By Sena Thoradeniya

Preamble

This essay was originally written in April 2022, attempting to provide information in a nutshell of protest movements and demonstrations that had taken place demanding either anti-imperialist interventions, political reforms or ouster of rulers, beginning from the May Fourth Movement in China in 1919. Our aim was to provide new insights to a few selected Protest Movements to the Galle Face Protesters, the political parties behind the Protest, newly emerged ideologues and patron saints of the Protesters, inviting  all of them to  study these movements well, their consequences and draw from their learning aspects to map out a course of action suitable to concrete conditions of Sri Lanka. In this essay we have left out Uprisings of the Slaves and Serfs, Peasant Wars and Uprisings, Civil Wars, Democratic and Socialist Revolutions and National Liberation Struggles. Protest Movements were selected at the writer’s discretion.     

Unfortunately, we could not find space in print media to publish this essay. Had the editors of print media were mindful of the contents of this essay, we could have taught some important lessons beneficial for the Galle Face Protesters as well as their Godfathers.

1. The May Fourth Movement of 1919

We begin with the May Fourth Movement in China which was an anti-imperialist political and cultural movement that began on May 04, 1919 inspired by the Great October Revolution in Russia.  

On May 04, 1919 the students of Peking started a march and a protest campaign, soon after they discovered that the ministers were concurring with the Japanese diplomats to allow Japan to legalise Japanese seizure of some territories in China in accordance with the Treaty of Versailles. After the marchers were fired on by police forces and a number of students were arrested the protest movement spread throughout the country like a prairie fire. Chinese national bourgeoisie, workers, miners and railway men joined the struggle resulting in removal of pro-Japanese officials and China announcing that it would not sign the Treaty of Versailles.

This was the beginning of the New Democratic (not Socialist) Revolution of China. Chinese revolutionists became disillusioned with their previous ideal, western capitalist democracy. It was the Chinese Marxists that had provided key slogans to May Fourth Movement. Hundreds of Chinese intellectuals participated in the struggle and they differentiated themselves from the liberals and fought against feudal classicism. Culmination of this struggle was the formation of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921.

This Movement laid the groundwork for the First Revolutionary Civil War of China (1924-1927).  

Chairman Mao in his article The May 4 th Movement” (1939), said that the May 4 th Movement marked a new stage in China’s bourgeois-democratic revolution against imperialism and feudalism. The cultural reform movement which grew out of the May 4 th Movement was only one of the manifestations of this revolution.”  Mao in this article, whilst praising the role played by the intellectuals in this movement emphasised that the intellectuals will accomplish nothing if they fail to integrate and identify themselves with masses of people.

One aspect of this movement was cultural revival. This marked a new chapter in Chinese academic and cultural development. The foundation for this was laid by Lu Xun (1881-1936), considered as the pioneer of the Cultural Revolution of China. Lu Xun, in a poem written in 1934 said that thunder comes from where the silence is”.  

Some relevant learning points good to know by the Galle Face Protesters are given under each sub-heading:

FIRST: The May Fourth Movement was an anti-imperialist movement, whereas Galle Face Protesters were ignorant of the manipulations of the imperialists and neo-colonialists and no one protested against the selling of national assets to foreigners.

SECOND: The May Fourth Movement spread throughout the country and the country arose against imperialism. Sri Lanka’s Protest spread to suburbs of Colombo as a pots and pans” struggle, called by the Protesters themselves as a Kussiye Vilapya (lament of the kitchen).

THIRD: The May Fourth Movement resulted in the formation of a broad united front; Galle Face Protest was destined to disintegrate even before the eviction by security forces.

FOURTH: Participants of the May Fourth Movement became disillusioned with western capitalist democracy: very soon it was disclosed that Galle Face Protest was a brainchild of Western Powers, foreign-funded NGOs and MNCs.

FIFTH: Hundreds of Chinese intellectuals participated in the struggle and they differentiated themselves with the liberals, integrated and identified with the masses of people. At Galle Face some so-called Professionals including a few medical men held press conferences and issued press statements forming new NGOs, upholding their personal agendas. It was like feasting on somebody else’s nuptial night. One or two of them would seek elections to the legislature using the Protest as a pedestal.

SIXTH: The May Fourth Movement aimed at a cultural revival too. At Galle Face we saw a hotchpotch of feudal, decadent, moribund and lumpen cultures.

SEVENTH: The May Fourth Movement paved the way for the formation of the Chinese Communist Party which liberated China from the shackles of comprador-bourgeoisie and feudal lords.  JVP and FSP wormed their way into Galle Face and tried to use the Protest as an avenue to accomplish their ulterior motives.   

EIGHTH: The May Fourth Movement brought forth a cultural giant like Lu Xun. Galle Face was a haven for third grade soap opera actors and actresses.

2. December 09 th Student Movement, 1935

The December 09 th Movement is one of the greatest patriotic student movements in China. On that day over ten thousand Peiping (present Beijing) students carried a petition campaign and demonstrations in support of the demand that the Kuomintang Government resist Japanese aggressors. It turned into a struggle against Japanese imperialism and the Kuomintang reactionaries. Very soon it turned into a nation-wide movement. There was a serious depression in the capitalist world towards the end of 1929. Japanese imperialists launched a large-scale attack on China hoping to conquer the whole country and was able to occupy China’s North Eastern Provinces and by 1935 stretched out to Northern China. Kuomintang Government tried to please the aggressors at the expense of national interests. 

On December 09, 1935 Peiping students broke through many barricades put up by the Kuomintang troops and police. Kuomintang Government suppressed the Protesters with utmost cruelty. Ice cold water was sprayed regardless of bitterly cold winds. Troops attacked students with broad swords, knotted whips and wooden stakes. Plainclothesmen arrested students.

A larger demonstration was held on December 16. Students of other big cities joined the struggle. They travelled throughout the country arousing the peasants for about three weeks spreading the message to resist against Japan. Doing so they integrated with the workers and peasants and other broad masses. This alerted the nation for the War of Resistance Against Japan. Under the leadership of the Communist Party they founded a progressive youth organisation and became a part of the revolutionary movement. After the War of Resistance began students in batches went to Yanan, the cradle of Chinese Revolution and enemy rear to take part in the struggle.

Yang Mo’s The Song of Youth”, translated into Sinhala as Yawwana Geethaya”,magnificently portrays the students’ struggle.

FIRST: December Ninth Movement was against Japanese aggression and inaction of local reactionaries.

SECOND: Although brutally suppressed the students travelled throughout the country and integrated with the masses of people.

THIRD: This heralded the beginning of the War of Resistance against Japan.

FOURTH: Students did not occupy Chiang Kai-shek’s mansions or set ablaze houses of other politicians.

FIFTH: A fair amount of Galle Face Protesters was led by JVP and FSP, with its arm Anthare; none of them had such a trailblazing programme.

3. Protests Over Occupation of Okinawa, Japan

In 1945, with the defeat of Japan, Okinawa was occupied by the US. A protest movement began against the Japanese-American Security Treaty of 1960 and US military bases in Japan, supposed to be the largest US military bases outside US. Hundreds of Protesters stormed Japan’s National Diet building and forced Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi to resign. But it was only in 1972, after 27 years, Okinawa was returned to Japan. The strong Japanese student movement splintered after severe disagreements over whom to blamed for the failure to stop the revised Security Treaty being signed.

FIRST: Despite the Protests US kept their bases for well over 27 years.

SECOND: Disagreements arose in the Japanese student movement, one of the strongest in the world.    

4. Prague Spring” in 1968

In former Czechoslovakian Socialist Republic. When reformist Alexander Dubcek was elected as First Secretary of the Czechoslovakian Communist Party a period of pollical liberalisation and protests followed from January to August 1968. Dubcek attempted to grant additional rights and to divide the country into three republics. Dubcek’s programme of liberalisation was known as socialism with a human face.” Sri Lankans may remember how CBK was brought to power with the tag line, market economy with a human face”, which resulted in selling government assets including the plantations nationalised by her mother. After Soviet and Warsaw Pact tanks entered Prague, Dubcek was replaced by Gustav Husak. Later after the fall of the USSR, Czechoslovakia was divided into two Republics as Slovakia (Slovak Republic) and Czech Republic (Czechia).

FIRST: What had happened in Czechoslovakia was an attempt of restoration of capitalism in the guise of liberalisation and socialism with a human face”.

SECOND: It was the forerunner of Solidarity” in Poland, the so-called Euro-Communism” in Europe and Glasnost” and Perestroika” in the USSR which brought the collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. 

5. May 68 Paris”

This is the protest movement that began in Paris spearheading demonstrations, general strikes and occupation of universities and factories. The then President of France Charles de Gaulle fearing a civil war secretly fled to Germany. Left-oriented students protested against capitalism, consumerism and American imperialism and opposing the Vietnam War as well. Sympathy strikes were organised by trade unions and it was estimated around 11 million workers participated in these strikes.  Conflicts arose amongst trade unions and left parties. Counter demonstrations were organised by the Gaullists, National Assembly was dissolved and at the ensuing elections Gaullists emerged stronger than before.

May Paris, inspired several protest movements in Europe and elsewhere in general and particularly protest art”.

It was the time that rural plebian revolutionaries in Sri Lanka were preparing for an armed revolt; but we have no evidence to support that they were inspired by May 68”. In 1967 Regis Debre, a young Parisienne published his book, Revolution in Revolution”. In some Latin American countries, this book was used by the guerillas as a handbook. Imprisoned for 30 years in Bolivia he was pardoned with the interventions made by the Pope and De Gaulle. Later he functioned as an advisor to French President Francoise Mitterrand.

Some in Sri Lanka including the writer studied this English translation and tried to identify whether there were any parallels between the revolutionary cells” described by Debre in his book and JVP grassroot level small groups.  But Wijeweera was averse to any theory except his own! Only inspiration he got was from his contemporary at Moscow, who overtook the tiny island of Zanzibar in one night, of the size of Colombo, governed by a Sultan which had no army of its own.

FIRST: Paris 68” was against capitalism, consumerism, US imperialism and Vietnam War. Galle Face Protesters’ main objective was ousting the President. We have not heard any slogan against imperialism, capitalism or consumerism, and any slogan showing solidarity to people struggling in other countries against oppression and exploitation. How can they? When they were funded by imperialists and business conglomerates?

SECOND: Millions of workers participated in protests in Paris. At Galle Face a handful of trade union leaders showed their faces. One of them got an appointment as President’s Trade Union Advisor with RW’s ascendance.

THIRD: The pseudo-revolutionary Regis Debre’s case is an interesting one. He was pardoned with the interventions of the Pope and De Gaulle. Later he became an advisor to Mitterrand. This reminds us the upward mobility of some rehabilitated” revolutionaries”  ‘who participated in the 1971 insurrection, later as Professors, Vice Chancellors, UGC Chairmen, Ministers, top bureaucrats, Media barons and the middle rung of the NGO coterie.

6. Aboriginal Tent Embassy”

Originated in 1972, this is a movement started by Australian Aborigines against White supremacists demanding justice, land and political rights and sovereignty to Aborigines and the Torres Islander people. It is a permanent protest movement originated in Canberra opposite the Old Parliament House. The Tent Embassy” first, was established with four men under a beach umbrella. In 2003 it was damaged by arsonists.

These traditional custodians of the Australian Continent dislike being called aborigines” or indigenous people”. They proudly identify themselves as Kooris. It is evident that the Australian Government has not taken seriously the issues related to the Tent Embassy”. Still aborigines” are deprived of better educational, health and housing facilities. They are the most impoverished, the most disease-prone, the most marginalised, the most discriminated segment of the society. The highest unemployment percentages and lowest life expectancy percentages are recorded among them.  Nevertheless Tent Embassy” continues as the longest protest movement in history which celebrated its 50 th anniversary this year. Problems of the Aborigines remain unresolved.  

Mention should be made of the annual NAIDOC Week (National Aborigines and Islanders Day of Celebration) in which the Aborigines and Islanders of Torres Straits participate in a massive demonstration and meet at the Federation Square, Melbourne.

This writer’s novel Yaara Yaathrika” (2015), is also a cultural expedition to Aboriginal Sacred Sites, which celebrates Aborigine art and its philosophy and spirituality Dreamtime”.

FIRST: Tent Ambassadors” remain where they were because they have no hidden political agenda, to create anarchy and destabilise the country or ousting the incumbent rulers, calling for a system change” or regime change.

SECOND: Giving some solid reasons I have stated in an earlier article that the Galle Face Protest would have erupted into a violent uprising even without an attack on the Protesters on May 09.

7. Protests in South Korea

During the Japanese occupation Korean Students and people fought against Japanese rule demanding Korea’s independence. After the establishment of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) protests grew against military dictatorships and suppression, forcing governments to hold elections and institute democratic reforms.

 Students in South Korea rose against the Government of Syngman Rhee, the authoritarian ruler backed by the US after he rigged elections in 1960. This protest movement is known as the April Revolution. Students in a march to the Presidential Palace demanded new and fair elections. Police shot at demonstrators of Masan University. The demonstrations forced Rhee to resign. CIA flew him to Hawaii. 

Park Chung-hee, an Army General, came to power leading a military coup in 1961. In 1972 he declared Martial Law, introduced an authoritarian constitution and carried out a brutal dictatorial rule repressing political dissent.  Park having complete control of the military and media easily suppressed students’ uprising. He was assassinated in 1979 following Bu-Ma (Busan and Masan Universities) student demonstrators who called for democratic reforms.

In 1980, in what was known as Gwangju Uprising against military rule armed citizens fought against soldiers and police. Chonnam University students who were fighting against martial law government were brutally suppressed, fired upon, killed and some were raped.

June Democratic Struggle in 1987, a pro-democracy movement forced the government to hold elections and carry out democratic reforms.  Protests led to the eventual end of south Korea’s dictatorship in 1987.  

FIRST: In South Korea students rose against military dictatorships and suppression calling for democratic reforms.

SECOND: The Protesters were brutally suppressed, killed and raped.

THIRD: At the Galle Face it was a struggle against an imaginary dictator, an example for modern myth-making and a fantasy, a fight against a Tin Tin (Katin Putin- Weda Tin Tin”) as the sloganeers chanted.

8. Thammasat University Massacre in October 1976

This is the violent crackdown by Thai police and lynching by para-military units and bystanders against the leftist protesters who occupied Bangkok’s Thammasat University and adjacent areas, protesting against the return of former dictator of Thailand, Thanom Kittikachorn. More than 40 protesters were killed and hundreds were injured by Thai police and so-called village scouts. Unofficial reports state that more than 100 demonstrators were killed. Some were assaulted, sexually abused, shot and burnt alive and thousands were arrested.

FIRST: It was a struggle against a dictator.

SECOND: Protesters were assaulted, killed, sexually abused and burnt alive.   

9. Sandinista Revolution of 1978-1979 in Nicaragua

This signifies the struggle waged by Sandinista National Liberation Front to oust Nicaraguan dictator Anastasia Somoza. Although the forces led by Daniel Ortega governed Nicaragua after ousting its dictator, it had to meet resistance from Contras (Contra War), a rightist group backed by the U.S.  At the election held in 1990 anti-Sandinista coalition defeated the party of Ortega. Daniel Ortega’s brother Humberto defected. From then onwards a see-saw battle began.

FIRST: Even when liberators” come into power US does not allow them to have a trouble-free administration.

SECOND: US installs their proxies and civil wars begin. 

10. Iranian Revolution in 1978-1979

It culminated with the overthrow of Shah Mohamed Reza Pahlavi, popularly known as King Shah. In 1953 King Shah gained power in the country in a coup d’état supported by the Americans. Shah overthrew the democratically elected progressive Prime Minister Mohamed Mossadegh who nationalised Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, a British oil company that enjoyed monopoly over extraction and sale of Iranian oil.

Demonstrations began in 1977 leading to a civil disobedience campaign. It was supported by religious groups, Islamist[U1]  organisations as well as leftists. Although Shah left Iran as an exile, street fighting began between guerillas and other militant groups and troops loyal to Shah. University of Teheran was used as a center of student protesters and movie theatres, super markets, government and police buildings were either seized, looted and burnt. By about 1982 Khomeini crushed the rival factions and consolidated his power. He became the supreme leader of Iran; power being grabbed by Islamic fundamentalists.

In 1958 Sri Lankan women also wept when Shah divorced his beautiful wife Soraya who were not able to give him an heir-apparent and married Farah Diba a woman 19 years younger to him. 

FIRST: Protesters at Galle Face should have known that there were local Ayatollahs in saffron robes and white cassocks who had become their messiahs.

SECOND: Iran was not able to go back to Mossadegh era.

THIRD: Now after 43 years, Iranian students are protesting, some uncovering their heads without mandatory hijab and cutting their pony tails in protest over the death of a girl called Mahsa Amini. Inspired by social media and internet Iran’s Gen Z are shouting slogans against the Islamic Republic. The rulers of Iran had identified it as planned foreign plot by US and Israel Zionists. In accordance to the Western narrative as happened in relation to Galle Face Protest, protests are being held in the US, Canada and West European capitals against Iran. 

FOURTH: It is very tragic that in Sri Lanka none of the Pohottuwa politicos was able to voice his/her opinion to point out the foreign connexons of the Galle Face Protest. They saw only the enemy within.

11. Peoples’ Power” in the Philippines in 1986

When Marcos declared martial law in the Philippines thousands of people were either killed, disappeared or tortured.

A series of public protests began in Metro Manilla in 1986 and ended Ferdinand Marcos’ dictatorships aided and abetted by the US. Sometimes it was called Yellow Revolution due to the yellow ribbons worn by the Protesters, a symbol of protest following the assassination of Beningo Ninoy” Aquino in 1983 upon his return to the country from exile. Marcos fled to Hawaii. Aquino’s widow, Corazon Aquino, a housewife was installed as the President. The protest movement was supported by over two million people consisting of civilians, political and military groups and Catholic religious groups led by the Archbishop of Cebu Province.

A significant factor of this struggle was Fidel Ramos, later a 5-star General breaking away from Marcos and supporting the newly established government of Corazon Aquino. Later he became the President of the Philippines.

Rodrigo Duterte who became the President in 2016 became famous for his brutal war against drug lords. Sirisena said that he had learned a lot from Duterte in combating drugs and organised crime. He wanted to reintroduce capital punishment. But he could not prevent the Easter Sunday attack. He was holidaying in Mount Elizabeth, Singapore!  

FIRST: Archbishop of Cebu Province did not have an axe to grind with Marcos, we suppose. 

SECOND: In Sri Lanka, Fonseka has found an easy path to power piggybacking on IUSF and FSP becoming their redeemer. Has he heard of Fidel Ramos? We do not know. No wonder. JVP supported him in his Presidential campaign.

THIRD: It was an irony of history that Marcos’ son, Ferdinand Bongbong” Marcos becoming the President of the Philippines this year. This has stimulated some Sri Lankans to have hopes of a comeback of Rajapaksas. A meeting was held at Kalutara on 08 October. Nava Lanka Freedom Party of Welgama has appointed many political rejects as electoral organisers of his new party, some who were responsible for MR’s downfall. One of them has stated that CBK can lift the country out of its present predicament. Now the unfortunate voters have to think whether they are enthroning the mother, son or the holy ghost”.

In South Korea Park Chung-hee’s daughter became President in 2013 and was sentenced for a 24- year prison term in 2018. Thaksin Shinawatra’s sister Yingluck became the Prime Minister of Thailand and was removed by a constitutional court.

12. Tiananmen Incident in 1989

Since the death of Chairman Mao in 1976 capitalist-roaders inside and outside the party hastened their plotting to overthrow the Communist rule in China. In 1989 an open revolt erupted at the Tiananmen Square in Beijing, using university and high school students influenced by capitalist ideas as protesters and demonstrators, calling for more individual rights and freedom. After a military crackdown the authorities were able to clear the Square from protesters.

13. Red Shirts” in Thailand

Following the 2006 coup d’état which deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, groups of demonstrators supporting him commenced a protest campaign, wearing red shirts. Among the demonstrators were various groups representing diverse political groups, left-wing progressives, liberals and academics, students, rural workers outside Bangkok and some business people. Around 90 protesters were killed and more than 2000 were wounded during clashes between Protesters and Thai security forces. Protests continued.  Arson attacks in Bangkok caused a loss around billions of Thai Bahts.

The last major protest began in March 2009. Tens of thousands of people occupied Bangkok, stormed the Parliament forcing the Members of Parliament to flee. When the forces tried to disperse the protesters, 17 protesters were killed. But the Red Shirts” took their positions in the Central Business District (CBD) of Bangkok and continued the protest for several weeks. Government troops moved into the Red Shirt” camps, smashing the barricades and cleared the camp. Some leaders were arrested and some were killed.

Later the Red Shirts” supported Yingluck Shinawatra, sister of Thaksin. In 2011 Yingluck became the first woman Prime Minister of Thailand. Mass protests began against her government too. She was removed from office in 2014 by a Constitutional Court decision.

Yingluck visited Sri Lanka in 2013, as the Thai government dignitary to attend the 260 th anniversary of the founding of the Siam Maha Nikaya in Sri Lanka. She addressed the Sri Lankan Parliament at Kotte, the third visiting foreign dignitary to do so at Kotte. Earlier her brother Thaksin too had addressed the Sri Lankan parliamentarians.

FIRST: The Red Shirts” protested against the ouster of a Prime Minister.

SECOND:  Military crackdown dismantled protesters’ barricades and they were severely beaten; some leaders were arrested, some were killed.

THIRD: Arson attacks in Bangkok.

FOURTH:  Later Red Shirts” supported the sister of the deposed PM, she herself was removed by a court decision. Whom we are propping up cannot be our saviours. We are absolutely not certain to whom the Galle Face Protesters would support, out of the corrupt lot when it comes to an election.

14. Arab Spring”

The so-called Arab Spring” commenced in the beginning of 2010 s turned into an Arab Winter” in no time.  Arab Spring”, was associated with a series of anti-government protests, uprisings, violent clashes, armed attacks, violent crackdowns and ouster of some authoritarian rulers. Instead of giving a detailed description of it what is more important in the current Sri Lankan context is the role played by the social media and the aftermath of the so-called Spring. Protesters of any country should be aware of the present conditions of Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and Syria whether the Protesters had found the Promised Land.

In Tunisia the President Ben Ali was forced to stepdown. Hosni Mubarak in Egypt left office ceding power to military officers. Protests in Yemen developed into a civil war. In Bahrain protests were violently suppressed by security forces aided by forces from Saudi Arabia and UAE. An international coalition led by NATO launching air strikes reduced Libya into ashes. Protests calling for the resignation of Bashar al-Assad in Syria resulted in a brutal crackdown and superpower intervention. Muslim Brotherhood” in Egypt that supported the protest campaign formed a political party of its own and Mohammed Morsi was elected as its representative. Later a massive protest called for Morsi’s resignation and he was removed and placed under house arrest. Violence erupted in 2013; security forces attacked Muslim Brotherhood” supporters killing nearly 50 protesters and wounding hundreds of people. Muslim Brotherhood” was banned by a Cairo court. Its activities were suppressed and the outfit was designated as a terrorist organisation.

FIRST: In a TV interview a Galle Face Protester stated that they learnt a lot from the social media used in Arabi Wasanthaya”. But there was no need for the Protesters to worry about the reach of their social media platforms as almost all TV stations in Sri Lanka, their anchormen and reality show presenters and judges had become an integral part of Galle Face Green. Free wi-fi and data cards were provided by big businessmen. On the 09 th of May we saw how some TV anchormen acting as agent-provocateurs. For them showing torched palatial mansions, hotels, luxury vehicles and busses was like showing Wesak pandals erected during normal Wesak nights.

SECOND: Galle Face Protesters were more advanced than their Arab Spring” brethren in the use of social media. WhatsApp groups sent registration numbers of busses that had transported Pohottuwa supporters to Temple Trees meeting and exact locations of the houses and other properties of Pohottuwa politicians. A Christian priest stationed at a nearby five-star hotel used his YouTube channel to incite viewers not to allow any outbound bus to pass unchecked. Within a few minutes the island was turned into an inferno. It was not a spontaneous response as some Colombo cocktail party scribes had written. A former Minister whose house was set on fire had alleged that preliminary plans were made on 03 rd and 04 th May, days before the goon attack.

THIRD: July 09, was the day all TV channels enjoyed extraordinary pleasure in telecasting the on-going events.  People thronging into occupied buildings”, cooking, feasting, enjoying luxuries were good news for them for several days. In a subtle way they all justified vandalism that took place. One of these TV anchors described a man sleeping on the President’s bed as a man who may not possess even a cardboard to rest and those dipping in the swimming pool as men who had not seen such a luxury in their lives.

THE TIME IS NOT STILL RIGHT TO EVALUATE THE OVERALL REPERCUSSIONS OF THE SO-CALLED SRI LANKA SPRING”.

15. Occupy Wall Street” (OWS) in 2011

Protests erupted in New York City’s Wall Street against economic inequality, corruption and influence of corporates on government and in politics. OWS slogan We are the 99%”, referred to income inequality of the US, between the wealthiest 1% and the rest. Occupation of public space, civil disobedience, picketing were the means used by the Protesters.  They occupied banks, business conglomerates, college and university campuses.

FIRST: One similarity with the Galle Face Green was OWS also having a library. What they called The People’s Library” was staffed by professional librarians unlike our showmen.

SECOND: Unlike our Protesters who had beautiful tents, OWS Protesters slept either in sleeping bags or under blankets in severe weather conditions.

THIRD: Total cost of their meals was $ 1000 per day. Galle Face Green food supply stunted the Mahapali Dana Shalawa” in ancient Anuradhapura.

FOURTH: OWS Protesters used bathrooms of nearby business establishments or friends provided facilities for shower. How our protesters became more affluent than their American counterparts having mobile toilets and gully bowsers to remove solid waste? Have they become a part of 1 % of Sri Lanka with the funds provided by unknown sources?

FIFTH: OWS protesters were not allowed by the law enforcement authorities either to use amplifiers or megaphones. When the New York City Mayor announced that the occupying areas should be vacated Protesters clashed with the police. Police dispersed the Protesters and over 200 were arrested. OWS protesters did not have a set of clear-cut demands and it fizzled out without achieving anything worthwhile.

SIXTH: Galle Face Protesters as OWS Protesters did, did not oppose income inequalities in the society.  In their ghetto- like enclave they enjoyed all luxuries including free sex. Security forces did not do any harm to them. They were merely watching with thrill and awe.

16. Guatemala

In 2020 protests began in Guatemala City and several other parts of Guatemala.  Hundreds of Guatemalans protested outside Presidential Palace, setting fire to tires, throwing paint all over and blocking roads holding banners demanding the resignation of President Alejandro Giammattei. These protests were supported by Guatemalan indigenous leaders, social activists and student organisations.  They also called for the resignation of 125 of 160 members of the Congress. Protesters stormed National Congress building, broke windows and threw inflammable devices.

In an earlier article we described how the JVP and the Galle Face Protesters incited people to rise against Rajapaksasa as happened in Guatemala.

17. Conclusion

Some learning points are given in the above text itself while describing each struggle under different headings.  Others do not need any elaboration because the leaning points are clearly manifested and drawing conclusions is easy.

It is very difficult to say that Galle Face Protest brought forth new ideas and new leaders. Some say generally any Protest transforms the consciousness of the Protesters. In Sri Lanka it can be measured only by future events. But the present signs show that it has fizzled out.   The Protest seemed to be successful as the Protesters achieved their immediate objective, ousting GR. Only a few Protesters and their handlers and behind the scene manipulators knew its outcome.

Because of the inherent features of informal groups, they cannot continue after achieving the main objective. Although Galle Face Protesters went back promising to regroup so far only JVP and FSP cum IUSF were able to flex their muscles sporadically. So, the next proclaimed surge” is being limited to rhetoric.

Economic woes and the price hikes are being absorbed by the resilient people.  Middle class is gradually returning back to its own life style. Colombo Book Fair, Lotus Tower, musical shows, Hellfire”, Odyssey Railway Trips”, safari parks, Colombo Octoberfest, proposed Bungy Jumping have become pull factors to return to normalcy.

Theoreticians with their esoteric theorising who saw the Middle Class as the driving force/ the midwife of their fantasy revolution and who were engrossed in modern myth-making should re-educate themselves about the class characteristics of the Middle Class. Their mouths water copiously when they see respect in which those small moneybags are held”. So wrote Mao. Many leading Galle Face Protesters succumbed to dollar bags is common knowledge.   

Absence of formal organisational structures, not used to work within formal organisational settings, obstinacy and unwillingness to negotiations were the hallmarks of the Galle Face Protesters. When MR invited them for negotiations, we had our doubts: of them who has negotiation skills and who can negotiate at the negotiation table. They denounced their opponents, using vituperative, strongest possible language showing how they lack communication skills. A set of black clad, unshaven, yellow turbaned, pigtailed, partly-qualified Junior Manager level youth were unleashed by some handlers as orchestrated by   foreign masters. Handlers do not need them any further as they have achieved their main objective and will think about a new set of Protesters in future.                                 

What we need today, is a movement similar to that of the May Fourth Movement. Start from the beginning. But this cannot be expected from those who were in the forefront of this Protest who represented elements of sub-culture including underwear fetishism”.

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 [U1]