Realizing the Mahinda Chinthanaya... an LSSP perspective
Text of speech delivered recently by the
(Snr.) Minister of Scientific Affairs Prof. Tissa Vitarana at the 76th
anniversary celebrations of the LSSP
After the great victory over terrorism and separatism on May 19,
2009, the door was opened for Sri Lanka to follow the road to rapid
economic development so that we can overcome poverty and become a
developed nation. Together with the scientific community of Sri Lanka I
prepared a strategic plan to lay the foundation for this development,
the “Five Year Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation”, which
the Cabinet of Ministers accepted in October 2010, as a National
Strategy. This needs to be implemented if we are really to become the
Knowledge Hub that the Mahinda Chinthanaya envisions.
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(Snr.)
Minister Prof. Tissa Vitarana |
But the preconditions to development must also be there – national
unity and good governance. Without that not only is the required
development a mere mirage, but our country is in great danger of once
again becoming a theatre of war, and even losing our national
independence and sovereignty, and becoming a neo-colony.
On this 76th anniversary of the LSSP, we wish to warn the nation of
the dangers that threaten us and calls upon the UPFA government to avoid
the pitfalls and traps that are being set for us, and with determination
adopt the path of development based on a science culture. It is time we
discarded colonial mindsets that prevent us from generating the advanced
technology that the country needs for high value addition to our raw
materials, to enable our exports to capture global markets, and thereby
win the economic war.
The country needs:
*National unity
*Good governance
*Right road to national development
Dangers
As the global economic crisis of the capitalist system deepens it
will affect all countries and it can also have grave repercussions on
Sri Lanka, both economic and political. The debt crisis has had maximum
effect on the USA and Europe, who purchase 70 percent of our exports,
and it is very likely that these markets will fall badly. It may become
more difficult for us to access other emerging markets too. The
capitalist economists and politicians in the developed countries can
find no economic solutions and they are forced to cut spending, thereby
deepening the crisis, leading to mass protests, threatening the very
rule of the capitalist class. The only way out is through the sale of
armaments, which is one of their main industries.
Increasing the demand for arms requires the promotion of conflicts
and wars. Following the 1929 – 33 global economic depression, the way
out was the Second World War from 1939 - 44, which was followed by the
post-war economic boom, a period of prosperity that lasted 25 years.
With the availability of nuclear bombs a world war is unthinkable, but
multiple small localized wars is feasible, and that is what we are
witnessing in the Middle East. Even what begins as a mass struggle for
democracy is high jacked by Imperialism led by the USA to bring about
regime change, as we saw in Libya. By leveling false charges, such as of
human rights violations, the leader they want to topple is demonized to
satisfy world public opinion and the UNO.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is unpopular with the USA for not handing
over Prabhakaran and LTTE leaders to them, thereby ending the war and
the effort to divide our land, and for following a non-aligned foreign
policy, and being friendly with their enemies like Iran and Cuba. As he
is in power for five more years, and may be a further term, the party
that would carry out the pro-US agenda, the UNP, is unlikely to be able
to come into power through the democratic electoral process. Therefore
it is necessary to overthrow his regime through an armed struggle. The
effort to demonize Mahinda Rajapaksa on alleged human rights violations
etc., and to use the UN mechanism and the ICCJ against him continues,
though without much immediate success.
US Imperialism is now falling back on the JVP to do its dirty work
once again. Led by Wijeweera the JVP carried out an armed uprising to
topple the popular SLFP, LSSP, CP coalition government led by Sirimavo
Bandaranaike, within nine months of it coming into power in 1971. The
JVP also saved the UNP government led by Premadasa from imminent
electoral defeat by disrupting the election through a second armed
uprising in 1988/89. The outcome was disaster for the misled youth and
for the country.
Kumaran Gunaratnam, a JVP leader who went to Australia in 1989, was
joined by Koswatte the youth leader of the JVP, who was away in the USA
for three months, to form a “radical group” who, claiming to be the true
JVP, are committed to the direct armed struggle approach of Wijeweera to
topple the UPFA regime. They seem to have unlimited funds and being well
organized are rapidly gaining ground in the JVP. They are trying to
attract Left cadres by claiming to be the true Left as well. Having a
Tamil leader Kumaran , they have called on the Tamil people and leaders
to join them promising them the political solution that they desire, and
which is apparently being denied to them by the UPFA leadership.
The many LTTE activists present in the North and East may join them,
so that there will in effect be a JVP/LTTE alliance to topple the UPFA
government. Even the main Somawansa-led JVP are talking about leading a
mass uprising against the government on the lines of Tunisia. They will
inevitably be drawn into the struggle of the Kumaran group, once it
begins. The 18 percent youth unemployment level will help the JVP.
The sections of the Tamil Diaspora who are pro-LTTE (the
Transnational government of Tamil Eelam et al) are also getting
activised, in the absence of credible moves from the government to offer
a political solution to the Tamil people. They and the West can fuel the
revival of the LTTE. The West have another trump card in reserve to
achieve regime change, Fonseka, with some military backing, to step in
if the need arises. The unpopularity of price rises and
maladministration can be used as tools to turn the people against the
government.
The way out for the UPFA
*A political solution for the national question
It is unfortunate that what was promised in the Mahinda Chinthanaya
Way Forward before the last Presidential Elections has not been
implemented. An undertaking was given that the All Party Representatives
Committee (APRC) deliberations would continue, with the participation of
the new Tamil representatives elected without LTTE pressure. But this
was not done. Instead a bipartisan discussion was initiated between a
mainly SLFP team and the TNA, which is today deadlocked because there
has been no positive response from the SLFP side to the proposals made
by the TNA. As a result the Select Committee of Parliament , which was
to provide an alternative to the APRC process, has not taken off.
Without the TNA the UNP would stay out.
Clearly there is a loss of confidence among the Tamil people and
their political leaders in the government’s intentions. The Left (LSSP,
CP. DNF, SLMP, DJVP) still retain the confidence of the Tamil people and
we must be made a party to the process. Unless a speedy solution is
found the pro-LTTE forces in the country, among the diaspora and in
South India, will make use of the issue for the LTTE to recover, with
support from the West. The campaign against the President on the issue
of human and democratic rights violations will continue and it will
gather momentum and credibility. The JVP/LTTE anti-government campaign
will get more support among the Tamil people, as the only way to obtain
their rights according to their perception..
Without a political solution acceptable to the Tamil people (and also
to the Muslims) for the national question it will not be possible to
achieve the national unity that is essential for economic development.
As indicated here it will provide the opportunity for the evil forces
that would like to topple the government to succeed in their efforts by
getting the support of the Tamil and Muslim people. Therefore the Select
Committee in Parliament must be convened, with the Police and Land
powers issues remaining on the agenda. The TNA must act in a
constructive manner in the interest of the Tamil people, and not in that
of the LTTE or the West.
*Good governance
Without good governance the achievement of a significant degree of
development is an empty dream. Often only a part of the money allocated
for a road is used, and the road may have to be redone. The other part
of the money goes into the pocket of some politicians, officials or
contractors. This situation must be changed. Corruption, inefficiency,
waste and general maladministration in government institutions must be
actively eliminated. To be continued
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