| SLFP
leaders more concerned about astrologers than issues - JVP leader
By Shelani Perera
JVP leader Tilvin Silva has hit out at the SLFP saying it had no
proper plan for the abortive alliance discussions with the JVP but
was depending more on Indian astrologers and auspicious times. In
a wide-ranging interview with The Sunday Times, Mr. Silva said that
to save the country from a political and socio-economic disaster,
the party was still ready to resume talks with the SLFP if both
sides were ready to make adjustments on key issues like devolution
of power. Excerpts:
Q: What
went wrong in the talks with the SLFP?
A: We wanted to get together to prevent a grave danger
facing the country from the UNF Government. On one side, the country
is being sold to transnational corporations through the Regaining
Sri Lanka programme while on the other, a separate state is being
given to the LTTE. We wanted to save the country from these and
needed a powerful force to do it. That's why we started talks with
the SLFP on basic issues - an alternative economic policy, new policy
on the ethnic conflict, consolidating democracy and forging a new
foreign policy.
One key and
contentious issue was the devolution of power - the SLFP was for
it but we were against. We wanted the facilitator Norway sent away
but the SLFP did not agree. Those were the key questions on which
the talks broke down though there were disputes about power-sharing
with the proposed alliance also. Since we saw no possibility of
a compromise, we told the President there was no purpose in talking.
We hoped the SLFP would have understood the dire threat from the
LTTE and changed its stand on the devolution of power. At one point,
it was suggested that the devolution issue be kept aside and the
alliance formed on other matters. But it did not work.
Q:Was
your party not ready to change its stance on devolution instead
of expecting the SLFP to do so?
A: The threat facing the country was so grave that we cannot
compromise on that issue.
Q:
Did you see a sudden change in the President's attitude after initial
talks?
A: Moreso the SLFP did not have a proper plan. Without
a substantial basis for talks, we saw them consulting Indian astrologers
for auspicious times. They were far from political realities. Their
plans kept changing.
Q: Now
that the talks have broken down, you claim the SLFP had no proper
plan. Why didn't you point it out earlier?
A: We did. We pointed out shortcomings regularly and before
the final round, we clearly told the President that we felt the
discussion was being dragged on. We wanted the talks completed by
the end of this month.
Q: SLFP
frontliner Anura Bandaranaike, who was pushing for the alliance,
was kept out of the final rounds of the talks. Any idea why?
A: He was very keen on the alliance, but he attended only
one meeting because he was not a member of the delegation. I believe
the sidelining stories were a media concoction.
Q: Mr.
Bandaranaike has said both parties need each other to win?
A: We don't know whether the SLFP needs us. The JVP does
not need the SLFP. It is the country which needs both parties to
get together to avert a disaster.
Whatever
national ideals you proclaim, others say it was just a marriage
of convenience to come to office.
A: Our goals were higher. Our plan was to come together,
call an election and get a mandate from the people.
Q: Others
say your plan was to eat into the SLFP vote bank?
A: Not so. Our membership boomed even before we started
the talks.
Q: Reports
say a group in the SLFP is pushing for the resumption of talks with
your party.
A: Some in the SLFP are keen and feel that the talks should
not have allowed to break down. There has been an unofficial request
to resume talks. We are ready if the SLFP makes some adjustments
on the contentious issues.
Won't
you make any adjustments?
A: If the SLFP makes adjustments, so will we.
Q:Even
if your party gets more seats at the next election, it is unlikely
that you could form a government on your own. Will you then go for
an alliance with another party?
A: Our main aim is not to form a government, but to prevent
a grave danger to the country. We want to bring about a new socio-economic
order. We are ready for an election and any alliance to achieve
that goal.
Q: What
is your post-mortem on the MoU and the probationary arrangement
you had with the PA government in 2001?
A: Though it was short-lived, within 35 days we got the
government to fulfil many of its promises. If the arrangement had
gone on, the country would have benefited immensely.
Q: On
the economic front, you have been vehemently opposing privatization.
Are you for a state economy or a mixed economy?
A: We don't want a totally state-controlled economy. The
private sector has to be involved. But essential services like finance
and agriculture should be controlled or monitored by the state.
We believe that giving too much control to the private sector would
be dangerous for the country. We believe that the best for Sri Lanka
would be something like what the BJP is doing in India - "Micro
chips yes, Potato chips No". The private sector's main aim
is profit, while the public sector gives service to the people.
An we need a blend of both for a balanced economy.
Q: You
are strongly opposing the granting of an interim administration
for the North and East. If that is done, what will you do?
A: If that is done, we can't do anything. That is why we
are doing everything to prevent the government fromgranting an interim
administration. It is not just an administration but an interim
state and we will continue our forceful agitation though the talks
with the SLFP have broken down.
Q: In
1987-89, your party carried out a bloody campaign against provincial
councils. Now your members sit in them.
A: We are still totally opposed to PCs and want them abolished.
But till we get the power to do that, we will sit in the PCs to
expose the corruption and bureaucratic mess in them.
Q: But
the JVP also benefits from the council funds?
A: Yes, if we can provide something for the people we should
do it. But this does not mean that we are for the system, we maintain
that it is a weak system.
Q: Is
the JVP still a Marxist party?
A: We have adapted the Marxist Leninist concepts to suit
Sri Lanka. We won't blindly copy the world model. |
