Govt. has machinery to do things their way
Sunday 16 September 2012
General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva says that there is a tendency for people to complain against the government, criticize it, but at the same time, vote with the side that wins. The voters also vote without studying what is good, but merely drift towards the winning side.
Excerpts:
Sunday 16 September 2012
– Tilvin Silva
By Padmini Matarage
General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva says that there is a tendency for people to complain against the government, criticize it, but at the same time, vote with the side that wins. The voters also vote without studying what is good, but merely drift towards the winning side.Excerpts:
You suffered a humiliating defeat at the recently concluded Provincial Council Election. What are the reasons?
We accept that it is a defeat for us when we lose, whatever the election is, not only at the PC elections. The reason why we are not accepting it as a political defeat is because, looking at the motives of the government and the motives of those who voted, it was clear that the government used force to win the elections – such as force, coercion, bribery and thuggery. Therefore, we cannot rule this as an independent, free and fair election. That is because the ruling party has all the power at its disposal. That is why the people who are opposed to the government stay away from the elections or they maintain silence. We will continue our struggle to find solutions for the problems of the people. Our target is to carry on with the struggle for the people while also attempting to increase our vote base.
The JVP had 41 seats in 2004 and it gifted some to the SLFP in 2004. Was that election fair? Is it only when you lose that elections become unfair ?
We should understand that there is no electoral system within the capitalist class system that would be fair. But we have to remember that the SLFP was in the opposition and so was Ms Kumaratunga. It was the UNP which was in power.
However, the situation in the country is different today. The president and the government are on that side. They have all the machinery to do things their way. That is how the media also operates. They use the state media to conduct propaganda for the government on a round the clock basis and they also project a wrong image of the parties which are opposing the government. So, how can such an election be fair?
You say that you will take to the streets holding countrywide protests on a staggered basis against the government.
The people have given all the support that we need for protest campaigns. These struggles are based on the wants of the people. No one can create artificial struggles. Similarly, no one could integrate these struggles either. These are not artificial instruments which have been created.
Generally, protests are carried out by the opposition as a united opposition, but all your agitations are conducted alone. Why? And you don’t seem to have the full clout of an opposition protest.
The JVP has a clear target of what it wants to achieve but we have participated in common struggles as well for the common cause such as at the time we teamed up with other political parties when university dons had a problem. It was the same when we wanted free education protected as well. We were with the students and the parents in that instance. We will not join an integrated opposition which will help to form a capitalist party.
You made many allegations against the government. But the voters voted for the government. Why didn’t they listen to you if your stance was sincere?
This is definite pattern in the Asian region which we are not satisfied about. There is a need to stir up a debate on this and we need to think about it as well. There is a tendency for people to complain against the government, criticize it but at the same time, vote with the side that wins!
The voters also vote without studying what is good, and merely drift to the winning side. There are the people who are poor and who are suffering and it is that segment that the politicians thrive on. The people who are also poor and the deprived, also attempt to pursue these shortcuts as well.
We accept that it is a defeat for us when we lose, whatever the election is, not only at the PC elections. The reason why we are not accepting it as a political defeat is because, looking at the motives of the government and the motives of those who voted, it was clear that the government used force to win the elections – such as force, coercion, bribery and thuggery. Therefore, we cannot rule this as an independent, free and fair election. That is because the ruling party has all the power at its disposal. That is why the people who are opposed to the government stay away from the elections or they maintain silence. We will continue our struggle to find solutions for the problems of the people. Our target is to carry on with the struggle for the people while also attempting to increase our vote base.
The JVP had 41 seats in 2004 and it gifted some to the SLFP in 2004. Was that election fair? Is it only when you lose that elections become unfair ?
We should understand that there is no electoral system within the capitalist class system that would be fair. But we have to remember that the SLFP was in the opposition and so was Ms Kumaratunga. It was the UNP which was in power.
However, the situation in the country is different today. The president and the government are on that side. They have all the machinery to do things their way. That is how the media also operates. They use the state media to conduct propaganda for the government on a round the clock basis and they also project a wrong image of the parties which are opposing the government. So, how can such an election be fair?
You say that you will take to the streets holding countrywide protests on a staggered basis against the government.
The people have given all the support that we need for protest campaigns. These struggles are based on the wants of the people. No one can create artificial struggles. Similarly, no one could integrate these struggles either. These are not artificial instruments which have been created.
Generally, protests are carried out by the opposition as a united opposition, but all your agitations are conducted alone. Why? And you don’t seem to have the full clout of an opposition protest.
The JVP has a clear target of what it wants to achieve but we have participated in common struggles as well for the common cause such as at the time we teamed up with other political parties when university dons had a problem. It was the same when we wanted free education protected as well. We were with the students and the parents in that instance. We will not join an integrated opposition which will help to form a capitalist party.
You made many allegations against the government. But the voters voted for the government. Why didn’t they listen to you if your stance was sincere?
This is definite pattern in the Asian region which we are not satisfied about. There is a need to stir up a debate on this and we need to think about it as well. There is a tendency for people to complain against the government, criticize it but at the same time, vote with the side that wins!
The voters also vote without studying what is good, and merely drift to the winning side. There are the people who are poor and who are suffering and it is that segment that the politicians thrive on. The people who are also poor and the deprived, also attempt to pursue these shortcuts as well.
