CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS





 .
 .

 .
 .
.
 

How the JVP is Moderating a Lawless Legislature

Dilrook Kannangara

Sri Lankan parliament has always been a lawless den; especially after 1989 when the PR system took a stranglehold on it. As the PR system of election does not tie candidates to constituents, there is no sense of responsibility. Many who lost their electorates have made it to the parliament. Most notably the UNP front benchers all lost their respective electorates at the last general election. On the other hand, a few winners couldn’t make it! This lawless election system has returned a bunch of lawless lawmakers to the parliament. However, though the JVP won no electorate, they have assumed the task of moderating the other parliamentarians.

The rumour about rupees five billion may not be a mere rumour after all. It makes sense to buy government MPs at this crucial time at any cost. A forced general election might produce good results for the UNP as anything better than 48 seats is a victory for them. If they could engineer with the TNA for a government after such an election, any money ‘invested’ in toppling the government can be recovered with interest. Apart from the UNP, it is obvious that the LTTE, NGOs, INGOs, the war industry and the peace industry look for a change in government.

One golden rule of democracy is that legislators cannot delegate their authority to an outsider. Pathetically TNA has violated this rule in no small measure; they dance to the tune of the terrorist leader! It is ridiculous that they complain about abduction when they take instructions from the biggest living abductor in the world!

On top of these there are those seeking redress to their personal grievances; budget time is the time to think about themselves (definitely not about the country). They demand sweeteners in order to support the budget.

However, amidst all these parasites, JVP has stood tall owing to their unity, principled conduct and intelligence. Contrary to many calling them traitors, they have made a wise move not visible to the naked eye! To understand their move, it is essential to consider their conduct as regards the budget. Their group leader highlighted many a time the clumsy repercussions stemming from buying over MPs for money. Their secretary emphasised that they would take a decision at the last moment. However, his later statement that they have already made a decision is nothing but a lie.

Many thought the JVP would vote for the government. This discouraged the marginal supporters from voting against it. They thought, had they voted against it and the budget gets passed, they are ruined. On the other hand, had they knew the JVP would vote against the budget beforehand, they would also have voted against it paving way to another election. These marginal supporters love elections where they can bargain for everything they need. Therefore the JVP engineered compliance from the government MPs not to be bribed.

On the other hand, there is no reason why they should vote for the budget when they know that 118 are going to vote for it. The 38 votes add no value on top of 118 ‘yes’ votes, hence, they eventually voted against it.

Among the biggest losers are Mangala and Sripathi who promised to bring in nine (9) MPs from the ruling party if the JVP votes against the government. Interestingly it was only nine (9) crossovers that were needed to defeat the budget on the 19th. However, the JVP has voted against, where are the promised nine? This is what Ranil demands from him now. This possibly is the beginning of the end of SLFP (M); they would no longer be the apples in Ranil’s eye. Instead he would look up to others to bring him to power. Their wise decision would be to get back to the SLFP without ending in the UNP cesspit.

Another interesting thing is how Parabakaran would handle the defeat. In the absence of the experienced ‘political wing’ leader, he has taken up managing the TNA himself. Apart from two MPs who couldn’t make it to voting others did just what he wanted. But unlike in the battlefield, his pawns are a meekly few without any power to change things. Will he completely lose faith in democracy or will he expand his pawn legion is yet to be seen. He can also use other barbaric means as well. It is no doubt an inauspicious start to the Cowards’ Week. If the government is genuinely interested in winning the war this is the time to cut the insulin supply to Wanni that is only used by a single user who has enough to eat (in far excess which has caused diabetics!) amidst widespread hunger that rules Wanni. Cutting down the medicine supply to rebels was a key strategy the Bolivian government followed to rout the Che Guvara gang. In this context the government has been far from being patriotic; a patriotic government would not allow the root cause of terrorism - Parabakaran - to live another day; it is only an idiotic government that would follow a war strategy to bust empty LTTE bunkers and “flush-out” tigers from the East to the North! It should also be appreciated that there are many anti-Sri Lankans in the government rank and file who voted for the budget thanks only to their lucrative ministerial posts and perks. Although the present war strategy that has many good features - apart from a few ridiculous ones stated above - is the best we ever followed, it falls well short of patriotism. Patriotism is not about hanging in there doing one’s bit; it is about leading the country to victory by annihilating the opponents. Have we seen anything like the recent Kumar Sangakkara innings from the government? NO; if so can pro-Sri Lankans be happy of the government’s performance (although it is the best in decades)? NO. The government is ‘miserably inadequate’ in terms of patriotic expectations.


However, horse trading has just begun. The third reading of the budget is due on 14th December; UNP that would do anything for power has restarted their purchasing campaign. The next time marginal MPs in the government may vote against it knowing that the JVP will also vote against it. However, since the JVP has assumed the task of the moderator, they look at it differently. If the on-the-fence MPs vote against it, JVP will vote for it. Ultimately those defecting MPs (bribed or not) will be identified, humiliated and stripped off their ministries (and potential ministries). The budget will be passed. Therefore the JVP is only saving their votes for a rainy day in support of the government; they are the moderators of otherwise wild, greedy and clumsy legislators; they need that guidance after all.

This has another benefit for the JVP. They strive hard not to be seen with either of the main political parties. If voting against the budget is considered being allegiant to the UNP camp, voting for it means the contrary. It is imperative for the JVP to sustain their vote base by these methods. In fact JVP voters want their representatives to make reasoned decisions without blindly agreeing or disagreeing to everything. The fact that JVP by-passes the UNP with ease reflects a big leadership vacuum in the main Opposition; it’s time the JVP formally assumes the office of the Opposition Leader.





Disclaimer: The comments contained within this website are personal reflection only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the LankaWeb. LankaWeb.com offers the contents of this website without charge, but does not necessarily endorse the views and opinions expressed within. Neither the LankaWeb nor the individual authors of any material on this Web site accept responsibility for any loss or damage, however caused (including through negligence), which you may directly or indirectly suffer arising out of your use of or reliance on information contained on or accessed through this Web site.
All views and opinions presented in this article are solely those of the surfer and do not necessarily represent those of LankaWeb.com. .

BACK TO LATEST NEWS

DISCLAIMER

Copyright © 1997-2004 www.lankaweb.Com Newspapers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Reproduction In Whole Or In Part Without Express Permission is Prohibited.