DURING the 1987-90 State of Emergency in Sri Lanka, government-sponsored death squads waged a campaign to exterminate the Singhalese chauvinist terrorist organisation, the JVP. But the JVP were not the only victims. Estimates put the number killed or 'disappeared' at 60,000, with more than half of that number being innocent civilians or leftist opponents of the UNP Socialist Outlook talked to JAYANTHA DANDENIYA, a leader of the movement of the parents and families of the disappeared. SO: How did you become Involved in the movement of the families of the disappeared? JD: My husband Ranji disap peared on 2y Clober 1909. needed sheiter and protection, and wanted inquiries made about what had happened to him. So I turned to the NSSP in ted th 'Vazu' uestion parliament lemanding to know what had happened. SO: Why was your husband "disappeared? JD: My husband porter of the UNP government, actually a member of the ister. But he was also a trade union activist in the 'free trade zone in vegambo, these tres trade zones, tax exempt areas for foreign businesses are being promoted by the governas part of the IMF In the plant where my husband worked, Floral Greens' a Hong Kong company making artificial flowers, many workers get bad industrial injuries, for example many ing their My husband raised this Jayantha Dandeniya - her husband was abducted for union activity issue vigorously with the management, and got the issue raised with the National Jane company or its agents abducted him. SO: But there were attacks on other members of your family? JD: Both my elder and younger brothers were abducted by security forces and one of them My elder brother was one of a group building new houses in a village. They were told to leave the village by the army, using the security situation as an excuse. My brother refused, and was abducted in the middie of the night. After quiries, the authorities said he ad been killed in an accident My younger brother was taken away from our village by no ook no one of their encampments as a labourer and cook. But after about 30 days he escaped and returned to the village. When the army heard he had been with the JVP they took him away, and he has not been heard of since.
After that time I was regularly followed by the security forcis, and again the NSSP got it raised in parliaNAVA SAMASAMAJA PARTY ment and stopped. Since that time I have devoted my timeto campaigning for the disap peared Also I have been building an organisation called the Negumbo Womens Committee. Our aim is to organise the young women in the free trade ploited. Last year we set up a for free trade workers, but as a result some effectively closed down. But we continue our work: the party will not abandon this struggle.