Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Saturday, 18 January 2020 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
We as university teachers from Sri Lanka are shocked by the recent attacks on democratic freedoms in India. Since the introduction of the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act in India, we have seen courageous protests emerge all over India by people from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. They, particularly university students, have stood up for democracy, a testament to the long and inspiring democratic tradition in India.
In this context, we are very concerned by the repeated targeted attacks on university campuses including Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and most recently Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), both by the police and by goons, apparently with State complicity.
Such authoritarian repression and fascist assaults are deeply worrying as they undermine freedoms of expression and association in university spaces, which are a crucial bastion for dissent. The future of any society depends on its youth.
And it is heartening to see progressive Indian university students boldly coming forward to defend democratic ideals.
Anti-minority discourse, seen often in Islamophobic attacks, coupled with shrinking intellectual freedom is spreading in South Asia. Just as we have a progressive history of struggles for social justice and democratic rights in the region, which have nourished each other’s countries, authoritarian consolidation and chauvinistic attacks in India portend danger for the entire region.
We stand in solidarity with the University students and teachers in India and call for the people of South Asia to protect our democratic freedoms in the face of rising authoritarian and nationalist forces in the subcontinent.
Signed
Ahilan Kadirgamar, University of Jaffna
Anuradha Karunarathna, University of Peradeniya
Anusuya Subasinghe, University of the Visual and Performing Arts
Arjuna Parakrama, University of Peradeniya
Asela Rangadewa, University of the Visual and Performing Arts
B.M.H.S.K. Bannehaka, University of Peradeniya
Bahirathy JR, University of Jaffna
Barana Jayawardana, University of Peradeniya
Camena Guneratne, Open University of Sri Lanka
Chandraguptha Thenuwara, University of the Visual and Performing Arts
Dileni Gunewardena, University of Peradeniya
Dilini Hemachandra, University of Peradeniya
Esther Surenthiraraj, University of Colombo
Farzana Haniffa, University of Colombo
Gayan Ruppegoda, University of the Visual and Performing Arts
Harini Amarasuriya, Open University of Sri Lanka
Harshana Rambukwella, Open University of Sri Lanka
Indika Ferdinandu, University of the Visual and Performing Arts
Rev. J. C. Paul Rohan, University of Jaffna
K. M. G. Gehan Jayasuriya, University of Peradeniya
Liyanage Amarakeerthi, University of Peradeniya
Rev. M. V. E. Ravichandran, University of Jaffna
Maduranga Kalugampitiya, University of Peradeniya
Mahendran Thiruvarangan, University of Jaffna
Manjula Sandirigama, University of Peradeniya
Muttukrishna Sarvananthan, University of Jaffna
N. Sivakaran, University of Jaffna
Nicola Perera, University of Colombo
Nipuni Sarada, University of the Visual and Performing Arts
Nirosha Wijegunasekara, University of the Visual and Performing Arts
Prabha Manuratne, University of Kelaniya
Pradeepa Malkanthi, University of Peradeniya
Primal Fernando, University of Peradeniya
Priyan Dias, University of Moratuwa
Ramila Usoof, University of Peradeniya
Ranil D. Guneratne, SLINTEC
Rohan Laksiri, University of Ruhuna
Ruvan Weerasinghe, University of Colombo
Saminadan Wimal, University of Jaffna
Saumya Liyanage, University of Visual and Performing Arts
Shamala Kumar, University of Peradeniya
Sivanesan Pradinath, University of Jaffna
Srikantharaja Sivakanthan, University of Jaffna
Sumathy Sivamohan, University of Peradeniya
Tharanga Dandeniya, University of the Visual and Performing Arts
Thiyagaraja Waradas, University of Colombo