Racism and religious extremism not its tools: JVP

 JVP Leader Anura Dissanayaka  – Pic by Ruwan Walpola

• JVP celebrates May Day at Party headquarters
• Says unity of working-class people answer to racism and extremism
• Racism and extremism doesn’t provide survival or security to any race or religion

By Ruwandi Gamage

Using racism and religious extremism for political gain will never be part of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), in the wake of the Eater Sunday attacks, said the JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka at the May Day celebrations held at the Party headquarters in Pelawatte yesterday.

Dissanayaka stated that the JVP has many political slogans such as the need to create a better economy, a good governance, and a better democracy while prioritising national unity and security. He further said that they refuse to entertain racism or religious extremism in their politics, whatever the race or religion it might be for.

“In the wake of the 21 April attacks, we will not give voice to racism or religious extremism, be it Tamil, Muslim or Sinhalese, and entertain them as our party’s political slogans. Security of the people of this nation is of utmost importance, but we will not do what the Prime Minister or the Opposition is doing, racism and religious extremism isn’t our most favourite political slogans,” Dissanayaka said. Stating that the Government has failed to safeguard the most basic human right of Sri Lankans, and that it is time for the working-class to come together to bring in a new ruling class to power, Dissanayaka spoke of the importance of nurturing unity among the people of the working-class. “Unity of the people in the working-class is the answer to racism and religious extremism.

 We need to strengthen the working-class to stand up against this crude and failed Government,” he added.

Roots of extremism are in religion itself, explained Dissanayaka, and it is the people themselves who needs to fight and stand up against racism and extremism. He said how the prevailing extremism isn’t Islamic, but is a senseless and armed extremism that has developed to state where people commit suicide to prove their point.

According to Dissanayaka, racism between races nurtures racism and religious extremism between religions nurtures religious extremism, and one would not survive without the other.

 He claims that the Government and the Opposition is voicing that the means to defeat racism and extremism is with the use of racism and religious extremism itself, and that this is not in favour of the working-class people. 

“In the wake of this crisis, Muslims are the most scared. So, it is crucial to remember that this extremism doesn’t provide survival or security to any race or religion.

 In the name of national unity and coexistence, I urge all Sri Lankans to come together and stand against racism and religious extremism,” Dissanayaka added.