The People's Liberation
Front (JVP)
Provincial councils were created in 1987 under an Accord between the Indian and Sri Lankan governments, supposedly to devolve power to the Tamil minority. Ironically the only part of the island where they are now not functioning is in the war torn Tamil majority north and east.
The formation of the councils was strongly opposed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna JVP -Peoples Liberation Front), a Sinhala radical petty bourgeois movement. It joined in a campaign of chauvinist violence orchestrated by the paramilitary Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya (DJV — Peoples Patriotic Movement. The aim was to stop the Councils, and force the withdrawl of Indian troops. Sinhala chauvinism, state terror
The UNP government now faced destabilisation from two sides: the Tamil Tigers in the north, and the DJV in the south. But the deployment of Indian troops in the Tamil areas allowed the government to bring Sri Lankan troops back to the south, to crush the Sinhala protests. Appart from the NSSP, all the opposition parties supported the UNP proposals to restore democracy."
In fact, the UNP government unleashed state terror, killing or "disappearing" 60,000 Sinhala youth and eliminating many senior JVP leaders.
In 1988-89 the DJV carried out fascist-style assassinations of leaders of the UNP, and a number of Left Iparties including the LSSP, CP and NSSP (then grouped in the United Socialist Alliance).
The inspiration for these acts came from the DJV's "Pol Pot" methods, and the ideology of racist intellectuals of the Jathika Chinthanaya (National Consciousness) current.
The attacks on the NSSP and other left parties reflected the accusations that these were "a proIndian fifth column," and their opposition to anti-Tamil discrimination was "an affront to the [Sinhala]
The JVP has now split into two opposing tendencies. Chauvinist forces have left the JVP and joined hands with the militarist forces within government to form the Anti-Terrorist Movement. This bloc mobilises for war against the Tamils, and all forms of devolution.
According to NSSP leader Karuna-
"their aim is to come to power through militaristic methods. They hope to establish a SinhalaBuddhist dictatorship... If anything close to fascism can arise in this country, it is from this tendency and none other." The movement has since attacked a peace demonstration in Colombo, with police looking on. The JVP moves left
"The JVP, however, has moved away from racism. Together with the NSSP, they have fought against the chauvinists on university campuses.....The JVP has opted for a left bloc, and dropped the idea of unity between the left and the chauvinist
In previous elections the JVP used violence to stop people voting. This time, they were the victims of violence by the two main parties. There were only four allegations of
The JVP evolved from the youth wing of the Maoist Ceylon Communist Party [not to be confused with the pro-Moscow Communist Party — Ed.J.
Despite claims to be Marxist-Leninist, they could not develop strong roots among the urban poor and working class, and remain a party based on the Sinhala-speaking
"In that sense," argues Karunarathna, they have similarities with the Russian Narodniks in the early part of this century, or peasant-based communist parties in other countries." [CKB/JD]*
Indonesia
Student solidarity
A range of organisations are sponsoring an International day of solidarity for Indonesian and East Timorese students scheduled for Saturday, May 22, one day after the Indonesian student movement forced the resignation of Suharto.
Given the vanguard role being played by the student movement in Indonesia and East Timor at the moment, it is extremely urgent to provide the maximum support for these two movements.
In Australia, there will be marches, rallies, public meeting and other events in most major cities. Activities will also be held in a number of European and N. American cities. Suggested themes include:
• Solidarity with Indonesian and
East Timorese students!
• Free East Timor! Freedom in
Indonesia!
• Release all imprisoned and disappeared students!
• Free Xanana, Budiman and
Dita Sari!
• End all military ties with the
Habibie-Wiranto regime! Initiated by Resistance Socialist Youth Organisation, Australia. Supporters include: Anteiro da Silva, Student Solidarity Council, Dili, East Timor; Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN), Australia; Students in Solidarity for Democracy in Indonesia (SMID), Indonesia; Students and Peoples Committee for Democracy (KOMRAD), Jakarta, Indonesia; Student Solidarity for Indonesia (SSI), the Netherlands; Malang Student Committee (KMM), Indonesia, and; People's Struggle Committee for Change (KPRP), Indonesia. For more information contact ASIET, PO Box 458, Broadway NSW 2007, Australia. Tel: 61-(0)2-96901230. Fax: 61-(0)2-96901381. Email: asiet@peg.apc.org Webpage: http://www.peg.apc.org/~asiet
International Viewpoint #309 March 1999 23
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