JVP-aligned TUCC issues ‘Citizen’s Edict’ against Govt.

• Edict issued to save people from crisis
• Calls on Govt. to stop acts of repression
• Warns struggle will continue till demands are met 

By Maneshka Borham

The Trade Union Coordinating Centre (TUCC) issued a ‘Citizen’s Edict’ against the current Government at the end of yesterday’s protest march at Independence Square in Colombo. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) aligned TUCC led by its Convenor Wasantha Samarasinghe held a protest march from the Viharamaha Devi Park to the Independence Square yesterday, calling for the Government to end repression and to provide relief measures to the people. 

The TUCC said the Citizen’s Edict is being issued with the support of religious leaders, trade unions, professionals along with civil society groups that gathered at Independence Square to voice their dissent against the Government. “This edict is being issued by Sri Lankan citizens in opposition to the Ranil-Rajapaksha regime, which is attempting to suppress the mandate of the people,” it read. 

The edict said it is being issued to save the country’s people from the current crisis and to create a just society in which the people can live happily and peacefully. It said it was voicing the wishes of the people who were forced to engage in a struggle seeking political reforms in the country. 

Accordingly, the edict called on the Government to stop repressing the people and to release all protestors taken into custody. It also demanded the Government should rescind the Prevention of Terrorism Act while granting relief measures to the people and stop the sale of public property. 

Among the other demands in the edict, the TUCC said the Government must take steps to commence the process of introducing a new Constitution and also appoint a short-term caretaker Government. Another major demand of the group was to dissolve Parliament and call for immediate elections. 

The group in the edict said religious leaders, trade unions, professionals, political groups, civil society groups along with fishermen, farmers, workers, students and the protestors of the Galle Face Green will continue their struggle to ensure these demands come into fruition. 

– Pix by  Lahiru Harshana and Nimalsiri Edirisinghe –