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Article clipped from Lansing State Journal

Rosenblum, Mort. Prime Minister Bandaranaike Faces More Violence. (AP) The Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) 16 July 1972, p 27
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Prime Minister Bandaranaike Faces More By MORT ROSENBLUM COLOMBO, Ceylon (AP) - One year after an uprising killed hundreds and nearly toppled the government, Ceylon appears to be moving toward violence and economic disaster. revalext time, it well won't be planned an all series island of strikes at vital areas, with a lot more public sympathy," says : a police intelligence officer. MANY ECHO his views, including a foreign specialist long close to the Ceylon situation. Tourists are back, mostly on European group plans, and the rebellion anniversary passed without a ripple. But reporters and diplomats traveling around this lush, unhappy island off days without hearing a compliment" for Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike's Socialist government. INSTEAD, CEYLONESE of all sectors of the 12½ million inhabitants seem to blame the government for mismanaging the economy, discouraging invest- ment and taking measures dangerous to democracy. "Even the plants and the climate are against the government," snorted a onetime tea foreman turned driver, indicating fields of tea burned out by a drought. "'There's even a coconut disease . . No one is starving. The free rice rasocial services, which partly responsible for the crisis, conands tinue. But Ceylonese have been used to a good life. Austerity has been bitter. THE CRUSHING unemployment of graduates of the free school systemwhich brought about the rebellion--has gotten worse instead of better. The Central Bank reported the government provided 8,000 of the 100,000 jobs it promised last year. The work force is described as 14 per cent unemployed, the figures do not take into account those working for a few dollars a month. Parliament passed a bill allowing a special commission to try without appeal persons charged with antistate crimes. Another, designed to ease property takeover, restricts court remedy. OVER-ALL, the country owes $300 million to foreign creditors. Western countries that have traditionally supplied aid are starting to balk. "It's becoming clear that the world is not going to feed Ceylon," said diplomat, explaining Western governments more for subsidizing welfare for were discouraged that aid Masan' development. In this economic setting, the government menacing remnants of the rebellion which started last year when faces, leftist youths attacked 125 police stations. By estimate, 14,000 persons are detained in camps. PICKETS OF rebels in the jungles and hills occasionally murder a policeman or hold up trucks for supplies. Sporadic incidents posters remind authorities all is not over. 'They have infiltrated every level of government, even n the police," one Ceylonese security source said. Others dismiss the idea of a resurg- Violence World Spotlight ence, saying the rebel leadership has been destroyed. Guards surround Mrs. Bandaranaike's office and all key installations. Emergency rule applies, and military commanders govern some districts. ONE PROBLEM has been the detention program, which followed a general amnesty. Some were taken in simply for breaking curfews or on a neighbor's accusation. There has been no rehabilitation, and officials admit that some youths are turning into hardened revolutionaries during confinement. Some 8,000 have been released and, police say, most are going back to their villages, with possibility no sign of of finding remorse a job. and "Despite the problems, Ceylon is hardly an armed camp. Security expenditures still make up a small percentage of the budget. MRS. BANDARANAIKE has said that 1,200 insurgents and fewer than 100 soldiers and police were killed last year. Others put the figure far higher-possibly near 4,000 altogether. Intelligence sources still tend to blame the Soviet Union, as they did last year, for encouraging and supplying the insurgents, but there seems to be no solid evidence. Moscow sold Ceylon six old model MIG fighters and fought unsuccessfully to keep 70 technicians in Colombo as part of the deal. Russia also supplied some troop carriers and small arms. CHINA IS giving five patrol boats. The United States has supplied helicopters and other equipment, and Britain rushed in small arms. Foreign relations complex and constantly changing, with Peking at an apparent slight advantage. Ceylon's huge deepwater port at Trincomolee might be an enticing superpower prize. DESPITE FOREIGN intrigue, most agree the insurgency was homegrown and the resulting problems cannot be attributed to outside pressures. One foreign political analyst, asked if he thought another revolt was possible, commented: 'You have rising prices, the unions are restless, right of free assembly is curtailed, the press is censored, the military takes over vehicles. The government has the power to take over businesses and can jail anyone. "LINEUPS AT the cooperative stores are increasing, sugar is up, the farmer doesn't think he's getting any better deal. As you can't import raw materials, unemployment is even worse, underemployment is bad, plantation workers are not happy. There is an erosion of law and order "Put it all together and stir rather vigorously, and you might have some problems."
Article from 16 Jul 1972Lansing State Journal(Lansing, MI)
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