By Upul Kumarapperuma

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) or the People’s Liberation Front commenced its Marxist campaign in late 60s with a challenge to all other conventional leftist political parties such as the Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CP) and Sri Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP). The JVP was capable enough to attract a considerable percentage of the Sri Lankan Youth with its’ hard hitting anti-imperialism and anti-Capitalist slogans which were directly aimed at the then rulers.

The founding leader of the JVP Rohana Wijeweera became a hero or a replica of revolutionary icon Ernesto Che Guevara among the considerable percentage of youth in the country and his cadres were called as “Che Guevara Karayo” by society at the time.

Wijeweera was a strong believer of the revolution and in 1971 he launched an offensive against the newly elected government at the time headed by the Late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. With the inexperience coupled with lack of military strategy, Wijeweera’s revolution ended within 30 days. However the price the country had to pay for the military struggle was thousands of young lives.

After being defeated in the battle against the then government, Wijeweera and several key leaders of his political movement faced a criminal prosecution and after finding them guilty, they were sentenced.
With the election of the UNP government, Wijeweera and others were freed and Wijeweera commenced a massive political campaign, island wide, attracting the youth, especially university students, unemployed youths and under privileged communities of the country, where they directly targeted the capitalist political parties of the country and the conventional left. Unfortunately during that period the JVP missed the opportunity to enter into mainstream politics of this country with the referendum held to extend the term of the Parliament which was with 5/6 majority in favour of the then President J.R. Jayewardene.

Consequent to the referendum, in 1983, a massive attack was launched against the Tamils in the country in order to avenge the killing of 13 soldiers in Jaffna. Jayewardene took the opportunity of the Sinhala-Tamil ethnic riots to diminish the political ambition of the JVP proscribing the political party for a reason which the JVP was not involved in. As a cause, the JVP was swept away from the political platform of the country.

However, they had secretly maintained their organizational structure and the cadre.
The second strike of the JVP took place with the signing of the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord in 1987 and the consequent occupation of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) on Sri Lankan soil. The JVP took up an extreme nationalist stance and launched an island wide protest campaign including mob attacks, causing damages to State properties and threatening the then UNP government to withdraw from the Peace Accord as well as to chase out the IPKF from the country.

With the rising anti-Indian sentiments throughout the country initiated by the JVP, the government launched a massive military campaign to crack down on the insurrection. This ended with a massive loss of young lives including the leader Rohana Wijeweera. This time the damage caused to the JVP was so extensive they had lost almost all their senior leaders and their other assets. It took four years from 1989 to resurrect the party.

The JVP’s resurrection took place with lessons learnt from two failed insurrections. The JVP contested at the general election in 1994 under a different name and symbol and secured a seat in Parliament from the Hambantota District, which was the first achievement by the JVP at national level under a democratic framework. Thereafter the JVP gradually acquired a considerable vote base of the country and became a permanent member in the House.

During the tenure from 1994 to 2015, the JVP mainly focused its’ vision and mission for a disciplined system free from bribery and corruption and favoritism. The landmark contribution provided by the JVP for the governing system of the country is the introduction of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution that formed foundation for an apolitical, transparent and rational governance system, which was instrumental in benefitting all sectors and actors of the State as well as individuals until it was repealed by the now UPFA Kurunegala District candidate, Mahinda Rajapaksa during his tenure as President in 2010.

The election results of the previous elections clearly demonstrate that their campaign for good governance and for an equal society have attracted members from almost all the layers of citizens in the country.

In the year 2000, the JVP secured 10 seats in parliament as a single political party and in 2001 it was increased up to 16 seats. The significant improvement of their political career took place in the year 2004 where the JVP secured 39 seats in parliament contesting under the UPFA banner.

The 2010 election was not favorable for them, and they only managed to secure four seats under the banner of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA). A series of intervening factors resulted in the setback of the JVP in 2010 including the war victory touted by Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Considering the evolution of the party during the last four decades, the JVP has transformed into a more moderate political party from its revolutionary political culture.

Especially within the period of the last 15 years, the credibility acquired by the JVP is unmatched and a higher degree of confidence and trust has been placed on them for their dignity and integrity by the vast majority of the country irrespective of political faith. With their interventions in political, social and labour issues of the country and their campaign for good governance, they have been branded as the watchdog of the society and high expectations of the general public also pulled them and confined them to the four corners of the aforesaid definition.

With the political culture that the country is experiencing for few decades, it has become incumbent to the public of this country to take a serious decision on a better governance system. It is high time for the JVP to change gear from Whistleblower or Watchdog to Statesman.

The result of the forthcoming general election would change the country either way. The imminent danger felt by all reasonable persons in this country is possible bidding for budding MPs. The pioneers of “Mutant Parliamentary Democracy” are back on track. They are possessed with the most essential ingredient for the “Mutant Parliamentary Democracy”, the black money.

Considering the role played by the JVP as a Watchdog of the country for last 15 years, it is necessary and reasonable to elevate them from the present position to a higher position for a better service. It is necessary to create a better space for them in the House to utilize them more effectively in law making and policymaking process, and specially to maintain the dignity and integrity of the House.

Courtesy:The Sunday Leader