Why is the JVP silent as the common man burns?

(January 29, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) People's liberation movements and rebellions were born and thrived in countries all over the world where anarchy, corruption, fraud and injustice prevailed in society. In such situations angry citizens put czars, monarchs and feudal lords to a cruel death along with their families, history records.

The JVP at various demonstrations vociferously shouted slogans such as Kolombata Kiri, Gamata Kekiri in the past often to highlight the plight of the peasantry; the village and the poor who were being neglected while Colombo got the best of everything from successive governments. This position is not untrue altogether as today there are many villages in this country which suffer badly for want of infrastructure facilities such as roads, clean water, medical care and electricity among others.

The message carried down - especially to the trodden masses - by JVP is that they are the only 'saviours' who stand against such social injustices towards the poor. They entered parliament in the year 2000 forming an alliance with President Kumaratunga to bring their stand into focus and was instrumental in toppling the UNP government. They later left President Kumaratunga in the lurch when she was becoming unpopular with the masses. Subsequently, they joined hands with the Rajapakse Company and tried to twist the arm of that government too, by dictating and demanding surrender to their terms and conditions in which attempt they miserably failed.

However in connivance with the government they were successful in enticing the UNP deserters to cross over treacherously on the promise of portfolios, abandoning millions of voters who placed their trust in the democratic process.

They are now in a quandary because the Rajapakse regime that they helped to bring into power is ignoring them and also stinks of corruption, fraud and waste of public funds on joy rides in addition to the jumbo cabinet, the burden of which the people have to shoulder.

These 'saviours of the masses' who were vociferous, demanding relief for the people, are now unusually quiet except for making whimpering noises in parliament and through the media about corruption in the government while concentrating full time on strategies for their own survival.
However, in the final vote on the budget on December 14 they abstained from voting purely for fear of losing their seats in parliament if a general election were to follow the defeat of the Rajapakse government.

However the JVP now stands exposed for its hypocrisy and duplicity by its silence at a time when the people suffer in silence in the face of the price increases on essential items imposed on them by the Rajapakse government purely to prop up the flagging ego of a fanciful President and the tottering government that is fighting for survival.

The writing is on the wall for the JVP, clean and clear for everyone to see.