When the going gets tough, she fights back

Despite political violence escalating, women candidates are undaunted, reports Shelani de Silva

While women the world over will march for their cause on International Women's Day on Monday ( March 8), in Sri Lanka with Provincial Council elections looming, many women have taken to the political platform.

Women entering politics is not new to our country, but with violence and corruption being a factor in politics, it is surprising that many women have come forward undaunted to contest. Be it for the PA, the UNP, the MEP or the JVP, women candidates have shown a determination to fight for their ideals.

When 13 year-old Kamala Ranatunge was first spotted by the then Premier S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike when she was singing at a Daham Pasal function, she never dreamt that one day she would take to active politics, and campaign for three generations of the Bandaranaike family.

Having stood at the last elections, Kamala Ranatunge is contesting for the Colombo District under the PA banner. A veteran with nearly 38 years in politics she is what many might call a woman who has suffered for her views.

"I knew I would have to suffer in many ways if I took up politics, and I accepted the challenge. Not many women would have gone through the hard times I have faced. In 1978 when the UNP came into power and stripped Mrs Bandaranaike of her civic rights, I was also victimised. I was arrested and imprisoned for three months for campaigning and for being on the same platform with Mrs. Bandaranaike," she said.

These events, she says, strengthened her and gave her courage to fight for justice.

"I always believed that as women we have the inner strength to face ordeals. All these events did not deter me in my quest to work for the people. My main goal was not to make politics my profession but to be of service to the people and the country," she said.

In 1982 after the Presidential Elections, once again a victim of dirty politics she was sent to the Welikada prison for the second time.

"Politics is my life and I feel more women should take an active role in politics. Having women as President and Prime Minister I feel this is the right time for more women to join the platform," she said.

MEP candidate for the Colombo District Soma Senanayake comes from a family that has been closely allied with the left for more than 30 years. She decided to contest the Provincial Councils to educate women and make them aware of their right to vote.

"Judging from the violence which took place at the Wayamba elections, where women were forced to walk naked on the roads, how can we women just sit back and say that it is a part of politics and that they do not belong to that party. This should not be our policy. As women we have to feel for each other," she said.

Soma feels that women are now reluctant to take to politics.

"It is not surprising. Even in my case after being associated with politics before and after marriage, still when I go campaigning my children are scared. You never know what will happen. I feel women are the worst affected. That is why whatever political party we may represent we should work for the common people and be dedicated to a cause," she said.

Sharmila Jayawardene Gonawela, the UNP candidate for the Colombo District says her main aim is to promote basic facilities for the poor and encourage more women to join the political platform.

"I feel the time is right for women to come forward especially with so much violence against them. If we do not agitate the purpose is lost.

'My main aim is to provide the basic facilities for families,' she said. Women should not join politics for the sake of family pressure or to keep to family tradition but through a sense of dedication and love for the people, she says.

Surangani Ellewala, PA candidate for the Sabaragamuwa Province is one who was propelled into politics 'to fulfill her husband's and son's dream, 'a sad struggle for the sake of her family' she says.

Surangani, lost her husband a few years ago and her son Nalanda was killed last year, a victim of political violence. She says that she would rather indulge in artistic work than politics. "Initially I helped my husband with his work. When my son took over, I stood by him and helped him but never overshadowed him. Now that he is no more, I am compelled to finish his 'huge dream for the people'. "Once you work with people you cannot abandon them. It is like a child who will cling to his mother," she said.

She feels women can do a lot for society. "Women are fighters who are determined to go through anything."

Ajantha Gunesekera, a UNP candidate for Colombo has no political experience but is willing to work for the people. Having done a lot of social service work she had been invited by the party high ups to take up the challenge.

Minister of Women's Affairs Hema Ratnayake hailed all those women who have come forward to contest the elections.

"As women we have to safeguard our vote. It is important that women join politics because we have a big say in Parliament. During the budget it is the women who often argue about the cost of living .When it comes to our migrant workers we highlight the value of the family and try to bring about welfare schemes. So it is important that women come forward," she said.

Woman power to correct the wrongs

By Bernadeen de Silva

International Women's Day on March 8, this year will be more significant for today we see a strong lobby for the political empowerment of women. More and more women see the need to monitor the April provincial elections inspite of their being vulnerable as evidenced in the recent Wayamba elections.

They are even appearing as independent candidates as seen in the district of Nuwara Eliya where an all-women slate is contesting from Sinhala,Tamil and Muslim organisations for the forthcoming P.C. elections. Posters too have sprung up requesting voters to choose women candidates and not to succumb to violent threats.

Why is this so? Today's male dominated representative bodies (90 percent are men) are deemed to be corrupt. Beginning with violence in electioneering, at political meetings, stuffing of ballot boxes on polling day, collecting of voter cards, and assaulting and brandishing weapons of all kinds, in all these activities men are predominant. This type of political violence has become worse with each election.

Recently the Pradeshiya Sabha councillors of Wattala assaulted an NGO member who questioned their credibility. Is there no possibility of, any space for honest accountability and transparency in such male dominated politics.

This political violence has spilled over to other spheres too. There has been a spate of social crimes in recent months - wiping out of families, shooting on the streets, rape and robbery. In all these crimes men have been the chief assailants and often they are men in positions of authority either in politics, the police or army. Violence has become systemic and needs radical transformation, if sanity is to prevail.

Studies and surveys conducted by the Political Department of the Colombo University revealed that 90% of the women interviewed said they are in favour of women entering the political field, though only a small number chose to contest because of the violence. If more women enter politics these incidents of violence will no doubt surely cease, for women are unlikely to brandish weapons, assault people at meetings, strip opponents, stuff ballot boxes or drag out polling agents from booths. Neither are we aware of women raping or shooting people on the streets.

However, women merely entering the political arena is inadequate. More women candidates contesting manifests no doubt, equality in gender but an improvement in the emancipation of women is what is sought.

What we women want is to enter this system to de- construct, and re-construct it together with others, both women and men on the lines of clean principles of democracy.

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