Statement by Peradeniya Arts Faculty Teachers’ Association

Ragging and violence:

On September 14, 2022, a group of students studying law in the Faculty of Arts were assaulted while they were dining in the canteen and were subsequently prevented from entering the canteen premises. This is not an isolated incident. For years now, in the Faculty of Arts, a group identified as “Raggers”, through sheer force of might and intimidation, have denied students identified as “Anti-Raggers” entry to public spaces of the university, including canteens. “Anti-Raggers” were forced to find other inadequate spaces for their daily interaction and even to have their meals on campus. The violent and intolerant culture of the rag in the universities is such that Anti-Raggers are either prevented from residing in the halls of residence or hounded out of the halls of residence through other means.

To return to the specific incident, on the 14th of September a group of students from the Department of Law, who could find no other place, decided to have their midday meal in one of the two main student canteens in the vicinity. This resulted in a faction of the “Rag Group” to assault these students, and to later barring the Law students’ entry into the canteen. On hearing the commotion, the Dean of the Arts Faculty, along with other members of the staff, intervened at this point. The Dean called a meeting representing all factions, in order to resolve the matter amicably even at this stage. He also made it clear on that occasion that all public areas of the University commonly accessed by students, were open to all students, with no exceptions at all. However, promises made at this meeting were willfully broken within hours, resulting in further violence against these Law students.

To end this spiraling cycle, the Dean, on the basis of the Faculty Board’s decision, asked for a written assurance on the part of the two affected student groups and the student union, the official representative body of the students, guaranteeing their commitment to free and open access to the canteens and other common facilities to all. Initially, in the interest of protecting the anti-rag group, on-site classes were converted to the online mode. However, after further discussion and clear intransigence on the part of the union and its allies who alone of the three groups refused to provide such a letter, it was decided that until such an assurance is made, all academic activities of the Faculty of Arts should be suspended as such activities cannot be conducted in an environment of violence and intimidation. To date, the Student Union has failed to provide such assurance. Further, subsequent to the interventions made by the Dean, he became the target of threats and intimidation made by some students led by the Student Union. An effigy of him was burnt near the very canteen and he was publicly vilified at a much-publicised student union rally on the 15th September.

Ragging has been the bane of the university system for decades. It is a violent, unjust, undemocratic, and inhuman practice. As PAFTA, we have zero tolerance for the rag and all related actions that perpetuate this practice. We are also particularly outraged at the intimidation and threats levelled at the Dean by members of the Student Union. We are committed to safeguarding the interests of all members of the university community, the safety and welfare of our members and the safety of all students and others in the university community; upholding that basic principle, we condemn these acts of intimidation unequivocally.

As teachers in the higher education system we have always demonstrated a firm commitment to the functioning of the State University System. This system has nurtured all of us, and has contributed greatly to the welfare of this country, in the economic, administrative, political and cultural spheres. In condemning the undemocratic and violent practices of groups of students, we only wish to make the state system better, more democratic and be in greater service to the larger society. It is not, as has been implied elsewhere, particularly in media releases of the student union, that we are a part of a conspiracy to undermine the state university system. In condemning the rag and the violence of September 14 and 15, we can only improve the quality of education and the well-being of the university system.

It has to be made crystal clear that we recognise the inalienable right of students to engage in political activities and to work towards constructive social and systemic change. It is not our intention and not in the public’s interest to use incidents related to the rag, including this incident in particular, to undermine the people’s struggle of the past few months which is founded on the call for greater democracy in the country. We condemn the actions of any group or political faction that seeks to misuse the just struggle against the rag to gain cheap political mileage and to undermine the greater democratic vision of the present political struggle against injustice.

In sum, we condemn the practice of ragging and require all students to commit to a university environment in which everyone can learn with peace of mind; we condemn all practices of violence and repression, and stand by all those who are unjustly treated in any system. Specifically, we trust that the Student Union can assure us of their commitment to restoring normalcy and to a violence-free environment in the Faculty, so that we can resume the conduct of lectures as soon as possible.

Prof. Arjuna Parakrama
President
Peradeniya Arts Faculty Teachers’ Association