Throttling rationality

PRESIDENT Kumaratunga's reply to JVP General Secretary Tylvin Silva's letter on matters seen as arising from the Tsunami Relief Council proposal, is an exceptionally effective rebuttal of the criticisms which have thus far been levelled against the mooted institutional arrangement.

Besides clarifying some issues over which the JVP and many other organisations of its ilk have been raving and ranting over the past few days, the President's letter helps expose the appalling intellectual poverty and bankruptcy of the JVP.

Take for instance the JVP's objections to the LTTE working along with the Government in the Tsunami Relief Council. How could any reasonable human being object to this arrangement? Isn't this what the majority of our countrymen were waiting for?

Here's a militant group which struck terror into the hearts of almost all finally taking the decision to work in unison with the State for a worthy cause and the JVP is hysterically seeing red and mindlessly crying "foul". We are compelled to question along with the President: "Is this a matter to be frightened about or a matter for rejoicing?"

There is no doubt that all those who wish this country well would warmly rejoice over the prospect of the LTTE finally deciding to cooperate with the Lankan State. Implied in this decision is a recognition of the Lankan Government by the LTTE.

This alone is a landmark event in the resolving of our conflict. Besides, the possibility is great that the LTTE would at some point in this process, see the needlessness of continuing the armed struggle because it could achieve same of its aims by peaceful means as a result of collaborating with the State.

It is highly ironical that the JVP of all political parties should object to the absorption of the LTTE into the democratic process because the JVP too at one time swore by and chillingly practised murderous violence.

Thanks to the democratic process, the JVP is today in Parliament and is pursuing a political path to its aims. Shouldn't the LTTE too be offered the same opportunity? Wouldn't the whole of Sri Lanka benefit from this development?

It is clear that the JVP is being mindlessly destructive in its criticism of the Tsunami Relief Council proposal. It seems to be depending on a strategy of stirring gut sentiments in its followers, for its political survival. This is a clear indication that there is no space for a rational discussion of issues within the JVP.

As we said yesterday, it is quite appropriate that the JVP is allowed to lose itself in the political wilderness.