'Plantation workers benefited immensely':

Plantation TUs campaign vigorously for President

by P. Krishnaswamy

The majority of plantation Trade Unions, that represent over seventy-five percent of the workers, have pledged support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the January 26 Presidential polls and some of them have already begun their polls campaign, according to reports.

The Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) led by Minister Arumugam Thondaman, the Joint Plantation Trade Union Centre (JPTUC) which constitutes 18 trade unions, the Upcountry People's Front (UPF) led by Minister Periyasamy Chandrasekaran, the Upcountry National Workers' Union (UNWU) led by Deputy Minister V. Puthirasigamoney, the Workers' Liberation Front (WLF) led by S. Arulsamy and Plantation Workers' Congress (PWC) led by Deputy Minister Suresh Vadivel have pledged support to President Rajapaksa.

The leaders of the trade union said that they were supporting President Rajapaksa because he has already done much for the economic and social welfare of the plantation community and he has very clear policies for the social uplift of the impoverished community. CWC Vice President M. Manimuthu told the Sunday Observer that they have already started house-to-house campaigns led by their leader Arumugam Thondaman in the plantation districts of Nuwara Eliya, Maskeliya, Badulla, Moneragala, Kandy, Matale, Kegalle and Ratnapura. Secretary General of the JPTUC O. A. Ramiah said that they supported President Rajapaksa at the last Presidential polls as a matter of policy.

The JPTUC consists of leftist and progressive unions, including the CP, LSSP and SLFP unions. All leaders of these unions have expressed their support to President Rajapaksa and have started campaigns.

An official joint decision of the JPTUC will be announced shortly, he said. Viewing the political scenario in the South Asian region, countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar that were ruled by Generals posed a threat and contributed to the deterioration of democracy with no expressed concern for the working class.

Besides, the UNA is contesting the polls on political and constitutional issues and they seem to have no policies with regard to the working class. But President Rajapaksa has very clear, progressive policies with regard to the working class, said Ramiah.

The last PC elections in Uva and Sabaragamuwa proved beyond any doubt that the workers are with the UPFA Government, he said. UNWU leader V.Puthirasigamoney said that President Rajapaksa in his first budget, after being elected to office, allocated Rs. 500 million to provide infrastructure and housing facilities to the plantation community and continued substantial fund allocations in all budgets thereafter for the purpose.

He is genuinely committed to the well-being of the plantation community. The UNWU has already started vigourous campaigns in the plantation districts of Nuwara Eliya and Maskeliya, he said.

WLF leader S.Arulsamy said that nothing significant was done for the welfare of the plantation community under the UNP administration in spite of the fact that certain trade unions remained their allies for donkey's years.

There is a pressing necessity that the plantation community should extend their undivided support to President Rajapaksa for him to continue the massive development programs that are implemented by him, he said.

The President has also initiated a program to merge all plantation youth into the national mainstream, he said.