Watershed protests

Yet another protest has erupted in Sri Lanka over the lack of access to safe drinking water, this time in the Rajapaksa stronghold of Hambantota.

Following years of such incidents across the island, from Chunnakam to Weliweriya to Kelaniya, protesters in Hambantota are said to have held up an intersection for over three hours with some resorting to throwing stones at the Police.

In a refreshing change of pace, Police with batons – as opposed to soldiers with rifles – are said to have dispersed these protesters with minimal force. However, about six people are reported to have been injured in these clashes, including three Police officers.

In some ways this is in stark contrast to how the previous regime handled similar events that unfolded in the town of Weliweriya in Rathupaswala in 2013. Back then, soldiers armed with automatic rifles were directed to open fire at an unarmed rally of civilian protesters. Three people were killed in those clashes and the victims have demanded justice, to no avail.

In other ways, the contours of the situation and the apparent power-dynamic between the State and the people, remains quite the same. When people rise to protest in demand of basic rights such as access to water, the State responds with force, to quell justified anger and enforce its idea of order. These responses are worrying in that they treat civilians and protesters as enemies of the State rather than stakeholders who have elected the State to care for their needs.

In an ironic twist, MP Namal Rajapaksa took to twitter to condemn the heavy handedness of the Police saying: “They were only asking for clean water.” The same Rajapaksa who remained relatively silent on the brutalities of Weliweriya and whose family’s rule allowed the perpetrators to get away scot-free. According to UNICEF figures, Sri Lanka has a high national access to improved supply at around 84%. Indeed the island can boast to having high social indicators when it comes to water and sanitation in the region. But 84% is not enough. Under good governance, nobody should be left behind. 16% without access to water is far too much and an issue we should all be taking to the streets to protest.

With an ageing population, Sri Lanka in recent years has proven to be relatively immune to mass disruptive protests seen in our regional neighbours. Most have opted to work the democratic process as was the case in the so-called silent revolution of 8 January. However, it should be clear by now that the one issue proven to mobilise communities across ethnic and class lines has been that of access to clean water.

The contamination of the alleged poisoning of groundwater by a plant in Chunnakam, Norwegian company Jiffy’s alleged contamination of Deduru Oya, and Coca-Cola’s alleged oil spill in Kelani River are all indications of the adverse environmental and health hazards of unchecked corporate activity. The people most vulnerable to these events have taken notice but it is disheartening that in most cases the State seems more interested in quelling protests than in responding to the valid concerns of the people.

With the State’s recent recognition of the Sustainable Development Goals – which enshrines “availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” – now is the time to act against contamination of the island’s water supply. It is up to the Government to prove whether it is on the same side as the people who elected it.