PAFTA condemns harassment of anti-raggers

Peradeniya Arts Faculty Teachers’ Association (PAFTA) in a statement has strongly condemned the conduct of a certain group of undergraduates who called themselves ‘Raggers’ and unleashing violence against other students; specially those against violent ragging. 

Signed by the President of the PAFTA, Prof. A. Parakrama following is an extract of the statement.

On September 14, 2022, a group of students studying law in the Faculty of Arts was 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, 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 September 14 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. This resulted in a faction of the “Rag Group” to assault these students. 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.
However, promises made at this meeting were willfully broken 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.
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.

Ragging has been the bane of the university system for decades. We are also particularly outraged at the intimidation and threats levelled at the Dean by members of the Student Union.
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 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 recognize the inalienable right of students to engage in political activities and to work towards constructive social and systemic change. 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.

Summing up 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.