THE HINDU Tuesday, May 4, 1999

By V.S. Sambandan

Thirty summers ago, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was on the

fringe of Sri Lankan politics prepairing for an armed takeover of the

island's governance. After two insurrections marking a new phase

of the nation's politics, it is now gaining electorally. Essentially a

post-Soviet collapse phenomenon, its new emergence was aided by the

Provincial Councils which gave it an intermediate political space.

In an interview given to the international media, the JVP Secretary

General, Mr. Tilvin Silva, outlines the organisation's political

strategy, explains its approach to India and comments on the Sinhalese-chauvinist image given to the party.

On the ethnic conflict, the JVP wants a

political solution based on equality and asserts that it would welcome

the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to the democratic fold.

Excerpts from interview given to The Hindu:

Answer: We have changed our strategies and tactics in tune with changes

in the socialist world. We have not changed our basic policies or ideas.

We are a socialist movement and desire a socialist revolution based on

Marxist theories.

A: Marxist parties joining Parliament is not against Marxism. Any mass

structure has to be utilised to organise the working classes. The

problem with the old Left was that they used Parliament for political

survival. We are not going to make coalition governments. We want to

stay with the system.

A: We assure you that there will be no possibility for an armed military

struggle. We want a very peaceful transformation of power. In 1971 and

1989, capitalist forces forced us to take arms. People will ask a

logical question, ``If capitalist regimes pressure you, will you take to

arms again?''

The world has changed, so has Sri Lanka. Our experience has changed us.

Today they can't put us in a critical situation. As we get massive

popular support, there is no need to stoop to a low level. The JVP has

no great desire to form governments through armed struggles. Arms cannot

change governments, only people can. We don't want to mess up our

future.

A: The political project will be expanded. We will request our people.

``For 51 years we gave opportunity to capitalist parties, they have not

achieved anything. People should move away from these two parties (the

ruling People's Alliance and the Opposition United National Party) for a

newer, better experiment. Please give us one term as an experiment.''

A: We don't like your reference to us as a third force. We want to

become the alternate force. The JVP is not a third force. We are the one

and only anti-capitalist Leftist force.

A: This is a totally wrong idea. We are a Sri Lankan party, not a

Sinhalese chauvinist party. JVP is a party where anybody can join. True,

a majority are Sinhalese. That does not mean we are a Sinhalese party.

This is a myth by our political enemies to keep Tamils and Muslims away

- if we write in Sinhala ``Ceylonese'' they translate it as

``Sinhalese''.

A lot of Tamils worked with us. Before 1983, we were part of Jaffna's

politics and got votes from there. In 1987-89, we lost more than 50 JVP

Tamil comrades in Jaffna, some were Central Committee members. We must

go forward with the Tamils. We still have Tamil and Muslim comrades with

us, including elected representatives. The socialism we want is not a

Sinhalese socialism, but one in which all can participate and

contribute.

A: We have a very clear stand. It is a war between chauvinists - Sinhala

chauvinist government and Tamil nationalist LTTE. Innocent Sinhalese,

Tamil and Muslims are crushed in this war. It must end. The stopping of

the war alone is not a solution to the ethnic problem.

A: There is an ethnic problem which must be solved politically, based on

the factors which created the problem. Dividing the country may not

help. It should stay united. The Tamils experienced injustice. If a

Government can provide all people equal rights, there won't be the need

for a separate state. Democracy has to prevail without being

slaughtered. The only solution is equal rights. Not privileges, but

rights.

about ``Indian expansionism'' and is seen as anti-India.

A: That was a misinterpretation to make enemies of us and our

neighbours. Our stand is very clear. We can't isolate ourselves. We need

our neighbours, especially India.

At the same time, no country has the right to put its fingers in the

internal affairs of another country. Some governments of India had the

need to interfere in the domestic affairs of small neighbours. We are

against interference. Whether it is by India, China, Russia or even

Cuba, we are totally against it. That does not mean we are against

Indians.

We saw the IPKF as intervention. Other than that dispute, we have no

problems with our neighbours. We like to build better relationship with

them. We do not think India has a stubborn foreign policy. Today we see

a difference from the 70s.

does it continue to attract popular support ?

A: This is a question governments won't understand. People are fed up

with these regimes. They need a new socialist path. In the most

difficult times, we never betrayed people. JVP is not a party which

governments can threaten, scare or buy. That is why despite

state-terrors, people are with us.