JVP's last card, churning up chauvinist cauldron- DLF

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 March 2005, 12:36 GMT]
"Desperate to retain its portfolios, having nothing to show for what it has so far achieved by being in government, haunted by the nightmare of 1970-1975 coalition politics that nearly destroyed the LSSP and CP, the JVP is now floundering, it is drowning in very shallow water...A democratic solution of the national question terrifies the JVP by cutting off its raison d’être. That’s what happens when you sacrifice your socialist responsibilities for chauvinist pandering," says Vasudeva Nanayakkara, veteran trade unionist and secretary, Democratic Left Front (DLF), in the newsletter issued in Colombo 5 March.

"Having jettisoned its radical programme of social change and having developed the unsavoury habit of secret visits to the US Embassy the JVP is down to its last card; anti-LTTE, if not anti-Tamil, chauvinism," the news letter added.

Commenting on the dilemma of Sri Lanka's President Ms Kumaratunge, the DLF note says, "the clock on the presidential election timetable is quietly ticking away. Soon enough CBK will realise that her constitutional option to retain supreme power has slipped away. Being the kind of personality she is it is difficult to predict just what kind of rash act she may try on this score of personal ambition, but the public must remain vigilant and ready to deal with such folly.

"...on March 8th, CBK openly declared that she would push forward with the devolution of power, negotiations with the LTTE and even go as far as federalism. With hardly concealed contempt the JVP (unnamed) was told to shut up or get out. It is not possible for things go on like this anymore; CBK’s imbroglio and the humiliation that the JVP are both now total. Something will give within days, not weeks, we think," DLF secretary says.

While not condoning the "conscription of child soldiers, political assassinations and human rights violations," of the LTTE the DLF praised the LTTE's common sense approach in dealing with post-tsunami national politics.

On the LTTE, the DLF said, "In the early emergency phase the LTTE reacted with a high degree of co-ordination and efficiency, as expected from a military outfit. Even thereafter, although insisting that all aid be channelled through the TRO is undemocratic and annoyed other NGOs and the government we have not had serious reports of inefficiency or corruption in the TRO’s activities – a welcome difference from the South.

"What is really more interesting is how the LTTE is handling the government. Its stance that ISGA problems can be given a back seat until the post-tsunami situation is under control and its proposal for a co-ordinating committee to direct reconstruction are eminently sensible. Politically this has made an ass out of the government which has been unable to reciprocate so far, exposed the JVP has racist hooligans who want to thwart relief work in Tamil areas, and even put the international community on the spot. Point, set and match to the LTTE in post-tsunami power play," the DLF news letter said.