FUTA unreservedly condemns attack on Sabaragamuwa University Students

 Friday, 17 October 2014 

The Federation of University Teachers’ Union (FUTA) unreservedly condemns the recent brutal attack on Sabaragamuwa University students by masked goons.

FUTA says 'the fact that this attack comes after the recent statement of Minister S.B Dissanayake that he knows the treatment for these students if not for upcoming elections, is a clear indication that the Minister himself must take responsibility for this act of violence' in the press statement issued on yesterday (16)

The full text of press statement of FUTA as follows

The Federation of University Teachers’ Union (FUTA) unreservedly condemns the recent brutal attack on Sabaragamuwa University students by masked goons. As pointed out by our sister union, the Sabaragamuwa University Teachers’ Union (SUTA), the students were engaged in a peaceful protest when they were attacked. Furthermore, the fact that this attack comes after the recent statement of Minister S.B Dissanayake that he knows the treatment for these students if not for upcoming elections, is a clear indication that the Minister himself must take responsibility for this act of violence.

Minister S.B. Dissanayake’s crude and violent speech and behaviour is of course nothing new. The tragedy is that he is not held accountable for his actions. No civilised country would tolerate a Minister of the likes of Minister Dissanayake and any responsible government would have long removed such a person from holding any position of responsibility. The fact that Minister S.B Dissanayakes continues to function with impunity is a reflection of the broader culture of lack of accountability and complete disregard for what is good and decent in our existing political culture. It is for this reason that FUTA is of the view that it is not Minister Dissanayake but the leadership of the government of which he is a member that should be responsible for the brutal suppression of university students around the country. It is no secret that Minister Dissanayake is carrying out the policy and instructions of his government. University students have been identified as a challenge to the government’s efforts to completely destroy state universities in this country and Minister Dissanayake’s violence is the government’s response to student agitations. That is why Minster Dissanayake is allowed to act without any restraint.

The FUTA appeals to all citizens of this country to awaken to the severe crisis in higher education today. University students are agitating because they are immediately affected by this crisis. However, this crisis will eventually affect all of us. If this situation continues much longer, universities in this country will be completely destroyed and only a handful from among the privileged will be able to access higher education. The quality of higher education will be completely undermined. The long term socio-economic consequences of such a situation are extremely dangerous. Even those of us who are not directly affected by this crisis need to be aware of this danger. We call upon all citizens of this country to wake up to the crisis in higher education and to hold those in authority accountable for their actions and to call for an immediate halt to the violence meted out to the youth of this country.