Strikers' demands aimed at crippling military drive - Minister Rambukwella

Street demos taboo:

Ranil Wijayapala

Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday that whilst respecting the rights of the Trade Unions to strike under Section 14 of the Constitution, the Government will not hesitate to use force against those who try to take to the streets in the guise of the trade union action putting the security of the public at risk.

Addressing the media at the weekly security press briefing,

Minister Rambukwella said certain trade unions were trying to convert this trade union action on the Cost of Living issue into a political issue.

Minister Rambukwella said the three demands put forward by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna to suspend this trade union action is not related to the demands of the trade unions as they have demanded the cancellation of PC polls, implementation of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution and curtailing the Cabinet to 35.

"All these demands are politically motivated demands and has no relevance to the demands put forward by the trade unions regarding the CoL," the Minister added.

He pointed out that the Government has received intelligence reports that certain student unions who have no connections with this trade union action are being set up to take to the streets under the guise of trade union action.

Minister Rambukwella said the Government was of the firm belief that there is a highly organised politically motivated group behind this strike since a majority of the trade unions came to an agreement with the President during discussions he had with them.

"The only exception was the JVP," the Minister pointed out.

He pointed out that the Government has already agreed to an immediate salary hike of Rs.1,000 whilst promising to give a considerable salary hike at the Budget in November this year since it is difficult to allocate Rs. 50 billion to give a Rs. 5,000 salary hike for workers at this point of time.

"The only possible means of allocating Rs. 50 billion out of the Rs. 730 billion Government revenue is through the reduction of the Government's defence budget," the Minister pointed out. He was of the opinion that those who are making these demands are

apparently trying to curtail the ongoing successful military operations to liberate the North and confine troops to barracks.

"The Government is not ready to reverse the ongoing military operation to meet these demands," the Minister pointed out.

"Therefore the Government will take the sternest possible action whilst respecting the rights of the Trade Unions under Section 14 of the Constitution if some sections try to act beyond the limits since none of these trade unions have obtained permission to stage street protests," the Minister pointed out.