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SLFP says Govt. policy paving way for Eelam
By Harinda Vidanage
The SLFP which has been looking to form an alliance with the J VP for the past several moths has also been losing its members to the JVP at village level. But nevertheless the SLFP continues to explore the possibilities of a tie up between the two parties.

SLFP's General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena in an interview with The Sunday Times said that political crossovers had been a common occurrence in the past and though the JVP is publicly critical of the SLFP yet during the face to face talks they realise the complex nature of the problems that confront both sides.
Following are excerpts of the interview:

What is the position of the rank and file of SLFP concerning renewed efforts for an alliance with the JVP and how far are they aware of the current situation of the talks.
Eight months back The SLFP Central Committee approved a decision to talk to all parties outside the Peoples Alliance (PA) with a view to forming a grand opposition coalition to topple the UNF government. For the talks to begin there were numerous committees appointed and the discussions with the JVP was carried out by one such committee.

Once a committee was empowered with a particular task it was expected to file a report no sooner the discussions were concluded and submit the report to the central committee and the decisions to be subsequently communicated to the party members.

What has happened to the other committees that you say were appointed together with the one set up to negotiate with the JVP
As a democratic party we maintain committees that function in a national political context very openly and there are committees that function secretively and these committees fall into both these categories.

How far have you gone in your efforts towards an alliance.
If for example there were hundred differences between us when we first sat down for talks with the JVP, now it is just down to one. Since 1956 the history of the SLFP has shown it has has been successful in forming alliances. Parties like the LSSP and CP are Marxists parties while we were a more a middle of the road party but we have managed to work together. Many people have forgotten the fact that these alliances too never happened overnight but a long drawn out process. Where the SLFP and JVP are concerned it began discussions on forming a political alliance at a time when the whole country is at a decisive moment in its history and we have been talking to each other for just nine months.

But the answer that the talks are on track and ninety nine percent successful was given by SLFP negotiators even four months back. What is the position now?
Where we were four months ago and where we are now is quite different. We have achieved much more but are currently facing some difficulties in ironing out a few more matters which keeps changing due to the volatile nature of the political secenario in the country today.

Speculations were rife that the JVP was not happy with certain members included in the SLFP delegation.
No that is not the case, as there has been a shuffling of delegates of both parties. For example Nandana Gunathilake was present at some sessions but not present in some others, similarly we had to change our representatives too as some had gone overseas or had to attend other important functions.

At the recently concluded SLFP national convention you released a new policy statement which was a major shift from your earlier policy documents. Was this change the result of your talks with the JVP.
The policy draft we presented is not a permanent document it could change from time to time depending on ideas that emerge from various sections of the public, various party organizations and the political situation in the country at a particular time.

Some senior SLFP leaders are deeply concerned about the encroachment and takeover of the SLFP grassroot level organisation by the JVP. This is reflected especially in your youth and women's organisations. Even the Trade unions affiliated to your party is under threat of going over to the JVP. How are you tackling this new problem.

These are not new problems if one looks at the system of national politics in our country, then political takeovers and crossovers have been a normal occurrence as such we do not perceive this problem as a threat.

You say that the purpose of an alliance is to form a new government but the Tamil parties specially the TNA is condemning this openly and is not willing to support the PA in this alliance with the JVP, how are you tackling this.
Yes, this is an effort to takeover the government, but nobody from any of the Tamil parties have officially approached us or communicated their views to us. No party has yet voiced their support or opposition, as no party knows what the contents of the discussions.

The JVP has on popular political platforms totally opposed the proposed interim administration proposal and even some members of your party have supported this thinking and participated in these functions but the TNA supports the interim administration proposal, how are you managing these contradictions.
On political platforms and news conferences and at other discussions there are ideas and criticisms on various subjects but when we sit for negotiations things take on a different form.

The JVP as a part of their ten day operation distributed leaflets in which the opposition mainly the PA was severely criticised saying they cannot achieve progress by aligning with the PA, but according to you these are just political phraseology or popular slogans.

Yes, when we sit for talks we do so with much more responsibility realizing the complex nature of the questions involved.

The latest discussion you had with the JVP was cited as crucial and decisive so what are your future plans. It was decisive as all the SLFP committee members were present including President Kumaratunga and a strong JVP delegation. For the first time in the nine month long discussions we set September 30 as the target date to complete all discussions.

What about the the disagreement entertained by both parties as to how the ethnic problem should be solved and to the role of Norway as a mediator.
Yes, every party, individual or organization have differing opinions on certain things. This was quite evident during the Indo Lanka agreement. We are trying our best reach a common ground on this complex matter.

Does these agreements include policy matters or structural matters
It includes a combination of both.

In this backdrop having managed to come so far are you going to face the Provincial Council elections together. The JVP and SLFP have not discussed the issue of provincial Council elections.

What is the reaction of other constituent parties of the PA to the talks as specially Ferial Ashroff was not happy with the JVP stance on the national question. In discussing the issue of the national question have you ever thought or discussed the Muslim factor as you constantly voice your opinion even now on the matter of the safety for Muslims in the North and East.

Our objectives are to find a common policy framework to suit the country so we can't take a single issue like that separately and talk about it and we can't see an end to the problems facing the country outside a common framework.

The JVP was saying after few months of discussions now we have finished the first stage and then we are now finishing the second and ultimately they said the final stage was the electoral alliance that was when the discussions ran into trouble. Have you settled this electoral alliance or are you forming an alliance leaving out the electoral stage. We are not looking at an electoral alliance.

Have you removed this from the original alliance setup.
We have discussed only national political issues and not included any peripheral matters.

Is your current aim just taking over the of government or are there multiple targets you are aiming at.

Taking over the government is one. The UNF government and its leadership work program has led to the making of an Eelam without firing a single bullet. This program should be defeated. The change of UNF government is how we could prevent Prabahkaran from achieving his dream. Today he has become the enemy of our motherland by trying to break it up, by murdering our people. While his enemy is Chandrika Kumaratunga his best friend is Ranil Wickramasinghe.
People of this country have understood the necessity of defeating the enemy of this country and its people.

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