"Vaiko"

Dear Editor:
Do we really need to care about what some Indian village idiots like Vaiko says. He may have a political or some other form of association with Indian politicos, but Vaiko, like other Indian politicians, is merely trying to "speak" to millions of poor, uneducated, and socially deprived Hindus, who are struggling to meet their daily requirements. We all know that the social and economic problems in Indian society are much more potentially de-stabilizing and devastating to Indian society than what Tamil terrorism is to Sri Lanka. The only way that Indian politicians can avoid mass uprising against them is to divert the attention of a half a billion villagers away from their problems by appealing to their "Tamil brotherhood." At the end, it is going to backfire because there are no such things as enduring "trans-national brotherhoods" for any group, particularly for Indians, whose everyday social and economic problems are much more serious. Indira Gandhi followed this strategy frequently during her reign, and where is she now?

Soma Hewa

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PA_JVP COMBINE Inc
We see a most interesting political development in SL with the MOU between the government and the JVP. The latter had remained steady, principled and disciplined after its post-terrorist days and this is its first major political gain: They appear to be able to tame the bungling PA. The key difference between this new combination and the previous SLFP-leftist coalitions is that the JVP is not taking office but is still calling the shots! Very sensible conditions ( most of them) and if they are implemented the JVP will get the credit for having installed essential structures for good governance and the rule of law in a chaotic administration.In case it all fails, well, there too the JVP will gain. It's a win-win situation for this party of smart guys. For people who were looking for a healthy third force in Lankan politics they have now something real to look at. JVP politics is sound, sectarian and non-communal. They have only to revise their economic prescriptions which, as it currently stands, spell disaster for Sri Lanka.
Shyamon Melbourne (Letters to the Editor -08/08/01)
(Most of JVP party officials are University graduates with rural backgrounds -Lankaweb)