Cabinet of Ministers real economic hitmen: Vijitha

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna strongman Vijitha Herath says it is the cabinet of ministers who are real economic hitmen responsible for the country’s ailing economy. The Democratic National Alliance Parliamentarian further alleged that in Sri Lanka nobody has the power to utter a word or take a single decision against the will of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“If P.B. Jayasundera goes against the word of the President, he will be sent home within an hour. Just like this Government did to Shirani Bandaranayake. That is the truth,” Herath points out. Following are excerpts from the interview:

Q: Why is the JVP silent?



A: We are not silent. We have initiated programs to educate people at village level about the autocratic leadership and anti-democratic ruling of this Government. The unhealthy and unwise economic practices of this Government are leading the country to a doomsday. Therefore we need to organise people to stand against the wrong economic policies of this Government. Organising and propaganda activities of the JVP are being carried out throughout the country successfully. So nobody can say the JVP is silent.

Q: How would you define the present situation in the country?

A: When the war ended, this Government had a golden opportunity to boost the country’s production. Fisheries, tourism, and industrial sector were some of the key areas that could have been improved during this post war period. But this Government failed to fulfil its duties. In 2012 we have imported fish amounting to Rs. 16,000 million. Cost on importing milk powder was Rs. 37,000 million. Rs. 47,000 million were spent on importing sugar. We have also imported rice amounting to Rs. 2,000 million last year.

We are not a country that should import rice or fish. This country has the potential of producing the rice to meet the demand; can’t we supply the fish that is required? Why do we need to import these things? Today a kilo of sprats is priced at Rs. 1,000. A single sprat costs Rs. 1.50. Who is responsible for this situation? Why did this happen? This Government didn’t take appropriate measures to increase the production. What the Government did was operate the economy based on loans.

Soon after the war ended we borrowed US$ 2.6 billion from the IMF agreeing to various conditions. This Government has based all of its economic strategies on these loans. The economic struggle everyone talks about today is a result of these unwise moves of the Government. Today the Government has to rule the country according to the rules and regulations of the World Bank and the IMF. When there was no change in the world oil prices, why did only we have to increase fuel prices? Because the IMF had instructed to increase prices to minimise the losses incurred by the Petroleum Corporation.

Q: The JVP was once seen as a strong party that rallied the people and took to the streets against matters that concerned the country. Why don’t we see the JVP involved in such activities anymore? Is it because there are no weighing issues? Or is it because the JVP does not have the strength and ability to do so?

A: There is no truth in that. The JVP has been with the people throughout and raised a voice over each and every pressing issue that affected the people in this country. Whether it was high cost of living, the private pension scheme or the impeachment against the former Chief Justice, it was the JVP that took to the streets amidst tear gas attacks and physical harassment by the Police and Government thugs.

During the last couple of months there was a slight change in the way we handled our political operation. Like I explained before we initiated a program to educate people in the villages about the corrupt and wild ruling of this Government. Therefore, there was less involvement in national level activities. But that does not mean as a party we are weak.

Q: Why did you suddenly decide to go to the village level? What made you change your political plan at this juncture?

A: Actually we need to carry out both national level activities and village level educating programs simultaneously. But due to various reasons we were unable to do that. Educating people at village level against this dictatorial regime is very important. Thanks to the State media they only hear and see ‘the good side of the Government’. But these people need to know the truth. We have to have a constant dialogue with the village level people. We have to show them the real picture.

Q: Do you think it was Wimal Weerawansa’s break away from the JVP that put the party into this weary position?

A: Weerawansa leaving the party has not had any impact on the JVP. On the other hand the JVP is not a party that relies on individuals or personalities. Today Weerawansa has proved he is nothing but a loser. He is this Government’s jester.

However, when certain changes take place politically in a country, it is not strange for political parties to go though situations like this. The political situation that was established in the country after the war was a new one. Not only the JVP but all other political parties had to experience various changes during this time.

Q: What impact did the division of the Frontline Socialist Party have on the JVP?

A: Any party that goes through a division will have to face various difficulties. It is obvious that such a situation is not at all favourable to the main party. But these divisions did not cause any decline in the JVP. It has been over a year since this division took place. We were able to get over it. Unlike the UNP that eternally suffers from internal conflicts, the JVP has moved on. We are once again strong as a party.

Q: When the country is in a decisive situation like this, what should be the role played by the Opposition? Do you believe Opposition parties have fulfilled their responsibilities?

A: As an active Opposition party, the JVP has fulfilled its duties to the maximum of our ability. But we also agree people expect more from us. We need to do more. But this is not something that can be done overnight. We need to be more organised to achieve that goal.

Meanwhile, if we take the main Opposition UNP, due to wrong decisions taken by the leadership the party has failed to perform what is expected from them. We clearly saw that during the impeachment budget, the UNP failed to do anything. They say they will rally the people and get into the streets. But they are only words. To date they have been unable to take any action.

Q: What do you think about the common Opposition that was formed recently?

A: It is a joke. It is just an alliance consisting few individuals and organisations. Some are not even political parties. We can’t expect anything from this so-called common Opposition.

Q: You said the JVP was one of the main forces against the impeachment of the former Chief Justice. What has happened to the matter today? Why did you give up on your struggle soon after the removal of Shirani Bandaranayake?

A: Although we fought to our maximum ability, the Government used all its power and influence and acted according to its own will. They not only removed the former Chief Justice but also appointed a person who was not suitable to hold that position. Now the Government is trying to change the court ruling. Early this week a nine judge bench was appointed to change the previous Supreme Court ruling. None of the parties stood up against this. But the JVP did. We will continue our struggle. Nobody can say we have given up on this. We also conducted series of seminars in rural areas like Anuradhapura, Matara, Galle and Kandy.

Meanwhile, although it seems that the Government has won and achieved what they wanted, we shouldn’t forget the damage this has caused them both locally and internationally. The frequent clashes inside the party are a classic example to prove that the Government is now divided.

Q: How prepared are you to face the forthcoming elections? Will you be contesting as an individual party or be part of a coalition?

A: We have taken a clear decision to contest as a party. Given the political situation, we strongly believe we should not join any alliance in future. The country does not need a replacement of the present system. What the country needs is an alternative. The need of the hour is a system change. This is why we have decided to contest alone. We will not go for anymore coalitions.

Q: The JVP points the finger at the Government and the UNP accusing them of dictatorial leaderships. But all the fractions that left the JVP say there is autocracy ruling in the party. Is that true?

A: We have never said that there is an autocratic ruling in the UNP. We can’t say anything about that because it is the party members who should make such accusations. If we take the JVP, the leadership never takes decisions alone. That is the culture of our party. In many instances the Central Working Committee does not agree with the decisions taken by the Government. These are mere allegations made by bankrupt individuals who left our party to hide their own faults. We should not waste time to discuss such unimportant matters.

Q: The JVP was known as a party that fought for the rights of the working class. A large number of factories have been shut down, leaving people unemployed; migrant workers are being physically harassed and even murdered. Why don’t you highlight these issues anymore?

A: The country has lost US$ 1.5 billion due to the loss of GSP Plus; 186 factories were closed down, resulting in 220,000 losing their jobs. We are fighting against these issues. The Inter Company Employees’ Union affiliated to the JVP is the strongest trade union with the largest membership in the private sector. Even as we speak we are continuing our struggle demanding a 40% salary hike for private sector workers. We are also raising a voice for the rights of the estate workers. They are the only workers who do not have a monthly salary. There are over 1.8 million migrant workers and for their welfare we have initiated a program called ‘Ethera Api’. How can you say we have neglected the working class?

Q: The ruling party claims that non-government organisations and foreign forces provide financial assistance to the Opposition to topple the Government. Do you also take money from NGOs and foreign forces?

A: We refute such meaningless accusations by this Government. We have never been offered any money to topple this Government. Most importantly, the JVP will never accept such financial assistance.

Q: Then how do you find the funds to maintain a large party like yours?

A: The JVP has its own culture. Our members and supporters help us in various ways. It does not need to be money. There are farmers who dedicate a portion of their harvest to the party. The clothes that I am wearing, this watch, and the shoes are all provided by members and supporters. We share what we have and that is a culture unique to our party. There are workers in the Middle Eastern countries who sell their blood to donate funds to the JVP. In countries like Kuwait, when they donate bloods three times a year, they receive a good sum of cash. Some members do that so they could send us the money.

Q: What do you have to say about the Government’s decision of not obtaining the last instalment of the IMF loan?

A: The Government was eagerly waiting to take this loan. That is exactly why they had discussions with the IMF. Although the Government requested the money to cover the budget deficit, the IMF did not agree. Their decision was that the money should be used to cover the trade deficit because that was beneficial to the IMF. This is how the Government did not receive the money. This story about deciding not to obtain the money was just another gimmick by the Government to hoodwink the people.

Q: Minister Wimal Weerawansa recently called the Treasury Secretary an economic hitman. Do you also believe that P.B. Jayasundera is responsible for the country’s ailing economy?

A: The total responsibility of the present economic situation should be taken by the Cabinet of Ministers. They cannot blame Ajith Nivard Cabraal or P.B. Jayasundera and wash their hands off the matter. If there is anything left for us to call an economy, it is because of these officials. They are trying to do their best to save the economy from the misconduct, corruption and waste by this Government and its members.

It is the Government and its members who are the real economic hitmen. They are only trying to divert attention from the actual issues. This Government has no excuse to give to the people. So they are trying to put the blame on a single officer. This is just drama. Weerawansa has been known to take part in this kind of drama before, his famous hunger strike opposite the UN being an example. This is why the Government has chosen him to play the main role in this drama too. All we have to say to the people is not to get carried away by these silly acts. They are only trying to fool the people.

If these officials are so corrupt, why can’t the relevant minister take action against them? The minister has the necessary power to make a replacement. They say Jayasundera is more powerful than the President. Let me tell you one thing; in this country there isn’t a single individual who is more powerful than Mahinda Rajapaksa. In this Government, no minister or officer has the power to utter a word or take a single decision against the will of President Rajapaksa. It is a proven fact. If P.B. Jayasundera goes against the word of the President, he will be sent home within an hour. Just like this Government did to Shirani Bandaranayake. That is the truth.

Q: Finally, what exactly is the ideology of the JVP? Which camp do you fall into internationally?

A: We can’t say that we follow a certain country or an individual. We have our own identity; a Sri Lankan identity. For example, the Chinese shoe is too small for us. The Russian shoe is too big for us. This is why we need our own identity; an economic and political policy that suits our country, our people. The open economy has failed.

In his message welcoming 2013, the Pope said the gap between the rich and the poor in the world has increased drastically. And that is the main reason behind many issues and conflicts that are taking place in the world. He has highlighted the importance of introducing a new economic model. Most European countries are collapsing, proving the existing economic and political systems need to be changed. We strongly believe it is socialism that fits or matches today’s world. But we are not saying this is the socialism that was practiced in Russia or China. We need socialism that matches the present world economy and the political structure.