Give up struggle for separatism, Communist Party tells Tigers

COLOMBO: The LTTE must give up their never ending struggle for separatism and must come to the negotiations table, Communist Party General Secretary DEW Gunasekara said.

Communist Party National Conventions over a long span of time have contributed immensely to mould the pattern of social thinking in Sri Lanka, Gunasekara said at the opening session of the Sri Lanka Communist Party's 18th convention at the Shalika Hall, Narahenpita, Colombo, yesterday.

The Convention ceremonially commenced with the hoisting of the National Flag by Gunasekara and the Party Flag by Raja Collure.

Explaining the trail of events, the party General Secretary stated that at the inaugural National Convention in 1943 the Communist Party demanded full independence instead of reforms, at the fourth Convention in 1950, it made an analysis of the beginning and growth of capitalism in Sri Lanka and introduced the theory of United Front, at the fifth Convention in 1955 introduced a basic economic strategy under the title Idiri Maga, at the sixth Convention in 1960, called for unity among the leftist parties in Sri Lanka, at the seventh Convention in 1964, emphasised the need to build unity among all progressive forces, at the 9th Convention in 1975, presented before the public a package for devolution of power on zonal basis and at the 17th Convention in 2002 made an analysis of the process of globalisation and called for a united struggle against the neo-colonialism.

"After the collapse of the Soviet Union, we experience a unilateral power camp in the world and in spite of advances in modern technology we find ourselves suffering under grave injustice and economic disparity. The current globalisation in the guise of neo-colonialism has reduced the poor nations to utter pauperism, insecurity and inequality, challenges unimaginable to surmount."

Gunasekara said the cornerstones of progress, development aid, international trade and elements of security have toppled to create an unstable world order prone to violence and political instability.

Referring to the current situation in Sri Lanka, Gunasekera said Sri Lanka have to face two major challenges.

"These are the challenges of the national problem relating to ethnicity and the challenge of neo-colonialism resulting from the process of globalisation," he said.

"As a political party, the Communist Party has one solid principal from the very beginning for the ethnic problem and we have the blessings of our leftist solidarity for that principle. We call upon the LTTE to give up their never ending struggle for separatism which is beyond imagination in Sri Lanka and come to the negotiating table to discuss harmonious solutions," Gunasekara said.

The conflict protracted over 50 years and the 23 years of war have taught us bitter lessons. We call upon the UNP and the SLFP who represent 85 per cent of our voting population to arrive at a consensus. We call upon the JVP and the JHU to reconsider their stance. Outdated visions, and imaginary fears and doubts will never reveal the reality, he said.

"Let us not create opportunities for foreign imperialists to interfere. We have to create a climate where the Tamil speaking people can enjoy the fruits of democracy, national unity and economic prosperity," the General Secretary said.

Speaking of the impact of globalisation on Sri Lanka, Gunasekera said the challenge of repayment of foreign loans, decline of Government revenue, rising of Government expenditure and balance of payment and foreign exchange reserve have been adversely affected as a result of the neo-colonialism since 1977.