JVP stalwart advocates broader national alliance

By Jayantha Sri Nissanka

JVP heavyweight Nandana Gunathilake plans to form a broader National Alliance with the progressive sections in the JVP, SLFP and UNP to find a solution to the national question.

The “JVP, SLFP and UNP should reach consensus on the ethnic issue deviating from their extreme ends when searching for a solution to the North and East (N&E) problem keeping political agendas aside. Otherwise we can not win the hearts of the Tamils. We need to even get the support of senior politicians such as Anandasangare in this endeavour,” UPFA MP Nandana Gunathilake told the Sunday Observer.

The JVP is also in the extreme end in this issue. We need to be realistic and take decisions according to the present needs. Unless there is a national consensus of major parties, we cannot think of a solution to the N&E problem, he said.

Gunathilake said that he had relinquished from all posts in the party since the party did not respect his opinions. “I proposed that the party accepts Ministerial portfolios to work for the people because we always help someone to come to power and wait outside. But if we accept portfolios we can attend to the people’s requirements and improve these institutions. I also proposed to contest the last Local Government election but the party rejected it. Finally what happened?,” he said.

The JVP put forward 21 conditions to the Government to extend its support.

The JVP should have been realistic on two conditions whether the Government can remove Norway from its facilitation role and abrogate the Ceasefire Agreement with pressure from the international community. Such conditions are good only as political slogans. If not these two conditions and chances for the JVP to tie up with the Government was imminent, Gunathilake said.

Once the JVP leader Rohana Wijeweera planned to form the Patriotic United Front in 1988 with the SLFP. We could have defeated UNP leader R. Premadasa at that Presidential election. But the party made the same blunder at that point too. Radical sections in the party prevented comrade Wijeweera of taking that decision. As a result our leader was assassinated and thousands of members were massacred.

Like Shylock our radical members asked for the pound of flesh. Even today they are doing the same thing. We have to take decisions when considering local and international politics as well, he said. There are many in the party who hold my view. I hope they will take up this matter at the party meetings and try to change the radical forces. I know that they will not take the same decision took but I have set an example for them to think now and change the party attitude, Gunathilake said.

When asked whether he will join the Government, Gunathilake said that he does not have personal agendas but wants to fulfil national agendas in the interest of the nation.