the militant separatist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (TLET), has exacerbated violence towards civilians. Numerous activists, notably those of minority background, were afraid to travel to the city out of fear of random identity checks and attempted suicide bombings. Several associations were therefore wary of holding the day of action.
However, the Forum’s coordinators, notably the group People’s Space [2] and the Green Movement of Sri Lanka, decided to keep the date, in spite of the political context and difficulties related to the violence. As a sign of peace and respect for the different ethnic groups of Sri Lanka, both of the main groups were present, and the workshops and conferences were held in Sinhalese and Tamil, the two national languages.
A week of action punctuated by days of activities
The meeting marked the end of a week of action in the different regions of Sri Lanka, full of conferences and workshops to raise awareness on agricultural reform, women’s rights and fishermen’s rights. On January 26 an opening ceremony marked the conclusion of a massive rally in an open air auditorium in the Vihara Mahadevi Park. The atmosphere was notably one of joy and energy. The Green Movement and the November Young Activists’ Movement had decorated the auditorium and the surrounding trees with posters, photos and colored streamers. Speakers from influential Sri Lankan organizations and from neighboring countries came to announce their experiences in the social and political struggle. Sarba Raj Khadka, of the South Asian Alliance for the Eradication of Poverty told of his experiences within the pro-democratic movement in Nepal. Ajantha Perera, Sri Lankan scientist and political candidate, spoke of the global warming crisis and its consequences for Sri Lanka. Karamat Ali, of the Pakistani Institute of Education, Work and Research called to attention threats to workers, as well as the danger of nuclear weapons and religious fundamentalism. Musical presentations, street theatre and a parade of children on bicycles gave a festive feel to the day. Holding this day of action in Sri Lanka is a real sign of hope for the future of the country. The participants, we were told by B. Skanthakumar, are optimistic and hope to mobilize more people the next time. As for the World Social Forum, the next one will be held in Belém, Brazil in January 2009.
Also read: Resonances Asia N°21 - February 2008
