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POST 06 SEPTEMBER 2014
BY LIONEL
BOPAGE
Meeting with comrade Bala Tampoe at the Ceylon
Mercantile Union (CMU) office in Colombo had been a tradition I looked forward
to whenever I visited Sri Lanka. At the end of July, after attending my
mother’s funeral in Sri Lanka, I paid a courtesy call to comrade Bala at his
house in Ratmalana. When he opened the gate for me, I saw in his soul and eyes
a fit and active comrade with a frail body. We had the occasion to have a long
chat overmany topics usually talked about when leftists get together: trade
union movement; neo-liberalism and socialism; the left; the JVP; women’s
rights;corruption; family rule;and human rights.As usual, his talk was never
ending, though when he narrated his non-recollectable accident while walking
from home towards Galle Road, he appeared to understand the fragility and
morbidity with which all human lives end. That was something new in our conversation.
He was living alone in
his run-down house, full of books both old and new covered with dust. With his
wife, late comrade May Wickramasuriya’s photo still decorating one of its
walls. He was personally concerned about the individualistic, selfish outlook
of the younger generation in the world recounting his personal experiences. He
was also in the process of compiling his life experiences into a biography. I
am glad that I had the occasion to catch up to show my appreciation, gratitude
and respect for a comrade, who had been fighting for fairness and justice in
his own way.
For better or worse, he was the legendaryGeneral Secretary of the Ceylon
Mercantile Union(later changed to Ceylon Mercantile, Industrial and General
Workers Union) for almost 66 years, continuing with the struggle he commenced
in 1940s as a trade unionist, then as a leader of revolutionary Sama-Samajism
(equal society) uncompromisingly fighting against the class betrayals of the
traditional left and also as a human rights defender. He gave generously of his
time pro bono to help activists like those in the JVP , who were being
prosecuted by the state.His major activities remained among the urban workers,
in defending their right for decent working conditions.
I always remembered
comrade Bala’s words uttered in 1983, after the defeats in the presidential
election and the referendum: "I see history as waves. So far we have been
in a receding wave. But even in the gloomy oppressive atmosphere of Jayewardene's
rule, I can see an advancing wave that will soon shatter all tyrannical forces
ahead of it." I believe these prescient words still stands very true in
the current social, economic and political context. Comrade Bala also used to
narrate his life story to us. He thought that it was his personal nature and
commitment to fairness and justice that brought him along the path of the
working class struggle. It was comrade Bala’s exclusion based on his
nationality to a famous English school in India that had probably impacted his
life making him to strongly support the anti-colonial struggle of the day.
Undoubtedly, not only all left wing and progressive sections of the society,
but also all those who like to see peoples’ democracy in action, will
positively appraise the tremendous and significant role played by comrade Bala
in the Sri Lankan political arena.Here I will restrict myself to recounting my
encounters with comrade Bala, formerly as a JVPer. When the JVP was in its
formation stages, in its original clandestine form, known as the ‘movement’,
the Revolutionary Marxist Party (the RMP) led by comrade Bala was one of the
first groups that expressed critical solidarity towards it.
The JVP's first encounter with more radical Sama-Samajists was when the
comrades of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) Ananada Premasinghe and Marshal
Perera appeared on behalf of comrade Rohana Wijeweera when he was incarcerated
by the state in 1970. Though we had Stalinist and Maoist political affiliations
and they had Trotskyite political affiliations, those differences did not
matter when it came to opposing state repression. We had something in common,
the real danger to our democratic rights of freedom to political expression
from the ruling elite.
Comrade Bala, the RMP and the CMU continued to protest against the illegal and
continued detention of cadres and leaders of the JVP. By appearing in courts on
behalf of some of the JVP activists, they defended the democratic rights of the
JVP to publicize their political views. The CMU protested against the arrest
and detention of nearly four thousand JVP activists, many who had been tortured
by the security forces. They also opposed the declaration of a state of
emergency in March 1971 which empowered the security forces to dispose of dead
bodies without holding post mortem examinations.
In the 1970s while we were behind bars, comrade Bala with others formed a human
and democratic rights organisation and campaigned for our release. In 1971 and
1972, comrade Bala’s brilliant knowledge and understanding of Marxism and Law
brought another dimension to the whole CJC trial in that a holistic class
perspective of the April 1971 insurrection could be presented to the
world.While the state represented in the unholy alliance of the SLFP, the LSSP
and the CP, was scurrilously trying to portray the JVP as a bunch of murderous
terrorists, with the assistance of comrade Bala and his team we could
rebutthose allegations vigorously. It would be remiss of me not to mention the
late comrade May Wickremasooriya who was personally committed to defending the
JVP youth. She was firmly supporting her husband comrade Bala in his more than
full time work in doing this.
When the JVP leadership was released from prison in November 1977, we had only
one shelter to go to and that was the CMU office in Colpetty. On that happy day
we met many CMU comrades, held our first press conference at the CMU
headquarters and embarked on a political campaign that gave rise to post-1977
JVP. During the long political discussions we had in the seventies, comrade
Bala often talked about the need of the deadwood in the left giving way to new
shoots that needed to be nourished. The political collaboration between the JVP
and the CMU became visible when a United Red May Day rally was held in 1977.
Whenever human and/or democratic rights of the people were under threat or
violated, comrade Bala was at the forefront making the masses aware of the
situation and demanding with passion an end to such violations.Comrade Bala and
the CMU have been consistent champions of all working people and the oppressed
irrespective of their racial, linguistic or religious background. Comrade Bala,
The RMP and the CMU opposed the government policy of inequitable treatment of people
on the grounds of race, language and religion and advocated regional autonomy
for Tamil speaking people as a just solution to the national question. Comrade
Bala and the CMU continued to condemn the killings by all sides to the
conflict. They also pointed out how the anti-terror laws have contributed to
the steady growth of rebellions, anti-government activities and national
disunity.
Comrade Bala maintained his left credentials despite many of his erstwhile
colleagues joining the ranks or supporting the ruling elite. He was the driving
force influencing the CMU to take just and fair stands with regard to many
national political issues. As a revolutionary at heart he never wavered from
his uncompromising class positions.The best way for us to respect comrade
Bala’s revolutionary ideals would be to rebuild the CMU and to discuss the many
questions openly, publicly, and with complete honesty. The CMU has to produce
leaders who could succeed in their day to day struggles while adhering to the
democratic and legitimate traditions it has upheld since its inception. The CMU
fought for the autonomy of unions and organised workers to fight against any
attempt to submit them to the whims of the bourgeoisie. They also fought for
the workers’ control of the working-class movement. The CMU was and is
independent and able to fearlessly express its views and take action on human
and democratic rights violations. The strength of the CMU will continue to
depend on its membership and the quality of their leadership.
I have no doubt that those who were in the JVP in the seventies and early
eighties and those who continue to-date to work for fairness and justice will
join me in extending our revolutionary salute, deep respect and fraternal
gratitude to comrade Bala. Whatever happened in terms of political and trade
union history, comrade Bala showed by example, the significance of a working
class that remains cohesive and united despite divisive norms and rules imposed
from without.
I express my revolutionary salute and fraternal political and personal
gratitude for the positive role comrade Bala and the members of the CMU under
his able leadership jointly played in the post war history of the Sri Lanka,
and for the genuine and determined class assistance extended to the JVP in the
seventies, when we most needed it while being behind bars.
At a more personal level let me salute and farewell comrade Bala:
Your fraternal services to the working people in Sri Lanka will
never be forgotten. Your dedication, loyalty and devotion to the cause of the
working people will remain forever in our hearts and continue to provide us
with inspiration to endure along the path you have set through your exemplary
life.
Lionel Bopage, is a former General Secretary of the Peoples Liberation Front
(JVP) in Sri Lanka. He appeared before the Criminal Justice Commission as the
second accused in the failed JVP insurrection in 1971.
