JVP will act tough with renegade party members

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Somawansa Amarasinghe yesterday warned that stern action would be taken against those who violate party discipline. The comment was a clear reference to the JVP’s decision on Friday to suspend JVP parliamentary group leader and propaganda secretary Wimal Weerawansa from the party after the Eastern Provincial polls on May 10.

“This party wasn’t made to punish its members,” said Mr Amarasinghe, speaking yesterday at a meeting held at the Vihara Maha Devi Park open-air theatre to mark the 37th anniversary of the JVP’s April 1971 insurrection. However, if a member worked against the party’s interests, the punishment given to the party member would be far more severe than that meted out to members of other parties for a similar offence, he added.

JVP leaders observing a minute’s silence at yesterday’s rally. The organising committee welcomed the leaders by offering them bouquets. One bouquet, apparently meant for Wimal Weerawansa to offer is seen in the foreground.

Mr Amarasinghe hinted that any decisions made by the party relating to its internal affairs would be made public as and when necessary.“Anyone, big or small, who thinks the party cannot survive without him or her could not be more wrong,” he added.

Referring to the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP), also known as the Pillayan group after its current leader, Mr Amarasinghe said the TVMP should be disarmed in order to pave the way for democracy and prevent foreign powers from tarnishing the country’s image.

“We have no personal grudge against current TMVP leader Pillayan, but disarming his group will be of immense help in the cause of democracy for this country, and to prevent foreign powers from meddling in our affairs. Even if it means giving him the security the President is given, he must be disarmed,” Mr. Amarasinghe said.

The JVP leader said disarming the renegade LTTE faction would set an example of true liberation for Tamils in the North, and this in turn could result in the people rallying against the LTTE leadership. Mr Amarasinghe said there had been reports of TMVP members walking around Vakarai during the recently concluded Batticaloa local government polls, armed with wooden rods and forcing Tamils in the area to vote for the group.

“Pillayan must be disarmed to build democracy and give Tamils in the North an example, if we want them to take to the streets against LTTE leader Prabhakaran,” he said. Commenting on the upcoming Eastern Provincial Council elections, the JVP leader said the main opposition United National Party (UNP)’s decision to team up with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) was a desperate move, and that the UNP would be history should it lose at the polls.

Referring to the government’s recent takeover of SriLankan AirLines, the Marxist leader suggested the move was a cover-up, following the Mihin Air debacle, and warned that SriLankan was now a “perfect breeding ground for corruption”.