Common Left Manifesto for Freedom, Democracy and Self-Rule! WE ALL SUPPORT DR.BAHU, NSSP...!!!

Common Left Manifesto for Freedom, Democracy and Self-Rule:
Presented for the 2010 Presidential Election:

Beloved People of Lanka
Let us not be pawns in the deadly game of chess played by the
two equally blood-drenched, chauvinist representative of
Global Capitalism:
So, once again, at the cost of some Rs 12 billion of public funds, we have to face a Presidential
election. Two equally bloody, corrupt and parasitic Capitalist Alliances have come forward for
the contest, represented by Mahinda Rajapakse and Sarath Fonseka. This Presidential campaign is
going to be a bitter and deadly fight between two equally reactionary camps of the ruling class as
to who is going to feast on the blood of the Tamil nation, and that of the proletariat and all
exploited and all oppressed classes and nationalities and communities, and exercise chauvinist
oppressive dictatorship over the people. Let us not become mere pawns in a deadly game of chess
played by two rival camps of the very same Capitalist ruling class. Let us hold this State and this
ruling class accountable for the crimes willfully committed against the people and against
humanity. Let us do so as a basis to mobilize mass protest and agitation against the prevailing
Capitalist political order which represents the interests of global Capitalism, by building
resistance and revolutionary struggle to defeat the militarist-chauvinist agenda represented by
both ruling class candidates.
Freedom for all Detainees corralled in Concentration Camps
and Political Prisoners: Rescind Emergency Regulations, The
Prevention of Terrorism Act and all Draconian Legislation:
Dismantle the Unitary State: Self Rule to all Nationalities:
The continued incarceration of some 200,000 internally displaced Tamil persons in concentration
camps in the North, including elderly, children, wounded, sick and pregnant women, under pitiful
sub-human conditions, is a damned indictment of the prevailing neo-colonial Capitalist State and
political order. Along with the gross criminal violations of human rights committed during the
war, these violations constitute continued crimes against humanity. Who is to be held accountable
for the horrible massacre of seventeen humanitarian aid workers, the murder of five Tamil
students, the assassination of Hon. Joseph Pararajasingham, Hon Raviraj, Mr. Lasantha
Wickrematunga and others? Along with these abominable crimes, is the crime of keeping some
12,000 political prisoners in various detention camps and prisons, against whom no legal charges
have been filed. Some have languished in these dungeons for over a decade. In this context of the
willful defiling of our collective dignity and humanity, we demand the immediate and
unconditional release of all detainees and political prisoners. Until such time that these internally
displaced detainees are released, their supervision and management should be undertaken by their
own representatives. In order that they may be resettled in the original areas of habitation and
enjoy the right to life, the military regime in these areas, along with all high security zones,
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should be dismantled, and the armed forces withdrawn. We demand that Emergency Regulations
and the Prevention of Terrorism Act and all such draconian fascist legislation be rescinded. We
demand the dismantling of the Sinhala supremacist Comprador Capitalist state, which functions
as an agent of Global Capital, as a basis for granting the democratic freedom of the exploited
and oppressed masses, including the right of national self-determination of the Tamil nation
cohabiting in the North-East so it may enjoy its right to live with dignity, equality, autonomy,
security and democratic freedom, equally with that of the Hill Country Malayaga Tamil
nationality, the Moslem nationality and all other ethnic-religious communities.
Abolition of the Executive Presidency: End to the pillage of
National Capital and the plunder of Natural Resources and
violation of People’s Sovereignty: For a State that respects
People’s Sovereignty based on Sharing power on the Principle
of Self-Rule:
Former president J R Jayewardene brought in the executive presidency to serve a particular
agenda. The open economic policy needed such a strong political head. If the Multi National
Corporation (MNC) system is to come in and play the important central role expected of them, it
was necessary to give all the facilities requested by them. Thus it was introduced as an instrument
to support the MNC system. When they need any agreement either economic or security or any
other it will be easy to go through an executive head, with the ministries of Defense and Finance
than through parliament with all the obstacles of transparency and criticism. Information will be
confined to secretaries and advisers to the president and decisions can be arrived at, without
delay. So it was brought in to facilitate international moneylenders and plunderers of global
capitalism. Global capitalism is the modern version of imperialism. It integrates the entire MNC
system with the IMF, WB and the WTO as management organs. We explained all that in 1978
Feb. 4 and Bahu was locked up in prison for that. Now everyone is clamoring for the removal of
this tree of vultures, but once they get elected they hold on to it not necessarily due to the greed
for power, but because of international pressure of the global masters.
Replace the Strategies of Global Capitalism that brings
destruction to domestic production of food and commodities,
and unemployment, poverty and disease, with a humancentered,
ecologically sustainable Path of Development.
Today, the global capitalist system is in disarray facing an acute economic crisis. All attempts to
put the system into order have not been sufficient so far. Still to come is a food crisis that could
put a large part of humanity into hunger and death. There is an energy crisis and a threat to the
global environment so it is vital for us to seriously consider developing our food production,
particularly paddy, fish and milk. If we do not turn towards a nature oriented, environmentalist
approach we may be too late. In every continent, people’s forces are rising up in resistance and
revolution against the system desiring freedom, democracy and self-rule. We too must honor our
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proletarian internationalist responsibilities. In this decisive conjuncture, let us join forces with the
people of the world and rise to the stage of history.
In the past three decades, the so-called development projects were responsible for the
insurrections both in Sinhala and Tamil rural areas. Because it created poverty and alienation
while rich became richer. While local industrialist and producer were marginalized a large section
of the population was thrown out as human dust unconnected to the system. The plight of women
and children, particularly in slums and in rural areas became most miserable. Patriarchy
combined with militarization and the rise of under world reduced most women to the level of
domestic slaves. Struggle of youth and the proletariat was used to intensify the repression in all
sectors. The media repression was so bad many media people ran away from the country to
escape death. But the world tendency is against this global system working on the imperative of
super profit. The global capitalist system based on unbridled search of super profit should be
displaced. This should be done on the basis of giving priority to meeting the basic needs of the
people through a system of collective property shared by workers ,peasants and all oppressed
people, where their revolutionary unity, solidarity and liberation shall be secured. Here, we
should address the needs and aspirations of progressive forces who find inspiration and
sustenance from the Tri-Pitakaya, Bhagwath Gita, the Bible and the Quran.
Freedom from Poverty, Indebtedness, Unemployment,
Degradation: End to Corruption, Fraud, Plunder of Resources and
National Capital: Basic Daily Wage of Rsw 500/=. Minimum
Monthly Salary of Rs. 15,000/=, A Vocation and Livelihood for
All!
While denying the vast majority of toiling, suffering people of their right to a life free of poverty,
indebtedness, misery and degradation, the ruling class used the open economy to amass vast
fortunes, build empires of private profit and plunder, and to waste public funds, through naked
corruption. The Collective Agreement relating to the Plantation workers, which has split the
workers movement and betrayed their interests, is a good example of bondages crated. It should
be torn up. A minimum basic daily wage of Rs 500 for all plantation workers with the minimum
wage in all sectors at Rs15000 per month should be established with an increase in wages/salaries
of all government and private sector workers in accordance with the present Cost of Living Index.
The just grievances of workers, graduates and students should be addressed democratically and
with justice, as opposed to erecting barricades, baton charging, showering tear gas, arresting and
violently suppressing their human and democratic rights. This regime is on trial for unleashing
the very same armed forces that brutally decimated the Tamil uprising and its leadership, against
the predominantly Sinhala workers, students, graduates and other oppressed masses. So much for
the ‘patriotism’ of these chauvinist candidates.
Towards a World without Domination, Exploitation,
Repression and War!
How can there be democracy in a land, which is kept divided by nationality and religion? Even
now, the two agents of the global system Mahinda and Sarath, clamor for democracy without any
hint of pulling the masses together in national unity.
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Both worked together to crush the Tamil uprising that was waged ferociously to defend the
autonomy of their people. Both were singing and dancing with their masters about the victory
until the workers started the battle in the work places.
The strikes pushed them in to a fresh debate and they emerged as a two headed serpent to face the
people. Yes, we lost in both insurrections but we beat them back in the trade union battle. Now
they have come out in a presidential election united in policy but divided in camouflage. Let us
get together and give a real blow to both of them, and move forward for a united Lanka to face
the dictates of global capital. Let us build the strength to raise our vision of a world without
domination, exploitation, oppression and WAR! Let us unite our forces across divided
boundaries. Let us march forward towards a people’s democratic state governed by People’s
Assemblies representing the workers, peasants and all oppressed classes, nationalities and
communities. This shall embody the unity and solidarity of- North-East-South-and Hill Country
in the form of a People’s Republic of Lanka that shall enshrine Freedom and Democracy.

Rev. Yohan Devananda
Linus Jayathilake - Left Front:
Surendra Ajith Rupasinghe - Ceylon Communist Party (Maoist)
Chandrapala Kumarage(Attoney at law)- Sama Samaja Alternative
Group
Sajith Sri Lakmal - United Workers Party
2009.12.26