News
New front determined to stand firm against Pettah extortion
Pettah traders have struck back against alleged extortion by a pro-government vendors’ federation by forming a new front determined to expose thuggery which they claim includes the fire that gutted more than 100 stalls in the Pettah markets last week.
Clashes broke out between factions of traders last week over money being collected from businessmen.
The newly-formed National Organisation for Patriotic Pavement Merchandisers and Trishaw Industrialists (NOPPMTI) is accusing executive members of the pro-government Federation of Self Employees (FOSE) of extorting money from Pettah market street vendors.
They claim these executive members intimidate and threaten vendors and are protected through political influence.
NOPPMTI members also blame FOSE for the fire at the 104 Market in Pettah on December 6 – a charge FOSE rejects.
The Chairman of the new grouping, Ven. Uvathanne Sumana Thera, said he had been subject to extortion demands two months ago when a lorry belonging to the Maligawatta Bodhirajarama Viharaya had been parked near the Pettah Bo-tree for the chanting of pirith and to raise funds for the construction of the Valallawita Sri Suvisuddharama Viharaya to commemorate the 2600th Buddha Jayanthi.
He said alleged extortionists had asked him to vacate the spot in order to park one of their own lorries there but when he had refused to move they had threatened him and
FOSE General Secretary, Chanaka Hettiarachchi. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
demanded Rs 4000 a day as compensation for forgoing revenue they said they earned daily from the parking space.
“With the steadfast refusal to move the vehicle a group of thugs along with the extortionists barged into the Maligawatta Bodhirajarama Viharaya and threatened to kill me if I refused to co-operate with their extortion racket,” said Ven. Sumana Thera.
The guttered row of shops
He said that most FOSE members had joined NOPPMTI in protest at what had happened to him. He believes that the fire at the market was an act of arson to intimidate the street vendors and others who backed NOPPMTI’s stand against the extortionists.
During a clash between the two parties last weekend (December 7) an NOPPMTI member, K. D. Sarath Kumara, was allegedly assaulted by members of FOSE and admitted to Colombo General Hospital for treatment.
Ven. Sumana Thera said he possessed evidence showing a group had been extorting money from street vendors and others during the past three years. He said he would send a report and the evidence to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Inspector General of Police, the Commission to Investigate Allegation of Bribery or Corruption, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Minister Basil Rajapaksa.
Ven. Uvathanne Sumana Thera
“Street vendors and others hesitate to lodge complaints to Pettah Police Station or at any other police stations about these extortionists due to political influence from a CMC council member which safeguards these culprits from getting arrested,” said Ven. Sumana Thero.
Ms. N. Swarnalatha, former treasurer for FOSE, told The Sunday Times she questioned the authority of FOSE executive members to collect money from the vendors.
The lorry belonging to the Maligawatta Bodhirajarama Viharaya that is parked near the Pettah Bo-tree for the chanting of pirith and to raise funds for the construction of the Valallawita Sri Suvisuddharama Viharaya
“If they are to charge the vendors Rs 100 a day for utilities they should provide a receipt for the given money. I own a few shops in the market and we are constantly harassed by FOSE members. As a result my father is no longer in business: he is unable to open his shop due to excessive harassment,” Ms. Swarnalatha.
FOSE General Secretary, Chanaka Hettiarachchi told The Sunday Times that the shops that had been burned during the fire belonged to executive members of FOSE and it would be a “joke” if they were to be blamed for the conflagration.
Commenting on allegations of extortion, he said FOSE collected Rs 50-100 every day from each vendor – who are members of the federation – to pay for electricity, water, security, cleaning, and office staff since the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) had not provided them with necessary facilities.
“Members of the federation have the right to contribute or to refrain from paying for the utilities. Most of the executive members are vendors and not educated, yet they make an effort to maintain order and clarity on accounts and other business (so that members can stay informed) and to counter such allegations against the federation,” said Mr. Hettiarachchi.
The FOSE market complex at Bodhirajarama Mawatha in Pettah falls into three areas: 104 Market (which has 104 shops), which comes under the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and 289 Market and 534 Market, which come under the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC).
According to Mr. Hettiarachchi, the CMC area markets have electricity and water supply but the market with 104 shops does not. Electricity at 104 Market is distributed through to vendors through a generator and they pay the supplier according to usage. At the other markets, electricity is distributed from a meter fixed in the FOSE office.
Clashes broke out between factions of traders last week over money being collected from businessmen
Mr Hettiarachchi said letters requesting electricity for 104 Market had been sent a month ago to the UDA and the Electricity Board.
CMC Treasurer, K. D. Chitrapala said the CMC-area markets have to pay Rs 3000 each month to CMC as rent.
“Most of the shop owners have arrears for years owing to their negligence to pay the amount on time. Since they are using council property, they pay rent instead of property tax. Two council officers travel daily to Pettah market to collect the arrears and the current rent in amounts that the vendor would be able to pay with ease,” said Mr. Chitrapala.
He said that the decision to claim the arrears and rent in affordable amounts was taken following discussions with shop owners.
CMC Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil told The Sunday Times the CMC had no authority over areas belonging to the UDA and was unable to take responsibility or provide services to business owners in that area. Despite this, he said, the CMC was supporting those vendors.
Contradicting the Mayor’s statements, FOSE Treasurer Lakshmendra Kumara said CMC had failed to fulfil its obligations to develop the market complex. He said there had been no response to a request to appoint a Public Health Inspector (PHI) to monitor hygiene standards in the market area and the selling of goods.
FOSE Vice President Joseph Anthony told a news conference on Wednesday that the federation numbered more than 30,000 members, who were charged Rs 1 a day as membership fee.
Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) for Crimes and Logistics I. M. Karunaratne said that he had not received any complaint over extortion in Pettah and that anyone suffering in this way should not hesitate to seek help from the police.