230 employees of the Free Trade Zone in Katunayakewho were injured by the police attack have been admitted Negombo Hospital .

According to hospital sourcs one of them is seriously injured
The police used teargas and shot into the air to disperse protesters in Katunayake who were protesting against the proposed private sector pension schem said President of Inter Company Employees Union , Wasantha Samarasinghe.

According to reports the police had used teargas to disperse Katunayake FTZ protesters after a tense situation erupted between the police and protesters and the protesters started throwing stones at the police.

Fifteen (15) police officers have been injured in the clash which erupted when attempts were made to control protesters.
It is reported that six employees of the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Katunayake have been critically injured when they wre attacked by the police. They have been admitted to Ragama hospital who gun shot injuries.

The JVP condemning the brutal police attack on FTZ employees at Katunayake today states “the ‘EmployeesPensions Fund Bill’ the government is attempting to pass in the Parliament, claiming it is for the benefit of the employees, is really brought due to the bidding of the IMF and the imperialists and also to pilfer the funds of the employees as a solution for the financial debacle the government is confronting. The attempt by the government to get the ‘bill’ passed arbitrarily despite opposition of the private sector employees indicates that it is not brought for the benefit of the employees but is a requirement of the government.”

The statement issued by the Political Bureau of the JVP:

Condemn repression of FTZ employees

A large number of demonstrators, who held a peaceful protest today (30th) at Katunayake against the government’s attempt, despite opposition by private sector employees, to adopt the ‘EmployeesPensions Fund Bill,’ were injured when the government deployed police to attack and shoot the demonstrators. Without stopping at that it is reported that the government used security services to break into factories in the FTZ and had taken away a large number of male and female employees by force. We, while condemning with contempt the savage attack by the government on employees of FTZ who were engaged in a peaceful agitation for their just rights and the repression that has been unleashed on them, demand that the government immediately stops the suppression carried out against employees of FTZ.

It is very clear that the ‘EmployeesPensions Fund Bill’ the government is attempting to pass in the Parliament, claiming it is for the benefit of the employees, is really brought due to the bidding of the IMF and the imperialists and also to pilfer the funds of the employees as a solution for the financial debacle the government is confronting. The attempt by the government to get the ‘bill’ passed arbitrarily despite opposition of the private sector employees indicates that it is not brought for the benefit of the employees but is a requirement of the government.

The government, instead of comprehending the massive opposition to the ‘pension’ fraud that has developed throughout the country or listening to the voices of the employees and trade unions, is attempting to deceive the employees getting ministers to make fake interpretations and when this fails unleash repression on the employees in an attempt to subdue them so that they could carry out their vile agenda.

It is also evident that the government is attempting to carry out various conspiracies to repress employees’ struggles. Hence, we ask the private sector employees to be vigilant regarding such vile attempts of the government.

We vehemently condemn with contempt the arbitrary attempt by the government to force the ‘pensions bill’ on private sector employees without listening to their just opposition to it and the severe suppression carried out by the government by attacking them by the police causing serious injuries to both male and female employees and arresting them and demand the government to immediately stop repression of the employees and withdraw the ‘EmployeesPensions Fund Bill’ immediately.

=++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=

POLICE LAUNCH ATTACKS ON PROTESTING FREE TRADE ZONE EMPLOYEES

May 30, 2011: The Chairman of the Inter Company Employees Union Wasantha Samarasinghe says that steps were taken by the police to disperse the employees of the Free Trade Zone in Katunayake who were protesting against the proposed private sector pension scheme.

He further said that a clash erupted at around 1pm, when the police launched an attack on the employees of the Free Trade Zone who were engaged in the protest.
Meanwhile, when Newsfirst contacted a high ranking Police officer in the area, he said that tear gas was used in order to bring the situation under control.

He added that several police personnel were injured in the attack which was launched by the protesters.

The high ranking officer said that steps were taken to bring the situation under control.
The Government has decided to close the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Katunayake tomorrow in order to establish industrial Peace, the Government announced a short while ago. (KB)
MAY 2011 15:19
Nine police officers including DIG Ravi Wijeyagunawardena, two ASP and a OIC were injured during the clash which took place in Katunayake with FTZ workers a short while ago.

The injured policemen are receiving treatment at the Negombo General Hospital, police media spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said.

Fifteen FTZ workers who were injured during the clash with the police are also receiving treatment at the Negombo Hospital.

The police had reportedly used teargas to disperse protesters in Katunayake who were against the proposed private sector pension scheme. A tense situation erupted between the police and protesters as the protesters started throwing stones at the police.

The Katunayake police under the directions of Negombo SSP Chandana Galappaththi are investigating into the clash.