Joseph Stalin (trade unionist) explained

Joseph Stalin (Sinhala; Sinhalese: ජෝසප් ස්ටාලින්, Tamil: ஜோசப் ஸ்டாலின்) is a Sri Lankan trade unionist. As of 2022, serving as general secretary of the Ceylon Teachers' Union.[1] [2] He has led campaigns against the militarisation of education in Sri Lanka.[3] [4] [5]

Early life

Stalin was born in the 1960s, the son of an activist in the Ceylon Communist Party (Peking Wing).[6] He was named after Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.[7]

CTU General Secretary

In 2020, he opposed moves by the Sri Lankan government to convert schools into COVID-19 isolation centres.[8] Later that year, he spoke out against the creation of a Director General – Sports position in the Ministry of Education, saying that the government was "attempting to undermine the education system by appointing unqualified people to high posts."[9]

In July 2021, he was arrested by police along with ten other demonstrators after protesting against the National Defence University Bill, a proposed law that human rights activists raised concerns would militarise universities in Sri Lanka.[10] [11] After two weeks of detention, he was released.[12] [13]

2022 Sri Lankan protests

Under Stalin's leadership, the Ceylon Teachers’ Union played a significant role in the 2022 Sri Lankan protests, including the organisation of a general strike in early May 2022.[14] [15] On 25 July 2022, the Magistrate's Court Colombo imposed a travel ban on Stalin over his role in the protests.[16] A week later, following a speech by new president Ranil Wickremesinghe that threatened to take legal action against "individuals who intentionally violate the law," Stalin's office was raided and he was placed under arrest.[17] The arrest provoked significant controversy, including protests demanding his release and with United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Mary Lawlor stating that the government was targeting critics and that Stalin "should not have been arrested."[18] Sri Lankan Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa stated that "Stalin was not involved in any violence" and "has been arrested for exercising his constitutional rights."[19] At the time of his arrest, he was the most senior trade union leader to have been arrested as part of the government's crackdown against the protests.[20] On 9 August, he was released on bail.[21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Joseph Stalin . 4 August 2022 .
  2. Web site: Stalin exposes inefficiency of Education Ministry under Akila. The Island. Rathindra. Kuruwita. 30 December 2020. 19 August 2024.
  3. Web site: Ceylon Teachers' Union condemn increasing Army interference in Vanni schools. Tamil Guardian. 25 January 2014. 20 August 2024.
  4. Web site: Teachers campaign against building of army camp over teaching centre in Palali. Tamil Guardian. 21 April 2012. 20 August 2024.
  5. Web site: Military interference causing 'great setbacks' in education says Ceylon Teachers' Union | Tamil Guardian .
  6. Web site: Redemption of Joseph Stalin . 17 July 2021 .
  7. News: Le Sri-Lankais Joseph Stalin . Langue Sauce Piquante . 22 August 2022 .
  8. Web site: Sri Lanka's discrete efforts to turn Tamil schools into quarantine centres despite public unrest. Tamil Guardian. 5 May 2020. 19 August 2024.
  9. Web site: Teachers' Union boss Stalin accuses govt of attempting Akila's failed stunt. The Island. Rathindra. Kuruwita. 4 December 2020. 19 August 2024 .
  10. Web site: Ceylon Teachers' Union Secretary detained for protesting education bill. Tamil Guardian. 12 July 2021. 19 August 2024.
  11. Web site: Stalin et al strike defiant note from quarantine centre at Mullaitivu. The Island. 16 July 2021. 19 August 2024.
  12. Web site: Ceylon Teachers' Union secretary and union members released following growing protests against their detention. Tamil Guardian. 18 July 2021. 19 August 2024.
  13. Web site: Sri Lanka has failed to answer UN Special Rapporteur's questions on threats to HRDS Stalin, Senaka, Nandimal & Tharindu (Full Report) • Sri Lanka Brief . 29 October 2021 .
  14. Web site: Stalin reads riot act to govt. Over proposal to allow schoolchildren to work part time .
  15. Web site: How Sri Lanka's Government Fell .
  16. Web site: Colombo's Magistrate imposes travel ban on 5 leading activists. Tamil Guardian. 25 July 2022. 19 August 2024.
  17. Web site: Concerns as Sri Lanka arrests top protest leader Joseph Stalin. Al Jazeera. Saroj. Pathirana. 4 August 2022. 19 August 2024.
  18. Web site: End protest crackdown: UN, rights groups tell Sri Lanka president. Al Jazeera. Saroj. Pathirana. 10 August 2022. 19 August 2024 .
  19. Web site: Sajith visits Stalin in police custody. The Island. Rathindra. Kuruwita. 5 August 2022. 19 August 2024.
  20. Web site: Sri Lanka frees activist Stalin on bail after arrest draws outcry. The Straits Times. 8 August 2022. 19 August 2024.
  21. Web site: Joseph Stalin out on bail after mass Sri Lanka protests. People's World. 9 August 2022. 19 August 2024.

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