By Vickramabahu Karunaratne –

Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne

Government indirectly proposes in this year budget, that people must depend on banks and insurance companies for poverty alienation, without expecting social security from the state. We were told that Market should be allowed to function freely with Irida pola giving grass root support. Accordingly poor youth should take it as a challenge and go into financial agreements with money lenders, local or other wise, and eagerly go into investments, preferably in the agricultural sector. No need to depend on social welfare of any kind; because that will kill the initiative of the person. We have heard this sermon from the pundits of the IMF for several decades, until people such as Stigliz came out with a sharp criticism and showed the need of state intervention,  particularly the need to intervene to develop abilities of the individual. Infact they emphasized the need of welfare in education which will improve the quality of the person. However Mahinda is repeating old slogans of the IMF. What else the government could do, when it is pruning the welfare system under the pressure from the IMF and the global capital in general. Mahinda has proved that he is much better than any of the previous presidents; in relation, to fall in line with IMF thinking. It is not a surprise that Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the budget. They must appreciate, that a populist village leader and a bunch of so called communists, supported by post modernist Che Guerras such as Wimal Weerawansa are implementing the programme of the global capital. Obviously, they were very cautious.

‘The fiscal consolidation envisaged constitutes a welcome advance towards creating a macroeconomic environment conducive for achieving these. Notwithstanding the difficult macroeconomic environment, we appreciate the efforts of the Government to continue with the tax reforms announced in the Budget 2011,” the COC said in its statement. The organization “specifically” welcomed the government’s measures to encourage SMEs, private sector led R&D, capital market development, investments in agriculture and the promotion of the IT and BPO sectors. But it warned that prudent monetary policies and the maintenance of fiscal discipline are required if the medium term macro targets announced are to be met. The Chamber further stressed that implementation will play a crucial role in achieving these objectives.  They have to be careful with a president that became today a glittering agent of international capital, starting in 88, with campaigns against disappearances that happened, after the youth insurrection in the south.

Though the upper layers in the society are cautiously supporting the budget of Mahinda, we see a different picture at the bottom. While the workers are tired of waiting for a just solution to their economic grievances, all other layers of oppressed masses are agitating for redress to their particular problem. This includes from university professors to peasants who lost their harvest. While economic hardship has radicalized all sectors of wage earners in the society, threat to democracy and devolution, has mobilized all oppressed communities. In other words it is a classical scenario of a national democratic revolution threatening, a corrupt bourgeoisie regime backed by global powers. At the center we can see the struggle of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie. Even professors and doctors have become a part of this struggle. That shows the acute nature of the class struggle. But this class struggle is surrounded by serious democratic struggles where smaller nationalities are moving into new battle grounds, anti dictatorship masses go from writing petitions to street actions, lawyers and judges leave court houses to fill the streets with black gowns and peasants and fishers become unexpected  road blocks. To the extent the masses come forward to protest the regime launches various outfits and methods of repression to stall the march of the masses. In the recent past we witnessed various actions and happenings where one is at lost to understand the political interest behind. Latest of these is the prison riot created by the police attack in Magazine prison. One thing is sure Mahinda regime is preparing its own grave.