{"id":8595,"date":"2014-07-27T07:52:02","date_gmt":"2014-07-27T06:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.socialism.in\/?p=8595"},"modified":"2014-08-18T15:40:13","modified_gmt":"2014-08-18T14:40:13","slug":"sri-lanka-racist-buddhist-mob-ambushes-united-socialist-party-march","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.socialism.in\/?p=8595","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lanka: Racist Buddhist mob ambushes United Socialist Party march"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"bbssl\"<\/a>United Socialist Party’s Rally attacked by Bodu Bala Sena!<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Comrades of United Socialist Party<\/a> (CWI-Sri Lanka)<\/strong> including Srinath Perera Piyarathna, Dhammika Silva were brutally attacked by 50 Bodu Bala Sena<\/strong> (BBS) thug Monks and a lorry load of hired goons of around 100. The comrades of the USP were conducting a Motor Cycle Rally in memory of Ernesto Che Guevara and the slogans were against Racism and against Communalism of the right wing Buddhist monks.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Though the rally of around 40 odd Motor Cyclists went 3\/4 of the way, police stopped the rally and demanded Siritunga Jayasuriya to stop going further, and said that there is likely attack coming from the BBS. After a rousing speech by Siritunga Jayasuriya, the rally was drawn to a close as the police refused permission to go further.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

When the comrades were returning they were attacked by these BBS thugs and three comrades were seriously injured, though there was no physical attack on Siritunga Jayasuriya, he was heavily abused and warned by saying that he will be “dealt with” by the saffron robed Buddhist monks.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

We on behalf of New Socialist Alternative<\/strong> (CWI-India) and Committee for a Workers’ International<\/strong> (CWI<\/a>), and on behalf of Tamil Solidarity<\/a><\/strong>, fighting for the rights of workers and all oppressed in Sri Lanka, condemn this attack by Bodu Bala Sena right wing chauvinist thugs on a democratic Motor Cycle Rally led by United Socialist Party.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

We stand in solidarity with the comrades of USP and all other democratic forces in that country.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Editors<\/em><\/strong><\/span>
\n Socialism.in<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Committee for a Workers\u2019 International<\/strong> (CWI) strongly condemns the brutal attack on the United Socialist Party<\/strong> (USP) by an organisation of Buddhist racist monks (BBS) in Sri Lanka today.<\/span><\/p>\n

The USP had organised a motorcycle march to build opposition to the ongoing racist attacks on religious minorities. The motorcade was driving to Aluthgama, a town where Muslim shops and houses were attacked by organised Buddhist extremists earlier this month. (Report: http:\/\/www.socialistworld.net\/print\/6853)<\/span><\/p>\n

Participants were distributing leaflets and discussing with local people about the reactionary and dangerous nature of the BBS. They were urged to join in the building of united action against any racist attacks or discrimination on language, national, religious or any other basis.<\/span><\/p>\n

The BBS is a racist Buddhist monk organisation which has close ties with the current regime in Sri Lanka, itself accused of the murder of hundreds of thousands of Tamil-speaking people. The BBS recently conducted a campaign against the Tamil-speaking Muslims in Sri Lanka and promoting Sinhala chauvinism.<\/span><\/p>\n

The USP organised the motorcycle march from Colombo to raise awareness of the brutal nature of the BBS and to demand a united stand by all working class people against such rotten organisations.<\/span><\/p>\n

The march was stopped by the police. The police however did not protect the marchers against the racist monks when the BBS members came to attack the marchers. A number of USP members have been injured and a few of them taken to hospital.<\/span><\/p>\n

The CWI condemns this attack. We urge all those appalled by this attack to join with us to build a stronger united movement against the BBS and against the dictatorial regime in Sri Lanka.<\/span><\/p>\n

If the BBS thinks it can deter the opposition they are wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n

Contact the United Socialist Party for further details.<\/span><\/p>\n

Please also send solidarity messages to the USP (info@lankasocialist.com) with copies to the CWI (cwi@worldsoc.co.uk)<\/span><\/p>\n

We demand that:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n