‘Time not opportune for general election’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) spokesperson Pubudu Jagoda says the Parliament should be vested with required powers, at expense of the executive, until early parliamentary elections can be conducted.

Jagoda, one of the key FSP activists spearheading the ‘Go Gota Home’ campaign emphasised that the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa was a prerequisite for the formulation of an all-party parliamentary mechanism. The FSP activist insisted that their resignations shouldn’t be subject to a prolonged discussion.

Commenting on ongoing talks for an interim all-party arrangement, Jagoda said that such a set-up was not realistic. Pointing out differences of opinion among the sharply divided government parliamentary group as well as the Opposition, the FSP official said that the political crisis couldn’t be addressed without taking into consideration the grievances of those who had taken to the streets.

If those represented in Parliament are genuinely interested in finding a solution to the economic-political-social crisis, they should without delay introduce an amendment to dilute executive powers, Jagoda said. Having done that the Parliament could empower itself to undertake the daunting challenge of economic recovery, the erstwhile JVPer said.

The FSP came into being in early April 2012 following the second major split in the JVP since the elimination of its founder leader Rohana Wijeweera in Nov 1989 after being captured by the government, while he was masquerading as a proprietary planter. The first split occurred in May 2008 when a group of lawmakers led by Wimal Weerawansa switched allegiance to the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Asked whether the FSP backed the main Opposition the Samagi Jana Balavegaya’s call for immediate general election, the FSP’s Education Secretary questioned the rationale behind that stand against the backdrop of the current grave economic crisis. “Obviously, the SJB cannot be unaware of the ground situation. The country is not in position to undertake such a costly exercise. Furthermore, the current situation does not permit an election campaign,” Jagoda said.

Jagoda stressed that their assertion that time was not opportune for a general election shouldn’t be misconstrued.

Four days before the eruption of public protest at President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence at the Pengiriwatte Road, Mirihana, on March 31, the FSP launched the ‘Movement for People’s Struggle’ to take on the government. The project was announced on March 27 at the Ananda Samarakoon Outdoor Theater in Nugegoda.

Declaring the countrywide protest campaign conducted by a grouping of trade unions and other organizations as a success, Jagoda said that cohesive action plan was required to sustain pressure on the government.

Asked to explain, Jagoda acknowledged the need for proper leadership for the ongoing public protests and ways and means to transform that movement into a viable political project.

The former JVPer said that those who represented the Parliament clearly lacked a clear understanding of the public mood. Had they really understood the political developments, the current dispensation wouldn’t have appointed a new cabinet while retaining Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister, he said.

Subsequent to the incidents at Mirihana, the organizers of the ongoing protest campaign called for a countrywide protest on April 03.They launched a high profile campaign at the Galle Face Green on April 09 before conducting countrywide protests on April 28.

Organizing Secretary of the FSP Duminda Nagamuwa addressed the gathering at Galle Face on April 28 where he vowed to continue with the ongoing campaign.

Asked to explain FSP leader Kumar Gunaratnam’s role in the public protest campaign, Jagoda said that though he didn’t visit the Galle Face protest ground the leader addressed the media. The FSP is the only political party active therein.

Jagoda said that the FSP was ready to engage in a dialogue with the protesting people as part of the overall efforts to highlight the need for public friendly government policies.

The FSP run Inter-University Student Federation (IUSF) spearheads the Galle Face protest. IUSF cadre launched large scale protests at Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Wijerama residence demanding his immediate resignation.