Front Page

Front Page

JVP won't join SLFP protest rallies
By Harinda Vidanage
The JVP has turned down an invitation from the SLFP to have talks to initiate a joint protest campaign of the opposition, starting from Colombo. SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena had been directed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga to invite the JVP for talks on holding a joint protest campaign -- changing her earlier position that the event should be an SLFP show of force and a response to the JVP-spearheaded Desha Hitaishi Jathika Viyaparaya (National Patriotic Movement).
President Kumaratunga had changed her position and decided to invite the JVP after a declaration by JVP leader Somawansa Amerasinghe about the JVP providing unconditional support to topple the government.

The JVP had said it was not enthusiastic in supporting a political campaign to boost the image of an individual, especially a person who had undermined the party earlier. The JVP refusal came as the Central Committee of the SLFP decided to appoint Mr. Sirisena and Susil Premjayanth as spokespersons for the proposed alliance process and that no one else is sanctioned to speak any where or to anybody on the alliance.

But JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerwansa told The Sunday Times they were not informed about the earlier appointments nor had they been invited for fresh talks. The JVP earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the new SLFP negotiating team, saying that only one of its members, Dr. Sarath Amunugama was supportive of the proposed alliance.

The moves came as the SLFP intensified its campaign to oust the government. The campaign includes a fresh round of protest rallies, new efforts to get UNP crossovers and an international diplomatic effort intended mainly to win India's support for the PA's stand. The protest rallies starting in Colombo late this month will be known as Jana Sena, similar to the Jana Bala Meheyuma rallies which the UNP launched effectively while in opposition.

This will be followed by mass protest rallies in the provinces -- Ampara on October 31, Kurunegala on November 14, Ratnapura November 21, Galle December 5 and Anuradhapura December 12. As for the SLFP-JVP talks on the proposed alliance, JVP sources have indicated that they were ready to drop their demands for key ministerial portfolios but they would press for the post of alliance chairman and insist that devolution of power cannot be a basis for the settlement of the ethnic conflict.

Back to Front Page