JVP’s doomsday not far away - Nandana Gunatilake

The controversial ex-hardcore JVPer and currently the General Secretary of the newly formed National Freedom Front, Nandana Gunatilake while inviting genuine members of the JVP to join them in their freedom struggle claimed that the present leadership of the JVP has deviated from its original struggle - the struggle to defeat imperialism.

He told the ‘Sunday Observer’ that the JVP, which took a different turn since 1995, is now misleading its members by promising the freedom struggle by trying to defeat the Mahinda Rajapaksa government.

Excerpts:

Q: What is the idea behind forming the new political party - the National Freedom Front (NFF)?

A: Although we say Sri Lanka is an independent nation still we do not enjoy real freedom. Since 1948, from the day the country became free from the British, all the successive governments for the past 60 years, have failed to make the country ‘independent’.

The need of the hour is to make Sri Lanka an independent nation with the support of all citizens who love this country. I think this is the responsibility of this generation. That is why we came forward and our main target is to get political, economical and social - cultural independence. That is what we are striving for.

Q: You said that you could not realize that aim when you were with the JVP, which was considered to be the third force in the country. Do you think that the NFF with few members can fill the void?

A: Yes. Forming this party was not solely an idea of ours. Those who love this country and strive for a fully pledged freedom has led us to take this decision. This is a national quest, in which the JVP has failed so far.

The agenda that was mooted by the our former leader Rohana Wijeweera was to create socialism through a national freedom struggle. We joined the JVP as we thought that the JVP can bring about this freedom and for over two decades we were with the JVP and still await to see that difference.

We all worked to achieve that target. But after the 1995 election the JVP took a different turn and started to work towards a different agenda. We strongly believe that the JVP has abandoned the fight against imperialism. We do not believe that the JVP would continue with its struggle for freedom. We have lost the trust. Instead of fighting for freedom the JVP has now chosen different tactics.

Q: As you said what is that fight for freedom now?

A: Politically, economically and socially Sri Lanka is not still enjoying freedom. We are still controlled and danced to the tune of certain foreign powers. We are still slaves of these countries.

Q: Do you mean to say that we are slaves of those powers even under Mahinda Rajapaksa government?

A: Yes. There is no change in the situation even under this government. Willingly or unwillingly we are under pressure from foreign powers. The present situation in the country has pushed us to that context.

The main reason for this is that we are still under pressure from super powers. Using different ways and means these foreign powers still attempt to control small countries like ours. Though we are not 100 percent controlled by those powers, certain sectors are still pressurized by them.

Q: But, there is no room for international intervention in internal affairs under this government.

A: But the pressure is still there in some of the sectors. The only sector that we are not under this pressure is the War Front but most of other sectors have been subjected to pressure. The trade agreement with India is a disadvantage for us.

Though there are certain benefits, we can not reap the benefits as India is a powerful nation. Not only with India but the way the government continues to have relationships with USA, Japan and other Western nations it clearly shows that the country is still under pressure by those countries. Therefore, we can not say that the Mahinda Rajapaksa government is striving to bring meaningful freedom to this country.

Like in previous regimes, this government too allowed several representatives to visit this country and operate independently. They have misused by gathering information to tarnish the image of the country and created a heavy pressure.

These representatives have given a false propaganda about the country’s status with regard to human rights issues. Why this has happened was the government’s leniency towards these western representatives. This has opened up ways to release misleading reports about the country’s situation.

The main issue that we are facing is the terrorism. Though we are very successful in defeating the LTTE, the other sectors are in dilemma. Until we fully enjoy the freedom in other sectors this government can not claim that the country is enjoying real freedom. This is a very tragic situation and our sole aim is to give the leadership of a political party which can spearhead to achieve this task.

Q: Why did you fail to do that when you were with the JVP?

A: The main reason is that the JVP has now abandoned that freedom struggle. Instead they are now on a class struggle and they have failed to identify the main enemy. The freedom struggle can not be achieved through gun culture.

The struggle for freedom has a more wider meaning than what the JVP thinks today. It is a freedom of all the sectors. Defeating foreign powers that involve in all sectors means the real freedom.

But the JVP, which has now deviated from its original task, thinks that defeating Mahinda Rajapaksa government would bring in the freedom.

Q: If the JVP wants to defeat this government, where do you stand now? Are you with the government or with an independent political party?

A: We are with the people of this country. There are so many people who have similar sentiments. Therefore we give the leadership for them. The NFF is not with the Mahinda Rajapaksa government. But if the government wants to bring in a fully fledged freedom as I mentioned earlier, we would be with the government.

It is a wellknown fact that the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is a slave of imperialism. And he will do anything to fulfil their goals. But there is a marked difference in the Mahinda Rajapaksa government. It has proved what they can do and people should accept that. What we say is that the NFF will help this government if it is ready to defeat these foreign powers.

Q: JVP and JHU have claimed to be patriotic political parties. Do you think that they have failed to achieve the desired targets so far?

A: Patriotism is different. The NFF is a progressive political party and we want to create an environment where people of this country can enjoy equality.

Q: Do you complain that these two political parties have failed to do so?

A: Yes. They have failed do so. We have lots of patriotic people and political parties with that tag but they do not go that extra mile to achieve the desired outcome.

Q: Is it true that the first step to split the JVP was taken by you?

A: I did not have any intention to split the JVP. One time the JVP was my parents and later it became my child.

The university student called Nandana Gunatilake was made a politician by the JVP. The JVP influenced and taught me that the country was before all other things. I accepted the policy of the JVP at that time and we have sacrificed everything for the party. After the insurrection in 1989, a handful of people were there to give the leadership to the JVP. I was one of them and I think after 1989 the JVP has become my child.

Therefore, I did not have any intention to break this party, which we built up.

But I walked out from the party as the JVP had failed to work towards the direction that was mandated for. I led my struggle while being in the party but I failed.

The view of the majority of the members of the politburo was not in agreement with me.

So, I had no other option but to quit the party to continue with my struggle. I did it through my speeches and writings to the media. The internal pressure blew up with Wimal’s decision.

Q: Are you sure that you did not influence him to come out?

A: I did not influence him personally. But in a way I can say ‘yes’, because when I walked out they were facing the same crisis but they could not take a similar decision though we were in the same boat. I criticised the JVP while being outside and they did while remaining with the party. We both had a similar target - to get the JVP fall into the correct path.

But we failed and the outcome was that Wimal and the group walked out. So I believed that I have influenced them by holding similar views.

Q: Is it true that this split is an outcome of a conspiracy of a main political party?

A: The JVP has now become the puppets of the UNP. They do not have any independence in their views and they will utter the same sentiments expressed by the UNP.

Q: But you still have not answered my question clearly.

A: Yes, I am explaining it. This is a claim by the UNP and those who work with them. There was no such influence from any political party.

On the other hand we are not babies. I have been in politics for over 30 years and Wimal too has similar experience in politics. We were politburo members of the JVP and what we can say is that no one can buy us with money. We know there are some people who sell their political identity for personal gains.

But we have a very clear political vision and no one can control us or influence us. This has not happened earlier and will not happen in the future. Ranil Wickremesinghe or President Mahinda Rajapaksa can not buy us.

I could have easily joined the government earlier but I patiently tolerated everything since we realise our target - the forming of the NFF.

Q: You said that you have tolerated for some years but if the government offers a ministerial portfolio, are you going to refuse that?

A: When the UPFA was being formed, Wimal and I were the two JVP representatives who participated at meetings number of times.

After the UPFA government came to power we were offered two ministerial posts but we refused. So do you think we will accept them now. We refused portfolios because we helped the government not to become ministers but to change the country’s situation prevailed at that time.

Therefore our main objective is still different from the others and we still strive for national freedom. We know that there are progressive masses within the government and abroad. The NFF wants to give the leadership for that segment of people and not to run for Ministerial posts.

Q: There are so many political parties in the country now. Don’t you feel that the NFF is a political refugee in this political game?

A: Why do you want to label us like this way. When late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike formed the SLFP in 1951 he did not have a powerful force. But he captured power in 1956. No one called him a political refugee when he formed the new party.

There are 11 of us who walked out from a political party which secured 39 seats. Bharathiya Janatha Party started its campaign from zero level.

It is too early to decide that we are political refugees or not. It is unfair to judge us like this way. We already have a good force and remember we have not started our political journey from zero.

Q: What would be your fate in future elections?

A: Now we are in the process of forming district leaders and we are ready to face the future with determination. And we will decide our participation at elections accordingly.

Q: You had agreed to an Indian model earlier while the JVP opposed the implementation of the 13th amendment. Then what is the proposal of the NFF to solve the national problem now?

A: In a situation where the LTTE terrorism had to come to an end militarily we have to decide what exactly the people of Wanni want and how to solve their problems.

Therefore I am of the view that we can implement a model which is very close to us. That did not mean that we should implement the Indian model unconditionally.

Q: This is your personnel view. What is the view of the NFF?

A: We strongly believe that it can be achieved through equality. And equality is directly connected to the national freedom. We have to win the struggle for national freedom and then search for models that could solve the national problem.

Q: Do you mean to say that still the NFF does not have a clear vision on how to solve the national problem?

A: No. We can not clearly say it now. The present war situation and the way people behave in this situation is different. The mental status of the people is decided according to the environment. The best example is the East. There is a marked difference of the thinking of people prior to the Eastern liberation and now.

Earlier, they were with the LTTE just to survive. Now they want freedom, development and peace. If we can bring equality through national freedom through sustainable management of resources, then there will be a change in desires of the people.

Then the model that we try to introduce would not be accepted by the people as they are in a different situation. Therefore we can not have predictions now on how the national problem could be solved. We can not implement models forcibly and we need people’s mandate for it.

Q: Once you have said that the JVP does not have a proper leadership to bring national freedom. How confident were you that you can fill the void?

A: We are ready to continue our struggle for national freedom together with all the progressive masses. The present leadership of the JVP does not want to lead that struggle.

The JVPers are genuine supporters and they still have a very clear vision but the JVP leadership is misleading them. So we invite them to join the NFF. We do not think that the NFF along can strive for national freedom. We need the support of all who love this country. The NFF is ready to sacrifice anything for that.

Q: Recently you have revealed a conspiracy to oust JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasingha. Is this an attempt to put the JVP into a turmoil?

A: No. This is not such an attempt. This is the truth that we have realized so far. Both of us know the internal crisis of the JVP very well. That is why we say that there is a conspiracy to outset the JVP Leader. They want him to be the honourary leader. They try to reduce his powers and his interventions in the party matters. They want him to be a puppet leader. This will happen soon or later.

Q: Are you giving an indication that JVP Leader would not be there for the next elections?

A: We have doubts whether the JVP would be able to have people to contest the next elections. Yes he will be ousted from the leadership step by step. The JVP will soon become a political party which try to struggle for its mere existence. I do not think that Mr. Amarasinghe would be able to remain in such a party and it will be a problem for them to keep him as the leader.

I think now our prediction has become a reality. Appointing him as the International Affairs Secretary is one step towards that.

Q: But some called him a dictator and claimed he does not tolerate opposing views.

A: No we did not call him as a dictator. That is the job that he had failed to do. He is a very humble person. That is why these conspirators get a room to make him dance to their tune.

Q: Do you see any similarity between the UNP and JVP leaders?

A: Yes. But they are in different ways. Though the UNP leader is a very weak leader he secures the leadership. No one can outset him. He is politically weak but the JVP leader is politically strong. But he has failed to develop a strong personality to maintain his political stability.

No one can compare these two as the UNP Leader has kept a record for defeating at several elections. But the JVP Leader has led the party to victory after the ‘89 insurrection. The former Defence Minister Ranjan Wijeratne said that “Match is over”. Mr. Amarasingha started from there zero level and led the party until it became the third force in this country. But The UNP leader has destroyed the party.

Q: Repeatedly you have mentioned about conspirators. Are you ready to name them?

A: Yes. But it is too early to divulge their names. What I can say is that they are some members of the JVP’s politburo.

Q: Some people claim that those who quit the party were leading very luxury lives now.

A: People can say whatever they want. But we know how we live.

We are all going through tough times now. Our lives are under threat. We have to use additional care to protect our lives. We have sacrificed our lives for the party and we do not have any other income and I personally draw my salary as an MP now. I have to survive with this salary. When we were with the party they looked after us.

Though we all are highly talented people we are not trained to do other jobs as we spent all our time sacrificing our future for the party.

We are not economically sound compared to our lives earlier.

Who is Mestiyage Don Nandana Gunatilake

It was another bright day for the group to start the secret journey through thick jungle patches, taking the risk, one by one emerged from the hide-out. A boy of nine year old coming forward signal them not to proceed.

“It was that small boy who saved the lives of the 12 of us. If he did not give us the signal we would have been burnt on the tyres”, Nandana Gunatilake, said recalling yet another frightful experience in the 1989 insurrection.

The General Secretary of a newly formed political party Gunatilake said that he could not remember the number of times he had escaped death. He paid his gratitude to those who were with tight lipped about his whereabouts during the 1989 era when the military was looking out to arrest this hardcore JVPers:

“They tried to arrest me using every possible means but 99 percent of JVP ‘sahodarayas’, who were either arrested or killed, did not revealed any hiding place”, he said.

Learned the ABC from the Primary school of the Anuradhapura Central College, where his parents were teachers, Gunatilake alias Sumedha was assigned to looked after the political work of the Party later.

A product of Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya, Panadura, Gunatilake put a fullstop to his dream of life - pursuing higher education - while being a second year student at the Peradeniya University.

He never thought of his private life as he wanted to make this country a better place to live in like the Soviet Russia, the country he dreamed while reading books on socialism, when he was an undergraduate of the Faculty of Agriculture and later became fulltime member of the JVP in 1987.

Though the role model of his life was JVP Founder Leader Rohana Wijeweera, Gunatilake said that his political life with the JVP was shaped fully thanks to Lalith Wijeratne alias ‘Aravinda’ who was killed in 1989. “ If he is here today, lots of internal problems of the JVP would not have come up. We learned a lot from him”, he said.

Knew him as ‘Ajantha’ when he was doing his party assignments in Colombo he said his goal now in life is to bring the new political party to the forefront and to lead the struggle to freedom.

No regrets for not pursuing higher education. Over 40 of those who were with him in the Faculty of Agriculture were now holding PhDs and most of them are working in USA and Canada. “I sacrificed my future for the party as I want to see people of this country live in a better world”, he said.

Knew nothing about handling a weapon, he said he was struggling to protect his life today. Amidst all this, he reads books and listens to songs meant for all generations.

* NFF strives for real freedom.

* JVP has failed to fulfil its original vow - the struggle to defeat imperialism.

* The country is still under the pressure from imperialism even under the Mahinda Rajapaksa government.

* The JVP thinks defeating Mahinda Rajapaksa government would bring about freedom.

* The government’s flexibility for foreign representatives tarnish the country’s image.

* The government will use ‘remote controls’ to control activities in Wanni.

* NFF is not a political refuge.

* No force can buy us with money.

* We know the internal crisis of the JVP well.

* The JVP is eliminating the present leadership step by step.

* The UNP leader is very weak.

* Conspirators within the JVP will be exposed soon.