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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.

(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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