The National People’s Power (NPP) has issued a statement clarifying various allegations levelled against the party and its partner organizations such as the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) pertaining to the anti-government demonstrations planned by the public tomorrow (09).
Issuing a statement, the NPP said during the last several days, attacks on the JVP, a key partner of the NPP have stepped up in unprecedented ways.
The party said these include:
1) a letter from the IGP to the Defence Secretary which among other things insinuates that the JVP (along with other opposition political groups) is planning attacks on local members of the ruling party, the SLPP.
2) A video purporting to be from a member of the JVP, supposedly acting on the instructions of the JVP leadership, providing instructions on how to make petrol bombs
3) Social media message stating that the JVP and the FSP are planning to capture power on the 9th of July and describing the economic strategies that will be implemented when the JVP and the FSP form a joint government.
The NPP said it categorically states that neither the JVP or NPP has anything to gain from political violence and have consistently resisted all provocations towards violence, even when we have been at the receiving end from many quarters.
Full statement:
During the last several days, attacks on the JVP, a key partner of the NPP have stepped up in unprecedented ways. These include 1) a letter from the IGP to the Defence Secretary which among other things insinuates that the JVP (along with other opposition political groups) is planning attacks on local members of the ruling party, the SLPP. 2) A video purporting to be from a member of the JVP, supposedly acting on the instructions of the JVP leadership, providing instructions on how to make petrol bombs 3) Social media message stating that the JVP and the FSP are planning to capture power on the 9th of July and describing the economic strategies that will be implemented when the JVP and the FSP form a joint government. It must be noted that the FSP is a breakaway group from the JVP and is a separate political entity and is not a part of the NPP or the JVP any longer. We also categorically state that neither the JVP or NPP has anything to gain from political violence and have consistently resisted all provocations towards violence, even when we have been at the receiving end from many quarters.
It is no secret that the JVP currently provides the strongest, most coherent and consistent critique of the present regime. Historically and particularly in recent times, the JVP has provided the ideological platform as well as mobilisation of the masses that led to regime change in Sri Lanka. However, this influence that the JVP wields politically has not necessarily been reflected in electoral success for the party. This time around, there is a definite shift – people are beginning to talk about, imagine and welcome a JVP/NPP rule. The leader of the JVP and the NPP, Anura Kumara Dissanayake is being talked about as a potential leader for the country; there are numerous appeals to him from various parties to take over the leadership of the country. It is also no secret, that the JVP/NPP remains the one political movement that is strongly united behind its leader, efficient in terms of grassroots mobilisation and consistent with regard to its strategies and policies at this current moment. Inside and outside parliament they have been leading the charge against this regime.
What is abundantly clear now is that the very real possibility of a JVP/NPP government is shaking the very foundations of the establishment – particularly the establishment which has driven the country to its knees through years of greed, corruption and nepotism. The establishment’s greatest fear is that under the JVP/NPP government, that they will be held accountable for their sins against the people of this country. Thus, their focus at this moment, rather than addressing the huge crisis the country is facing and providing relief for the much beleaguered people of this country, is to use every weapon in their power including violence, propaganda and lies to damage those demanding change, particularly the JVP. Efforts to sow dissent within the ranks of the JVP/NPP (their favoured strategy for weakening opposition political formations) they know will be difficult. Hence, they resort to the most blatant and obvious propagation of lies, hoping to scare people away from the JVP and the NPP.
The Prime Minister’s behaviour in parliament recently bears testimony to this strategy. Rather than answering the questions posed to him by the NPP and particularly its leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, he resorts to sarcasm, blatant elitism and classism in an attempt to undermine the NPP. This is shameful and disgusting, but not at all surprising. Similarly, the propaganda and lies churned out by social media groups as well as contributors to the mainstream media – of which there has been a steady flow in recent times – attempt to link the JVP to violence, unrealistic and impractical economic strategies and non-democratic political practices. All this deliberately ignores the following facts: the JVP has renounced violence for decades and have demonstrated through words and deeds that they do not consider violent revolution to be the path to power in Sri Lanka; the JVP and the NPP has been holding wide ranging consultations with various groups – including the private sector, economists, trade unions, citizens groups and academics with regard to putting together the most viable and appropriate economic strategies to address the current crisis. The NPP and particularly our leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake have described in detail these economic strategies in public. We have engaged in numerous discussions with those immediately affected by the economic crisis – industries, entrepreneurs, farmers, fishing communities, etc. listening to their pressing concerns. Our internal decision-making structures are possibly the most democratic amongst all political parties in Sri Lanka at the moment. Our members have made themselves available for open discussions with anyone who wishes to question our policies and political positions. We have done our best to be as honest and as realistic as possible in our responses and public utterances. We acknowledge that we can always do better and we strive every day to improve and learn from our mistakes.
We think this honesty, integrity in our political practice, commitment to anti-corruption measures, broad vision of political transformation based on a set of principles and values, sense of accountability to the people of this country and rejection of politics of patronage and privilege is the change in the political culture that this country needs and that its people are demanding. We also know that this is what the establishment and those seeking to maintain the status-quo are most afraid of. The principled positions and actions that are the fundamentals of our political strategies and practices challenge the very basis of the corruption and survival of the establishment. Therefore, we are not at all surprised by the concerted attacks that are unveiled against us at this moment. We strongly appeal to the people of this country to be aware of the reasons behind the unprecedented attacks against us. We urge you to talk to us and to reach out to us if you have any doubts about us. We ask that you look at the propaganda against us for what it really is: blatant, organised and coordinated efforts to prevent the possibility of the peaceful political transformation and the establishment of a more just, honest and democratic government. Most importantly, we request that the people of this country focus on the most critical issue facing us at this moment: the need to rid ourselves of those responsible for the destruction of our country and for the suffering that they have wrought on the people of this country. We are confident that our people have the courage, resilience and political acumen to overcome this crisis and to ensure a kinder, more just and equitable future for all. (NewsWire)
