MEDIA RELEASE
03 July 2015
The European Union (EU) should respect democracy by not undermining the left-wing Syriza-led government of Greece, and stop forcing austerity measures on the Greek people.
This message was conveyed to the EU by representatives of Left organizations, trade unions, and political activists, in a protest outside its Sri Lanka office on 3 July. The petition was signed the leaders of Frontline Socialist Party, NSSP Left voice, United Socialist Party, United Federation of labour, Gov. United Federation of labour, Free Trade Zone general employees Union, Celon Trade Union Federation, United General Employees Union, Media Employees Trade Union Federation and Professor Sumanasiri Liyanage.
In their letter of solidarity with the Greek people, the signatories observed:
“The austerity measures forced on the people of Greece for five years, by the European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund (‘troika’), have failed.
These policies have only succeeded in shrinking the Greek economy by 26%; driving unemployment up to 27% and youth unemployment to 60%; and worsening the debt-to-GDP ratio from 120% to 180%. More than 3 million Greeks, almost 1 in 4 of the population, now live on or below the official poverty line.
On 25 January 2015, the Greek people elected the Syriza-led government to bring to an end their collective punishment for the sovereign debt crisis. This debt was not incurred by the 99%, but by the 1% who were their former rulers. It is odious and illegitimate and should be written off. The resolution of the debt crisis is in the realm of politics and not finance.
Disregarding the democratic will of the Greek people, and dismissive of their suffering, the troika has been unrelenting in its disastrous course. Through blackmail and fear it has attempted for six months now to force the Greek government to surrender its opposition to austerity while remaining within the Eurozone.
Most recently, the troika has insisted on a further raft of neoliberal reforms including further deregulation of the labour market, pension cuts, further reductions in public sector wages and an increase in VAT on food, dining and tourism, while eliminating tax breaks for the Greek islands.
These diktats violate the social and fundamental rights of the peoples of the European Union, heaping new burdens on the Greek people, and undermining the recovery of their society and economy.
The unelected powers that dictate terms to the democratically elected government of Greece are only interested in prolonging the crisis.
Their aim is to humiliate the people of Greece for defying them in their election of Syriza; and to break-up the unity of a popular movement that is a beacon of hope and resistance to neoliberalism across Europe and elsewhere.
Now, the government of Greece has asked the Greek people to decide the future of their country in a referendum to be held on Sunday 5 July. We hope the people will vote ‘No’ to further austerity and that the government of Greece will not capitulate to the troika.
The European Union proclaims democracy to be one of its ‘core values’.
If so, respect the democratic will of the people of Greece, who voted against austerity policies, and in defence of their popular sovereignty and human dignity, in January 2015.
Stop suffocating the people of Greece! No to Austerity! Yes to Democracy!”
The European Union was placed on notice by the solidarity activists, that they would return in larger numbers following the Greek referendum and the troika’s response to the result.