Marxists look for gains from bailout

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 September 2001, 11:38 GMT]
The Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Tuesday announced it would defeat the no-confidence motion against the PA government when it is tabled in parliament.

"We have formulated a short term agreement with the ruling People's Alliance government in a bid to ensure political stability and good governance in the country. Our sole aim is to resolve the present political crisis. After one year period our party is prepared to face a general election under a caretaker government to obtain the verdict of the people" said JVP's Propaganda Secretary Mr.Wimal Weerawansa addressing a press conference in Colombo Tuesday.

The PA should, at least on paper, have a comfortable 119 votes against the opposition's no confidence motion with the active support of the JVP now. The United National Party has to now inveigle a minimum of eight MPs from the government ranks to vote for the no confidence motion to topple the PA-Marxist combine.

JVP's General Secretary Mr.Tilvin Silva flanked by the party's Propaganda Secretary, Mr.Wimal Weerawansa (left) and politburo member Nandana Gunatillake (right) at a press conference in Colombo, Tuesday, September 4. (Photo: TamilNet)

Speculation has appeared in the Colombo press that several PA members, including some senior ministers may cross over to the opposition when Parliament is reconvened.

Meanwhile, JVP sources said that their party would stand to benefit from the people oriented economic reforms and aspects of good governance it might be able to bring about through its relationship with the PA during the one year of 'probation'.

"We have shown the people at this critical juncture that we are not greedy for power like the two main parties but that we are genuinely keen on stability and well being of the country", one of them said.

"The people will appreciate our policies when we put a stop to the evils that have beset the country's economy due to subservience of the ruling classes to the dictates of the IMF and the World Bank", he added.

The JVP, in a significant turn indicating the general trend of its current political manoeuvering, charged that UNP is a reactionary force.

"Four of the five independent commissions would be established on September 18. Law Minister Mr.Batty Weerakoon has stated at the party leaders meeting the necessary draft legislations are ready", Mr.Wimal Weerawansa said.

He further said those who oppose the consensus reached between the ruling PA and JVP are now dreaming to gain power by defeating the PA government with foreign and local reactionary forces.

Mr.Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the JVP said, "our party would not give any room for the reactionary forces to capture power through parliamentary conspiracy". We appreciated the courage of President Chandrika Kumaratunge and the People's Alliance in defeating the conspiracy.

"Our common programme with the PA government would be implemented within one year," Mr.Tilvin Silva said.

Meanwhile the main opposition United National Party said that the new coalition of the ruling People's Alliance and Janata Vimukthi Peramuna would put the country into more trouble.

"People would suffer immensely if the PA-JVP government is allowed to rule the country," said Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the UNP. He was speaking at the UNP parliamentary group meeting at the parliament complex, Monday.

He further said that "the People's Alliance, joining with the JVP could solve no burning issues confronting the country. Instead the country's instability will continue.¾

"The ruling People's Alliance and Janata Vimukthi Peramuna would be held responsible for the hardships the people have to undergo under their rule," Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe added.