[Reader-list] Invitation for a discussion on Srilanka's National Question

[venkat t]

Invitation for a discussion on

* *

*"Srilanka's National Question and lessons for South East Asia"*

* *

Guest speaker:* Com. Siritunga Jayasuriya, *

*General Secretary, United Socialist Party.*

* *

Venue:* AICUF House, 52, Sterling Road, Chennai 34*

Date:* 1st October 2008*

Time:* 4:00 pm
*

* *

Organised by:* New Socialist Alternative*





The people of Srilanka have been suffering from decades of civil unrest and
civil war on the question of ethnic-nationalism. The unrest that began with
the anti-Tamil pogram and the rise of chauvinist Sinhala movements has
turned into a full scale civil war causing immense suffering to the people
of Srilanka, in particular the Srilankan Tamils. Millions have been made
homeless, living as refugees. The continuing violence makes it impossible
for them to return to their home even after decades. Lakhs have perished in
the conflict and its aftermath. A lot of blood has been spilt with no end in
sight.



Many governments have come to power in Colombo, which promised peace and
justice. But the spate of violence and human rights abuses has only
continued. The rise of extremist tamil movements have only aggravated the
tension; the use of violence often exploited by the Srilankan state for
furthering its own abuse of human rights. Every peace accord, fostered by
various international interventions has only fallen flat against the
fundamentalist interests. The recent military campaign and the deteriorating
humanitarian conditions in Srilanka, after a long period of ceasefire only
confirms our fears that a peaceful solution cannot and will not be reached
under the current political situation. India and other western powers have
only been playing both sides of the game at various moments to further their
own capitalist interests. The end of the conflict is not in the best
interests of any country.



Siritunga Jayasuriya, has been in active politics since 1965. He is
presently the general secretary of United Socialist Party He has seen the
rise of Sinhala fundamentalism as well as the rise of Tamil nationalist
movements. He has been a strong proponent of the right of Tamils for self
determination including the right to secede and form a separate state. He
was one of the few, who opposed the Indo Srilankan accord foisted by Rajiv
Gandhi and Jayawardhane, even at the very outset. He has always argued that
the solution to the Tamil question cannot be found under the tutelage of
capitalist world powers, including India. He has always called for the
working class of this region to raise and voice together with the people of
Srilanka against these atrocities and human rights abuses and to unite
against global capital that binds us down by dividing us on ethinic, racial,
gender and other identities.



We invite you for a discussion with com. Siri and others on this issue. The
discussion will be followed after a short lecture by com. Siri, outlining
his party's views on the National question.



We hope that this interaction will open up new perspectives to many while
giving more clarity about this problem to others.



Please join us with your friends.



Thank you.



T.Venkat


For further information contact:

New Socialist Alternative: T.Venkat, 9884706531