Massive JVP rally condemns peace talks

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 January 2003, 16:10 GMT]
In a massive show of strength against the peace talks between the Sri Lanka’s United National Front government and the Liberation Tigers, the leftist Sinhala party, Janata Vimukthi Peramuna, gathered more than 25 thousand party members and supporters for a march and rally at one of Colombo’s busiest intersections Wednesday. Speakers at the rally denounced the peace talks to settle the island’s ethnic conflict as a western imperialist conspiracy to divide country.

Thousands of JVP cadres clad in red poured into the city from provincial towns and villages from morning Wednesday. They were gathered at three points from where massive processions moved towards the Lipton Circus Eye Hospital Junction area near downtown Colombo in the afternoon.

“Defeat the

JVP’s General Secretary, Mr.Tilvin de Silva, addressing the rally.

Elephant-Tiger conspiracy”, the marchers shouted (Elephant is the symbol of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party).

The event was called Jana Balaya People’s Power.

Addressing the rally, the powerful propaganda secretary of the JVP, Mr. Wimal Weerawanse, said the JVP is working towards an opposition alliance to launch mass agitations aimed at overthrowing Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government.

He slammed the Norwegians for interfering in the affairs of the island. JVP speakers lambasted Mr. Jon Westborg, the Norwegian Ambassador in Sri Lanka, accusing him of working in cahoots with the Liberation Tigers.

Police guarding the Royal Norway embassy in Colombo.

Mr. Weerawanse said the UNF government is apprehensive about the growing disillusionment among the people, caused by the sky rocketing cost of living and “its treacherous association with the LTTE”.

The JVP failed to capture power in two bloody insurrections in 1971 and 1989. Thousands of Sinhala youth were brutally massacred when the Sri Lankan armed forces brutally suppressed the uprisings.

A heavy Police guard was deployed at the Royal Norwegian Embassy Wednesday as it is close to the venue of the demonstration.

Sinhala nationalists have demonstrated in front of the mission and burnt the Norwegian flag in the past.