Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva in an interview with the Sunday Observer shared his views on the current political situation in the country and the way forward.
He said it has shown the emergence of a new political culture at the recently concluded Presidential Election and the people have put an end to the corrupt political culture where MPs cross over from one side to the other.
The JVP General Secretary is confident that the National People’s Power (NPP) would get an overwhelming majority in Parliament at the upcoming General Election so that it would be easy for the new Government to implement policies and programs to cater to the needs of the people.
Excerpts of the interview
Q: How do you view the significant victory achieved by the National People’s Power (NPP) despite the predictions by the political opponents saying that it would not be possible to secure victory to a party which secured only three percent votes at the last Presidential Election?
A: We could secure victory at the Presidential Election by categorically rejecting the misconception created among the public by our political opponents. We believe this victory paved the way to create a massive political transformation in the country.
For the first time, the country’s power shifted from the elite class to a leader who emerged from the common people. Actually, this is a very progressive move and this is the wish of the people too.
At the September 21 Presidential Election, the people expected a change of the prevailing political culture. So, this is a victory achieved by the common people who were clamouring for change.
Q: This is the first time in the history of Sri Lanka where a political party with Marxist ideology could consolidate power. How do you view the transfer of power from a neoliberal administration to the left-oriented National People’s Power?
A: Marxism is a guideline to politics and it is not an ideology merely confined to books. We realised that if we were to gain power, we should have a massive people’s movement. Therefore, the JVP along with professionals and various other social segments intervened and formed the NPP as a massive people’s movement. The NPP is a broad people’s movement where everybody can join hands with an honest intention. It was easy for the people to bring the NPP to power as it had turned into a wide people’s movement. We believe this is a new experience to the entire world. The secret behind our victory was the formation of a broad-based people’s movement which represents leftists, progressive and patriotic forces who love their motherland.
Q: According to you, what are the key areas the new Government should give priority?
A: During our election campaign, we highlighted several key issues to the people. We pledged to change this corrupt political culture which has ruined the country and we have already begun to change it. We also pledged to rebuild the country which had collapsed economically. We have a way forward. We also said a new renaissance should be created in all sectors. Although we secured victory at the Presidential Election, at present we are not in a position to fulfill the people’s objectives as we have only three Ministers. We have to fulfill these promises when we form a stable Government after the General Election. However, we have already taken steps to change the prevailing political culture.
We didn’t have any big tamashas for the swearing-in ceremony of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, spending huge amounts of public funds. We didn’t have any ceremonies when Ministers assumed duties. We have proven through action that we have not appointed any of our relatives to any Ministry or State institution.
What we have seen in the past was when a new Government took office, Ministers appointed their kith and kin to key positions in those ministries. We have not done that and appointed competent persons to those positions. No post-election violence incidents had been reported after the Presidential Election.
We gave clear instructions to our supporters not to light even firecrackers because victory would be of no use if we hurt the sentiments of others. We should win over even those who didn’t vote for the NPP. At the same time, we have commenced providing some sort of relief to the people.
Q: Do you feel the people would give a clear majority to the NPP at the upcoming General Election?
A: Definitely. The people have categorically debunked rumours and misconceptions disseminated by our political rivals. The UNP, SJB and the SLPP said in unison that we don’t have international connections. At present, the people can clearly see the international connections we have and so many countries have pledged to extend their support to us.
Those Opposition groups also attempted to create a misconception saying that we lack experience and not to give power to the NPP. However, the functions carried out by 28 Ministers of the previous Government are now handled by three Ministers without any wasteful expenditure. The Opposition also created the myth that if we come to power, the Stock Market will collapse and the rupee will depreciate. We have proven that the Stock Market has gone up and the rupee has appreciated.
They also said if the NPP comes to power there will be fuel and gas queues. However, we have reduced the fuel prices. The Opposition created another fear psychosis: if the NPP comes to power violence will be unleashed and we will avenge our political opponents. People could now see how a conducive atmosphere has been created after the Presidential Election.
All those rumours fabricated by the Opposition have become blatant lies. Our political rivals have nothing to say at the upcoming General Election. They are running helter skelter as they don’t know which symbol or party they should contest at the upcoming General Election. They have been categorically rejected by the people. We believe we could get an overwhelming majority in Parliament so that it would be easy for us to implement policies and programs to cater to the people’s needs.
Q: A large number of former Ministers and MPs have decided not to contest the upcoming General Election. Is this mainly due to their fear that they would definitely lose at the election?
A: It is crystal clear. They know that their old politics is now over. People have put an end to the corrupt political culture where MPs cross over from one side to the other. They know only too well that they are not in a position whatsoever to contest the election. Hence, they have decided not to contest the election and quit politics. There is another set of people who are scampering here and there. They too will be definitely defeated at the election. At the recently concluded Presidential Election, we had shown the emergence of a new political culture. That is why we didn’t take any of those politicians who crossed over from one side to the other. We have clearly shown that we can secure people’s votes by working on a policy. We believe all those political parties in the Opposition will be wiped out at the upcoming General Election.
Q: Parties such as the UNP and the SJB have been unable to reach even a consensus to contest the election under a common alliance. What is your assessment on the present plight faced by the UNP, SJB and the SLPP?
A: They have not been able to reach a consensus as they all are greedy for power and other perks and privileges. Therefore, they can’t work together. Moreover, the people have rejected them due to what they did to the country. We should not forget the SLPP which secured 6.9 million votes at the last Presidential Election could obtain only 250,000 at the recently concluded Presidential Election.
Earlier, Namal Rajapaksa was looking for a district to contest and later decided not to contest. According to the recent Presidential Election results, the SLPP is not in a position to obtain even a single MP as their percentage of votes had not exceeded five percent in any district.
The UNP has collapsed and there is a crisis within the party. The SJB Leader and its members have also become unsuccessful. What the SJB did at their election campaign was to sling mud at the NPP and today it has boomeranged on them. All the rumours and lies concocted by them have failed and the people rejected them. These political parties cannot join hands as they have their personal agendas and are greedy for power. If they join hands or contest separately, their defeat is imminent as the people have rejected the old political culture.
Q: What was the outcome of the discussions the President and the Government had with the IMF? Could the Government renegotiate certain terms and conditions in the IMF agreement?
A: Certainly. Earlier the IMF had said that if a new Government is formed with a public mandate, they are ready to work accordingly. We have come to power with a new mandate. We said that we wouldn’t withdraw from the IMF agreement.
We told them that certain changes had to be made to the IMF agreement without putting a burden on the people. Therefore, we commenced discussions with them. The present tax policy has to be reviewed and the unbearable tax burden put on people should be reduced. Similarly, relief should be given to the people. We proposed to amend the tax policies to provide relief to the people and ease their tax burden. There is a good response to our request and the discussions are progressing well. We believe we could conduct debt restructuring and provide tax relief to the people while repaying the loans.
Q: Is the NPP in agreement to abolish the Executive Presidency?
A: We are of the view that the Executive Presidency is not suitable for the country. We should reach a position where power is shifted to Parliament, the Cabinet of Ministers and the people. We should formulate a new Constitution to fulfill this task and it will be a complex process. First, we should seek the views of the people and the new Constitution should be passed in Parliament. If we are going to introduce a new Constitution, a referendum should be conducted and it should be approved by the people.
Q: Prior to the Presidential Election, the NPP pledged to create a new political culture. Will the new NPP Government to be formed reduce the number of Ministers and curtail the perks and privileges enjoyed by them?
A: We are held responsible for each and every word we utter on the political stage and in our election manifesto. We are a responsible Government. We will definitely change the prevailing political culture. We have already taken the decision to cancel the pensions and other benefits enjoyed by MPs. We have also made changes to the security given to the MPs and decided not to give vehicle permits to MPs. In future, no liquor licences will be given to the MPs. We will have a maximum number of 25 Ministers and 25 Deputy Ministers. We will stop unwarranted ceremonies and wasteful Government expenditure.
At present, all those in the Government are working hard without any privileges. We could see how former President Ranil Wickremesinghe had spent a huge amount of money to eat cashew nuts and he had also given a large number of Government vehicles to his close associates. We call upon the people to wait and see, we would definitely change the corrupt political culture. We will rebuild the collapsed economy very soon. We have international support. Creative and talented people in the country are ready to work with the Government voluntarily. Similarly, the business community is also ready to help contribute to rebuild the economy. For example, two Economic Advisers of the President voluntarily work without any benefits or vehicles.
Q: Will the NPP Government mete out justice to the Easter Sunday victims?
A: Definitely. We will conduct investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks. We have already received certain information through the investigations conducted so far.
We would also seek the support of Police officers such as former CID Director Shani Abeysekara who had conducted those investigations. I can assure that the Government would reveal all the information relating to Easter Sunday attacks and bring all the culprits to book.
