Detroit Inquiry: A Workers' Inquiry Into the Looting of an American City

WSWS correspondents spoke to a number of the participants after the meeting. Darshana, a student of Kelaniya University, said: “The reports answered many of the questions developed in my mind over the issue of pollution. At the beginning, almost every media criticised the military attack [last August] and blamed the factory management for the pollution. Just after the military attack, President Rajapakse ordered the ITI [Industrial Technology Institute] for an investigation into water pollution in Weliweriya. I thought that everything was going towards the correct direction. “But subsequently, everybody including the government, state institutions, political parties and media took the side of factory owners. I was wondering why? Actually [IWIC] inquiry reports gave me the answer. All of them represent the same capitalist class. Through those reports and other leaflets distributed by the SEP, I have learnt how to look into the issue from the class point of view.” Darshana continued: “Now everybody is silent. People think that all the problems were over after the closure of the factory. But our problems are still there. We still drink polluted water. As the reports pointed out, we will have to suffer for years to come.” He also spoke about the government’s attacks on education, saying: “We cannot separate these problems. Industrial pollution and the attacks on education are also the results of the profit based system.” ... See MoreSee Less

3 days ago

Detroit Inquiry: A Workers' Inquiry Into the Looting of an American City

From the Sri Lankan Independent Workers Inquiry Committee, investigating the water pollution in Weliweriya: In April, the IWIC decided to extend its investigation to water and air pollution by the Hanwella Rubber Products plant in Thunnana, Avissawella. The Dipped Products Company also owns the factory. The venue for the IWIC’s report-back meeting had to be changed several times after the police, at the instigation of the government and the company, intimidated local hall owners. The meeting was initially planned for June 29 at Vila Gaya Hall in Weliweriya but the police in an underhand manner ordered the hall owners to cancel the IWIC’s booking. Other local hall owners were reluctant to rent their facilities for the event. The meeting was rescheduled for July 20 at the Gampaha Town Hall—about eight kilometres from Weliweriya—and the appropriate payments made. The hall is owned by the local council, which is currently controlled by the President Mahinda Rajapakse’s ruling party. Two days before the meeting, the council informed IWIC organisers that the facility was not available. The false reason given was that the hall would be under repair on that day. The IWIC quickly arranged another hall in Gampaha. The company, the government and the police were hostile to the IWIC investigation from the outset. The officer in charge of Weliweriya police asked an IWIC organiser why the SEP was discussing water pollution in the area when all other parties had abandoned the issue. ... See MoreSee Less

7 days ago