News in Srilanka: Implement law against rape and child abuse appropriately

The “Jana Pelagasma’ procession of vehicles reached Kiribathgoda town today (29th) at 12.00 noon and signatures were collected for a petition demanding the government to carry out appropriately the law against rape and child abuse states the media unit of the JVP. Subsequently a meeting was held in Kiribathgoda town addressed by JVP Political Bureau Member K.D. Lal Kanthe, Parliamentarian Sunil Handunneththi, Members of the Central Committee Ramalingam Chandrssekar, Bimal Rathnayake, Nalinda Jayatissa and Sunil Watagala.

Mr. Lal Kanthe singing the banner

Speaking at the meeting Mr. Lal Kanthe said, “Jana Pelagasma with the procession of vehicles that commenced from Dondara Point and marching to Point Pedro reached Kiribathgoda to strengthen the struggle carried out by the masses at Kiribathgoda against the regime that torments masses. When we passed Matara masses welcomed us cordially. We passed through Ambalangoda, Kalutara and Maharagama. People everywhere welcomed us and extended their support. We commenced ‘Jana Pelagasma’ at a time when masses have launched a tremendous struggle against the regime. At the time university lecturers and professors have commenced a strike to protect education in the country. They demand 6% of GNP for education of our children. University dons support struggles of teachers and students. The masses in this country have a responsibility to support this struggle. We, as the JVP support this struggle and give them strength. We also would do everything to end this struggle in victory.

Politicians have begun thuggery against the Judiciary. A situation has been created by the government where politicians threaten judges. The Judiciary that prohibited struggles by masses now has to take to the streets to agitate. Farmers in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Ampara carry out agitations demanding water for their cultivations; they ask a proper price for their produce. All these struggles should be combined into a giant movement to take the struggle for justice forward. We have already made the masses aware. We have had leaflet distribution campaigns and poster campaigns. What the masses need is a movement that struggles for people’s rights and win them. We have launched this campaign to develop this leadership. There is no UNP now. JVP has become the opposition in Sri Lanka today. We have struggled and obtained a large number of victories for the masses. We defeated the fraudulent pension scheme for the private sector employees. We have won trade union struggles in the Port and work sites of the CEB. We won the struggle in the CTB. All these struggles were won at sites and on the road. Hence, the struggles at the site, in the farm should overflow to the road.

We have signed a petition today against rape, child abuse, violence against women and children and the vile politics of this government. We ask masses at Kiribathgoda to put their signatures to this petition and join the struggle to chase away the wicked, lumpen regime.”

‘Jana Pelagasma’ will end its third phase at Warakapola today (29th) and commence the next phase tomorrow to Dambulla states media unit of the JVP.