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SLFP-JVP alliance: Dispute No.1
By Harinda Vidanage
The JVP is demanding the powerful post of general secretary in the proposed pact with the PA, but the SLFP is not willing to part with the position, SLFP sources said. They said the SLFP, in a bid to overcome problems arising from the issue, was to propose that a post of joint-presidents and one post of general secretary be created.

A senior SLFP member said they were not willing to give away the general secretary's post as the new alliance would be registered under the general secretary. The general secretary holds the right to communicate with the Commissioner of Elections regarding the alliance.

The discussions about the positions in the new coalition are due to take place at the next round of talks on Tuesday. JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa denied they had sought a top position in the proposed alliance, but said that any party going into such an alliance had to have a power post.

Meanwhile President Chandrika Kumaratunga who has gone through the final draft of the proposed MOU between the two sides following three months of negotiations, has sent the draft back for an amendment on the terminology used to describe the stand on the ethnic problem and its solution.

Though President Kumaratunga decided to keep silent on the issue of devolution of power, the JVP has insisted that political devolution is not necessary and only administrative devolution, meaning an institutional structure but with more control from the central government, is sufficient.

Thus the President has preferred this and has suggested that this position can only be changed in an agreement where after the alliance is forged if the wide political appeal is for a political devolution of power like a federal setup both parties had to agree and if the political demand is the opposite, the stance of the other party will prevail.

Meanwhile SLFP negotiating team member Nimal Siripala Silva told the Sunday Times that they would finish the discussions on Tuesday. He said the broad policy framework had been finalized. But the JVP propaganda secretary told the Sunday Times that after their six hour long central committee meeting on Friday they were in "ninety nine percent agreement" on the policy issues but the matters they cannot not agree on would be presented back to the SLFP negotiating team on Tuesday.

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