… says no truck with main Opposition SJB

By Saman Indrajith

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had, in his address to the nation, spoken of the 1988-89 period and 30-year war but purposefully evaded speaking about the Easter Sunday carnage, the JVP said yesterday.

Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said Prime Minister Rajapaksa had made use of 1988-89 and war against the LTTE to divert the attention of people from the burning issues. “Yet, he did not touch the issue of the Easter Sunday terror attacks because there are direct charges against them. He had been overly careful not to speak about it even though now we are coming close to three years after the attacks,” MP Herath said.

“Prime Minister Rajapaksa’s speech to the nation contained only three main issues – the 30-year long war, the pandemic and the 1988-89 period. People expected that he would at least speak of possible solutions because already six persons died in petrol queues.

“We as a nation are suffering due to unprecedented shortages and price hikes. Instead of speaking of possible solutions, he tried to save President brother while issuing veiled threats. He evoked the memories of boogeymen, raised various allegations to undermine the actual problem. We do not think the people and especially the youth today would fall for these tricks,” MP Herath said.

The JVP Propaganda Secretary that the country had been robbed by the members of a single family and now the prime minister invited other parties to join them to find solutions. “We will not join any of those thieves. Could a country be saved by joining hands with thieves? Anyone who joined them could do only one thing – that is to rob public funds. We in the JVP are not ready for that. Our stance is that we have no future with this bunch of thieves and we must fight to send them home. We are convinced that this country cannot achieve progress with them as leaders. We will never be able to make our economy stable again with the same bunch of swindlers. The first imperative of rebuilding this nation is to see the Rajapaksas out of politics,” MP Herath said.

Responding to queries, MP Herath said that his party would not close ranks with the SJB’s plans to build the economy. “The SJB plan allows the President to stay on top. This country cannot be rebuilt or the economic problems cannot be solved as long as Gotabaya Rajapaksa remains as the President. We are planning to bring about our own administration with the support of people.”

Asked to comment on demonstrations under the slogan “We are with Gota,” Herath said that it was an attempt by the government to make people fight each other. “The plan was a flop. Everybody has realised that it is nothing but a government trick to set their paid thugs and cronies against people. That will not work. That attempt was an insult to the intelligence of people.”

Responding to a question on the immediate future of the protests against the government, the MP said that the youth have vowed that they would not give up during the New Year holidays too. “We support their fight. It is because of this struggle we could send Basil Rajapaksa and Ajith Nivard Cabaraal home. Whatever reforms and changes are being introduced by this government today are because of the protests the youth launched. So, we have achieved victories. There are further victories waiting for us people and the only way to achieve them is through nothing but struggle.”