It takes courage to sit and listen
Amid Wednesday’s tension, trauma and tragedy where Free Trade Zone workers lost a colleague; parents a son and siblings a brother, many analysts are of the view that the withdrawal of the private sector pension scheme last week was a triumph of people’s power. Many ministers say the explosively controversial private sector pension scheme was a promise made in the Mahinda Chintanaya and outlined in the 2011 Budget. According to reports, the Bill, taken up for discussion at a meeting of the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) was quite different in tone and tenor to the one for which Cabinet approval was obtained. It had many grey areas that needed in-depth study and further clarification. It was even reported that at the NLAC meeting Labour Minister Gamini Lokuge had little idea as to the contents of the Bill and though another discussion with stakeholders was promised, the Bill was slipped into parliament with no opportunity for such discussions or proposals. It was then that all hell broke lose with islandwide protests by workers calling for its withdrawal. The protests launched by Free Trade Zone workers were unprecedented with women taking the vanguard in most of them. They accused the government of using various ruses to whittle away their hard-earned savings. Last Monday’s protests by unarmed FTZ workers turned into a mini riot after police intervened to quell the Decisive No by workers with the use of what most independent observers saw as disproportionate methods such as the firing of tear gas canisters, water cannons and live bullets, which took the life of 21-year-old machine operator Roshane Chanaka. The last rites and burial at the Galoluwa Catholic Cemetery were held under the shadow and strict supervision of armed troops.
Millions who watched the live news telecasts would have seen how the police assaulted workers even when they were grounded and helpless. Another shocking scene from the heart of Colombo saw a government politician leading a motley crowd of supporters all armed with iron rods and wooden poles marching towards a JVP demonstration at Lipton’s Circus. Saner counsel prevailed and the police turned them away before more mindless violence could have erupted.
The government last Friday officially withdrew the Bill but Minister Lokuge and Petroleum Minister Susil Premajayantha, who is also the General Secretary of the ruling UPFA said on Saturday that the government would go ahead with the Bill incorporating amendments and proposals made by stakeholders.
Could not the government have handled and resolved this contentious issue at the outset and in a win-win manner meaning that agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and mutually acceptable to all parties. The win-win process is not where conflicts are resolved in my way or your way but rather in a better way, a higher way where all parties feel good about the decision and feel committed to the action plan. If the government is sincerely committed to transparency and good governance and has a genuine and serious interest in introducing a scheme whereby the worker will be benefited, then why not listen to the workers and understand their point of view? It is the responsibility of the government to explain matters to the people and take them on board rather than accuse opposition political parties of conspiracies to destabilise the government.
British war-time Prime Minister Winston Churchill said, “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”
Now that the 30-year war has been won; the LTTE vanquished and this country no longer in pieces but united in peace; its time the Rajapaksa regime set itself the vital task of winning the hearts and minds of all Sri Lankans. The road may be long and difficult but little or nothing will be achieved or accomplished if attempts are made to deceive the people or fool them.
0 comments:
Post a Comment