SL IN SOLIDARITY WITH INDIAN ACADEMIA AGAINST AUTHORITARIAN REPRESSION

We stand in solidarity with the university students and teachers in India and call for the people of South Asia to protect our democratic freedom in the face of rising authoritarian and nationalist forces in the subcontinent

A group of Sri Lankan university lecturers representing all State universities expressed their concern over the recent attacks across India following the introduction of the contentious Citizenship Amendment ACT(CAA). Signed by 46 university teachers from Sri Lanka, the group expressed its solidarity with the university students and teachers in India. The statement says;

“We as university teachers from Sri Lanka are shocked by the recent attacks on democratic freedom in India. Since the introduction of the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act, we have seen courageous protests emerge all over India by people from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. They, particularly university students, have stood up for democracy, a testament to the long and inspiring democratic tradition in India.

“In this context, wear every concerned by the repeated targeted attacks on university campuses including Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and most recently Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), both by the police and goons, apparently with State complicity. Such authoritarian repression and fascist assaults are deeply worrying as they undermine freedom of expression and association in university spaces, which are a crucial bastion for dissent. The future of any society depends on its youth. And it is heartening to see progressive Indian university students boldly coming forward to defend democratic ideals.

“Anti-minority discourse, often seen in Islamophobic attacks, coupled with shrinking intellectual freedom, is spreading in South Asia. Just as we have a progressive history of struggles for social justice and democratic rights in the region, which have nourished each other’s countries, authoritarian consolidation and chauvinistic attacks in India portend danger for the entire region.

“We stand in solidarity with the university students and teachers in India and call for the people of South Asia to protect our democratic freedom in the face of rising authoritarian and nationalist forces in the subcontinent.”

Signed by Ahilan Kadirgamar, University of Jaffna, Anuradha Karunarathna, University of Peradeniya, Anusuya Subasinghe, University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Arjuna Parakrama, University of Peradeniya, Asela Rangadewa, University of the Visual and Performing Arts, B.M.H.S.K. Bannehaka, University of Peradeniya, Bahirathy JR, University of Jaffna, Barana Jayawardana, University of Peradeniya, Camena Guneratne, Open University of Sri Lanka, Chandraguptha Thenuwara, University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Dileni Gunewardena, University of Peradeniya, Dilini Hemachandra, University of Peradeniya, Esther Surenthiraraj, University of Colombo, Farzana Haniffa, University of Colombo, Gayan Ruppegoda, University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Harini Amarasuriya, Open University of Sri Lanka, Harshana Rambukwella, Open University of Sri Lanka, Indika Ferdinandu, University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Rev. J. C. Paul Rohan, University of Jaffna, K. M. G. Gehan Jayasuriya, University of Peradeniya, Liyanage Amarakeerthi, University of Peradeniya, Rev. M. V. E. Ravichandran, University of Jaffna, Maduranga Kalugampitiya, University of Peradeniya, Mahendran Thiruvarangan, University of Jaffna, Manjula Sandirigama, University of Peradeniya, Muttukrishna Sarvananthan, University of Jaffna, N. Sivakaran, University of Jaffna, Nicola Perera, University of Colombo, Nipuni Sarada, University of Visual and Performing Arts, Nirosha Wijegunasekara, University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Prabha Manuratne, University of Kelaniya, Pradeepa Malkanthi, University of Peradeniya, Primal Fernando, University of Peradeniya, Priyan Dias, University of Moratuwa, Ramila Usoof, University of Peradeniya, Ranil D. Guneratne, SLINTEC, Rohan Laksiri, University of Ruhuna, Ruvan Weerasinghe, University of Colombo, Saminadan Wimal, University of Jaffna, Saumya Liyanage, University of Visual and Performing Arts, Shamala Kumar, University of Peradeniya, Sivanesan Pradinath, University of Jaffna , Srikantharaja Sivakanthan, University of Jaffna, Sumathy Sivamohan, University of Peradeniya, Tharanga Dandeniya, University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Thiyagaraja Waradas, University of Colombo.