PBI volunteers Marlies Van de Ven and Pete Valavanis provided a presence at an anti-violence demonstration held on the 2nd and 3rd of October in Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital. The demonstration was sponsored by 'Kalape Api'(We of the Zone) to commemorate the deaths of 11 workers who were killed during a labor protest in the Free Trade Zone. According to Britto Fernando of Kalape Api, the demonstration was open to any organisations and individuals interested in ending the violence that has rocked this island nation for the past 14 years.Emotions ran high during the event. Many women brought photos of family members that were killed. An exhibit of photos and names of individuals wounded or killed over the years was placed around the demonstration site. "It is essential that faces be placed with the names of victims," states Britto. "People must realise that these victims are not just statistics." The placards listed individuals who were not only victims of the war in the north and east of the country but also victims of militant uprisings, attacks on labor protests, and other politically motivated acts of violence. Britto emphasised that this demonstration represents "a voice against violence from all sources. We protest all killings, whether Sinhalese, Tamil, anyone. We want the violence against the people of Sri Lanka to end." Banners emphasising this message were hung around the area with statements such as "Protest All Killings", "Stop the Killing of Innocents", and "Don't play politics with our children. We want peace and coexistence in Sri Lanka". The demonstrators also used street theatre to illustrate their message. One skit depicted the death of an individual while others around him watched television. Other colorful skits criticised the racist attitudes and petty politics that have prevailed in Sri Lanka for many years.
One of the speakers at the rally was Jayanthi Dantheniya, also of Kalape Api. Jayanthi's husband, Ranjith Mudiyanselage, was a worker in the Free Trade Zone who was reportedly killed for protesting against hazardous labor conditions. Two of her brothers were also killed in other attacks. "They can't hurt me anymore", Jayanthi proclaims. She has been a tireless advocate for labor and community groups and has garnered respect from all sectors of the community. "The authorities must understand that the people of Sri Lanka are tired of the years of violence. We want an end to all political violence." A variety of other victims of violence spoke of their experiences at the rally. One woman, child in hand, spoke of her husband who was killed in March at a protest against a proposed coal power plant. The power plant would allegedly displace 350 families from fertile farmland and cause serious damage to the environment. Another speaker, a Buddhist monk, described an incident that he witnessed during the militant uprisings in 1989. Members of the JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, or Peoples Liberation Front), a militant organisation with origins in the youth movements of the south, had allegedly set fire to government property. In retaliation, the Sri Lanka Army reportedly rounded up members of the local community onto a bridge and opened fire. The monk was amongst those shot but managed to escape by jumping off the bridge. The case against the officers in charge at the scene is still pending.
Police presence at the demonstration was watchful but congenial. Protesters engaged the police personnel in conversation, even offering the police officers a cool drink to ward off the intense Colombo heat.
As the demonstration drew to a close, Britto proclaimed that the protests will continue. "As long as the violence continues, so will the protests."
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