EX-JVP LEADER SOMAWANSA DECLARED IN 2015 – DELAY MEANS DEATH TO JVP, INCLUDING ME Translated & reproduced in English – By Dr Tilak S Fernando
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna is now known as ‘National People’s Power (Jathika Jana Balawegaya). The writer came across an interview with the former JVP leader, Somawansa Amarasinghe, the International Secretary of the party, who died at the age of 73, was interviewed by Ramesh Waralegama, in a Sinhala paper in June 2015, which has been translated into English for the Daily News.
After being a member of the JVP for 46 years, Somawansa Amarasinghe left the party as the Leader of the JVP in 2015. A journalist interviewed him in a Sunday newspaper during the same week he decided to quit as e the party leader. “There is nothing about crying or laughing in politics. My decision does not make anyone exclaim or chuckle, and my party brothers were trained to accept any situation. Somawansa Amarasinghe said so after leaving as the JVP leader on a Thursday, but his interview appeared in a Sinhala Sunday newspaper in 2015.
He further stressed that he did not want to discuss the party judgments in public as every political party has different ideologies. As a JVP party member, he was determined not to say anything about party decisions because he had made a solemn promise to protect the party rules and regulations. When asked why he resigned from the JVP, he said, “when there is a political change in the country, it becomes dynamic to perceive the characteristics of the actors.in politics which came to a peak!”
Those leading players in powerful positions in the government played prominent roles, and even their advisers ruined the country. Now people have to evaluate how the country has been destroyed. On the other hand, people need to understand our society. We are entrenched to such an extent, and it’s the responsibility of citizens to find out where the problems lie (in 2015)!
Once, this country was associated with Marxism. Brother Rohana Wijeweera did not accept Marxism. He (Rohana Wijeweera) accomplished calmness (Hikmeema) by associating with the Buddhist priests at the local temple. That is a fact, and there is no need to hide it. It could be Hinduism or Catholicism, and we need to acknowledge that through such religious preaching, people in this country have brought to some stage of calmness in mind. In such a scenario, the JVP tends to forget these accomplishments gradually.
Somawansa continued that if we were to go to the very root of the JVP, we were advised by the temple, the Church and the Kovil. ‘We had a belly full of rice from the temple or the church.’ JVP members were able to intermingle with people then. That is the truth, and there is no need to hide this fact. It was how the JVP became popular and widespread. At present, it appears that the JVP finds it challenging to recognise this fact.
The journalist paused a question: “Has JVP become a purified party (Sangika’ සාංඝික) now that it has become modernised? Somawansa Amarasinghe replied by giving an example: “Once I went to meet Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith when he was the Parish Priest Payagala. We had a decent meal and discussed politics in Sri Lanka and as a mitigative country where there was equality among all religions. We discussed how mitigation suits us perfectly, which means that there is no class distinction, and harmony exists among religions. Not only to Sri Lanka, but mitigation suits every country. I am talking about without any class distinction but let there be any language or religion; we can live in complete harmony. We can agree or disagree. That is the beauty of it. We need to concentrate on such a society seriously. Any person can speak any language; in other words, in a perfect balance in society.”
In the beginning, members of the JVP frequently visited the Temple, Kovil and the Church, but now do we ever see JVP members in those sanctified places? Nowadays, members do not visit holy places very seldom. I feel it is appalling. When Buddhist priests chant the five precepts of Buddhism, we don’t repeat them after the monk; it does not matter much. We are the only ones who observe the five precepts of Buddhism. I do not see any harm in not repeating the five precepts. However, I can see we are going backwards. How do other people intermingle with others? They have different races of friends. There were Buddhists, Sinhala Catholics, Malay, Islam and Tamils in every household. That is what is called mitigation that needs to be developed. Otherwise, we tend to take rash decisions.
We were trained on the principles of the JVP. It is called culture. This is the right time to practise the culture that most societies follow. We need to exhibit that it is our policy and not against it. But we cannot see it that way. “Sometimes I inquire from people what they think of the JVP. The answers I get are full of admiration, and they say it is an honest party, but when I ask them to whom they voted during the last election, they say, “not for the JVP.”
Why is this so? People in Sri Lanka fear that visiting the Temple, Kovil, or the Church will be impossible if JVP comes to power. They think everyone has to work 24 hrs a day. It is how the opponents of the JVP have brainwashed the public. Our ancestors built the economy through mitigation, and no single person starved.
When the situation is so, they are talking about reformation, but it does not go on par with our culture and needs more time. If we can build our requirements, then all our problems will disappear. It is not a game, but it is deep-rooted. If we do not realise it now, we will lose everything. The opposition parties want to know whether we can progress peacefully. They have many questions. It is in our minds. Therefore, we need to get rid of others’ ideas. Without getting rid of such statements, JVP will never come to power. It is a long-term process. In 1994 voters were sensible, and JVP received 39 seats in the Parliament. But in 2010, JVP was reduced to three, which is severe. It is an indication of what voters think about the JVP.
Ramesh continued posing questions: “You speak about JVP reducing to three in 2010. However, you were the Leader of the JVP.“
“It is so, he replied, but do not forget that my being at the rudder, we managed to get the highest number of seats in Parliament. That is why I look at things in terms of self-criticism and criticism. The JVP should be blamed for the collapse, but the party’s Leader has a special responsibility.
Q . Who is the new Leader of the new party? The journalist questioned the ex-JVP Leader. You mentioned you were the Leader at the time. Somawansa replied: the Leader is bound by what he utters in public. Brother Rohana Wijeweera has taught us how to preach. He wanted us to intermingle with the society and learn how to recruit new members to the JVP. There should be annual party conferences where the party strategies are discussed and agreed upon. He (brother Rohan Wijeweera) never advised anyone not to visit the temple, Church or the Kovil. When we ignore this, we automatically delay our victory. Can you think for a while? In 1994 voters developed faith in the JVP and gave us thirty-nine seats in the Parliament, but the worst thing happened in 2010; we were reduced to three. It is a serious matter; we should realise the present trend and people’s thoughts about the JVP. The Leader of the party should often question. Brother Rohana Wijeweera taught us to speak without dependence on perks. We
cannot expect any happiness or reputation. When Buddhist philosophy spreads, it will become Marxism. It works for the justice of people. Can you see that the deep meaning behind it, according to Buddhism, is akin to the “tenfold virtue of the ruler?” It does not only apply to the kings, but it has to be shared among the people.
Q . There exists a ‘Yahapalana‘ government at present. Do you agree that it will meet with the ‘tenfold virtue of the rulers?
A . Good governance (or Yahapalanaya) is a set of words adopted from the West. We do not have to blame the West because there are virtuous points which account for ideas, good and bad. We need to mix the two because, in this world, many countries put this into practice, the “tenfold virtue of the ruler, ” no one would be interdependent. ‘We must pick the best out of the lot to suit us. If the JVP wants to be accepted, we need to intermingle with the people in society.
Q. According to your ideas, who will be that you will be the next Leader of the party?
A . I said there should be a party conference, didn’t I? First of all, there should be transparency. It applies to all associations, which is vital in all aspects. Decisions need to be taken at the party conferences. Transparency is essential for any organisation to become honest. It is a virtue. In a party conference, one mustn’t absorb anything one cannot perform. There are limits which cannot exceed.
Q. Within the JVP, there are some sections that follow your advice. If you form a new party, will that group join you?
A . Oh! My sincere advice is not to follow me! It is an absolute curse in our society to follow politicians. Please do not follow any politician. I have repeatedly said so. I resigned from the party without telling anyone about it.
Q . We observed that Wimal Weerawansa left the JVP, with certain sections of the JVP left party and formed the Peratugami Party. People may think that Somawansa Amarasinghe has announced his resignation. But I have not told anyone about leaving the party leadership.
A. Where did Peratugami Party go? Don’t you the lot of them went to Hell of, ‘Political Hell or the political dustbin? When Wimal Weerawansa’s name is mentioned, people will spit out. Should it reflect on us?
Q. How can you console yourself after committing so much to the JVP?
A. There is no easy answer to your question. What needs to be done should be done effectively. What is right has to bring out at the right time. The delay means death to the JVP. Personally speaking, it is death for me as well. After all, it will be the ultimate death for people.
Q . Although you say there won’t be a split in the JVP, if I were to ask you if the lieutenants of the JVP contact you and give their willingness to continue with you, will you agree to such a decision?
A. I do not accept any responsibility, nor do I want to have any discussion with them. If they telephone me, I switch off my handphone immediately. Many members have telephoned me and requested me to return; that number is trivial. A few members of the party were sacked unjustly. I must admit that I was also responsible for their unjust dismissal. Even today, those who were sacked unjustly dabble in politics against the JVP. I visit their homes and request them to join me.
Q. Are these people you visit their homes and request them to join you were members of the JVP who were subjected to injustice when you were the Leader of the JVP?
A . It is wrong to say that during my period! Now I resigned from the JVP, but when I was the Leader of the JVP. I was also responsible for such irrational activities.
Q . Please tell me frankly. Is it not concerning a dispute with the new Leader Anuran Kumara Dissanayake that made you resign from the leadership of the JVP?
A . That is how Sri Lankan have gotten used to it! I do not retain any personal bitterns with anyone. I will tell you that brother Anuran Kumara Dissanayake is quite efficient, and the JVP has received the brightest brother so far. I do not possess such talents compared to my brother Anuran Kumara Dissanayake. I did not expect to be the Leader of the JVP eternally. When I returned to Sri Lanka in 2002, I held a media conference and said that I would remain the Leader of the JVP when I reach the age of 60 years. Moreover, I accepted the leadership amidst many obstacles, due to various members leaving the JVP and I suggested to the Political Central Committee that I remain as the Leader. I always believed that I needed to abandon the leadership at the right time, which I did, and I decided to quit the leadership of the party to fulfil people’s ambitions.
Q. Finally, I would like to ask whether it is akin to the first day you joined the JVP and when you quit as the JVP Leader.
A . Before I joined the JVP, I made a comprehensive enquiry. Not a single person said anything against the party. I made thoughtful enquiries and embraced the JVP with love, and it remains with me deep within. I have discharged my duty for the last forty years. Should it become necessary to develop it further, I ask the party not to hesitate to contact me either.
Q. Is it Marxism or any other philosophy you want to follow in your new party? Let’s put it this way, shall we?
A. We have not discarded Marxism, nor have we discarded our culture. It is what brother Rohana Wijeweera repeatedly taught us. We have always followed such principles. Some people named King Dutugamunu a ‘Brick Fool (Gadol Modaya). Our party (JVP) has never stooped to such a low level. Brother Wijeweera taught us every principle in life. We must march forward, embracing our culture and conforming to one’s duty and nature. It could work with Buddhist philosophy, a Christian way, an Islam viewpoint, a Hindu perspective, or even Marxism! JVP does not talk about conflicting situations but about harmony or mitigation is suitable for people in this country that we (JVP) want to accept
Q. When will your new party conference?
A . Every attempt will be made to hold the new party conference. What is the reason for the government to postpone elections? Voters are fond of elections. People are fed up with the ruling government, and even with the two parties who backed up the government. Why is such a golden opportunity not given to the voters of this country?
Q. What is the name of your new party and other details?
A . It would be wonderful to give you all my plans. I. should contain all flavours, including religious too, and it will be revealed soon.
