CTTU extends support for General strike

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 July 2008, 02:42 GMT]
The Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union (CTTU ) in an official communiqué issued Tuesday called upon all it members to take part in the island wide general strike scheduled for July 10 in a show of support for the one-day token strike organized by the Marxist Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) with the blessings of main opposition United National Party (UNP).

CTTU has asked its members not to report for duty at their schools on July 10.

The membership strength of the CTTU is about 20,000 and represents Tamil teachers in the North, East and in South.

Meanwhile, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had already announced its support for the general strike in a communiqué issued Monday.

The demand for a pay hike of Rs.5000/= under the present conditions was the least they can ask for and for the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) not to accept even this minimal request was an insult to the working class , representatives of number of Colombo based trade unions said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's Media Minister Anura Priyadharsana Yapa made announcement Monday a sudden announcement Monday warning the public that there could be a terrorist attack within the next 48 hours. Speaking at a media briefing, he said that all police stations and army camps have been put on alert based on reliable information received by intelligence agencies

The Minister said under these circumstances that it was unfair for the opposition to go for a strike on July 10. The strike would put the national security at stake, he added.

Police said they have received information that Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was planning attacks in the South.

The Sri Lankan government is of the view that the one-day token strike organized by JVP with the blessings of UNP is just an attempt to gain political strength over the present internal crises suffered by the organizers, said the Media Minister.

The organizers are taking the trade unions for a ride to achieve petty political objectives, said the Media Minister.