ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ By Shamindra -The Island

The rebel JVP faction yesterday accused the government of taking its elusive leader Premakumara Gunaratnam into custody along with another senior cadre, Dimuthu Attygalle, in the run up to the launch of a new political outfit on April 9.

Udul Premaratne of the dissident group told The Sunday Island that both Gunaratnam and Attygalle were missing and were believed to be arrested by security authorities.

A senior defence official denied the allegation that the two JBVP rebels were in custody. In fact, there hadnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t been any indication of Gunaratnam returning to the country, though his wife was some time ago detained at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and released after recording her statement, the official said.

The wife was quoted as having told the police that she wasnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t aware of the whereabouts of Gunaratnam.

Former JVP firebrand, Wimal Weerawansa told The Sunday Island that the rebels were planning to cause political chaos in the country. The National Freedom Front (NFF) leader emphasized that the new faction would do whatever possible to undermine the incumbent government as part of its overall strategy to facilitate external intervention in domestic politics.

The Island: What is happening in the JVP? Speculation is rife that the party is facing an unprecedented crisis due to a section of the party seeking to register a new party, thereby causing irrevocable damage.

Weerawansa: The JVP is on the verge of collapse. In the near future, it will be irrelevant in the domestic political scene, with the so-called rebels with the support of external elements taking control of the grass-root level organization.

We switched our allegiance to the UPFA in early April 2008, after failing to convince the party that they should unconditionally support the offensive against the LTTE, regardless of whatever differences over other contentious issues. Those who are now poised to register a political party of their own are working overtime with Western powers to destabilize the country. They pose a considerable threat to political stability.

Although they cooperate with those pursuing the LTTEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s strategy to divide the country on ethnic lines, their aim is not separation, but political chaos and instability to pave the way for external intervention for a post-war regime change.

In spite of the rebels indicating their leader Premakumara Gunaratnam coming on stage at the forthcoming launch of the party, heƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ll not make an appearance. Instead, Senadeera Gunathilake, alias Opatha Mahattaya, is now expected to be elected as the General Secretary of the party, which will compete with the TNA for Tamil votes in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Premakumara Gunaratnam, whose brother, Ranjitham Gunaratnam died at the hands of security forces during the 1989 insurgency, is likely to remain underground. The new party is likely to have control of the student movement, thereby further weakening the JVP. Actually, the JVP is now divided into three groups, with two taking positions opposed to each other, whereas the original party remains engulfed in a political mess.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

G. H. Ajith Kumara, Member of Parliament The movement for people’s struggle and the Frontline Socialist party

This is to inform you of the disappearance of two leaders of the movement for people’s struggle and the Frontline Socialist party. This disappearance has occurred just before the launch of the new party formed by the movement for people’s struggle – named the frontline socialist party, which is to be inaugurated on next Monday; 09th April 2012. clearly, these disappearances are aimed at undermining the establishment of the new party, with a view to abduct its leadership and terrorizing its members, supporters and sympathizers.

Com. Kumar had guided the process of forming the new party. He had been under close surveillance by the state for years. He had been abducted and disappeared after leaving the home of a friend where he had spent the night at Kiribathgoda on 6th April 2012.

Com. Dimuthu Atygalle is the secretary of the international division of the movement for people’s struggle and a responsible member of the frontline socialist party. She was abducted and disappeared at Godagama on 6th April 2012 when she was on her way home.

We hold the state and the government responsible for these abductions and disappearances and demand that they be released immediately, or be prosecuted legally. The people’s struggle movement had been under sustained intimidation by the regime, highlighted by the abduction of comrades Lalith Weeraraj and Kugan Murugandan over which we have filed a habeas corpus plea in the appeal court. As with these two comrades, and given the history of violations of human rights of the regime, including extra-judicial killing, we fear for the lives of these comrades who are being detained illegally.

In the context of the decisive struggle to defend democracy and freedom, we urge all social forces and institutions concerned about human rights to appeal for accountability by the government for the disappearance of Com. Kumar Gunaratnam and Dimuthu Atygalle.
Please inform us of your valued response.

G. H. Ajith Kumara, Member of Parliament
The movement for people’s struggle and the Frontline Socialist party