JVP General Secretary Comrade Tilvin Silva says that the current government is working “like a dog in a smithy” and is bragging without any shame even though the country’s people are holding huge protests against the government every day.
He said this in an interview with a Sunday newspaper.
The full discussion appears below.
Q: No matter how many demonstrations and protests there are across the country, the government acts as if it is not concerned, doesn’t it?
A: Now, this government acts like a dog in a smithy. This government brags without any shame even when the country’s people are carrying out huge protests and rebuking them. Because of their greed for power, they carry on despite public disapproval. They are not a group of people who are ready to hand over power easily because of protests. They are so greedy for power. They are so shameless that Mahinda Rajapaksa has come down to the level where he says that Ranil Wickramasinghe is good now.
Even if the government does not listen to the people’s protests and carries on its rule arbitrarily, there would be a limit to it. Last time the President and the Prime Minister were unseated in a massive protest rally as they ignored the small protests demanding their resignation. Now, if this government ignores the protests of the people, what will happen is that at some point a huge wave of people will emerge that will defeat the government. The government will have to kneel then. That process of rallying people is happening now.
Q: When will the so-called ‘point’ to bring the government to its knees occur?
A: It does not need an auspicious time. This is the common desire of the people. Last May and June, the former rulers were made to step down from their chairs not after making any appointment. People’s uprisings are like that. The time of a spontaneous popular uprising cannot be determined in advance. All that is needed for such an uprising exists in society now. The background is set for it. A big wave came and swept away the former rulers. It takes a while for the next wave. This is the time. The next wave is coming very soon. We don’t know who will be washed away by that wave.
Q. When the people rise like that, the people with Pohottuwa try to rise again with Mahinda.
A: Pohottuwa will not be able to rise again with Mahinda. The pohottuwa itself cannot get up. Neither can Mahinda. In 2015 Mahinda Rajapaksa lost the election and hanged from the window at Medamulana and said he wanted to rise. Afterwards, a group got together and lifted Mahinda with ‘Mahinda sulanga’. But now is the time when there is a big opposition to Mahinda all over the country. A few people who have no political existence without Mahinda are saying that they will rise together with Mahinda. But that attempt will not be successful. We saw a meeting being held at Kalutara with a group of people fenced in a hall. There we saw Mahinda Rajapaksa’s mood. It seemed that he was not even conscious. He still thinks that Gotabaya is the president of the country. After Kalutara, the group went to Nawalapitiya. There was a lot of opposition to Mahinda. People had put grass and even poonac on both sides of the roads. A hut was built, the area partitioned, and people caged like in a zoo. When some people tied to leave the meeting, they were threatened and forced to remain at the meeting. This is the situation of pohottuwa meetings. They cannot get up. Neither Mahinda nor others with Mahinda will get up. However, the whole country will rise up against the likes of Mahinda and Ranil.
Q: Anura Dissanayake’s statements were published in recent days. He says that if the people want to rise up against the government, they should rise only with the JVP. Why does he come up with such a story?
A: Such stories are published on social media. We have not told such a thing. Recently there was a popular uprising, and some victories have been achieved. But the people did not get the complete result they expected. There are several reasons for that. One of the main reasons is the lack of proper political leadership for the struggle. That is why we say that we are ready to lead the next people’s uprising. That is why we ask the people to join hands with us in this struggle.
Our aim should not only be to oust the existing government, but it is also important to overthrow the existing government and create a better government. It should have reliable political leadership. At this time, the political leadership that the people of our country trust is in the National People’s Power. Therefore, we say that the National People’s Power is ready to provide political leadership for this struggle.
Q: We heard that several protests have been planned for the next few days. What is your involvement in the protests that will be held in Colombo on the 27th and 2nd of November?
A: A huge protest has been organized with many trade unions and mass organizations at Hyde Park on the 27th of this month. Also, on November 2, another protest has been organized by other organizations. If this protest goes along with our slogans, we will also participate if we are invited. We have been involved in anti-government protests with those people before. We consider the protest to be held on the 27th of this month would be the strongest. No matter which organization invites us, if they agree with our slogans, there is no problem in joining them.
Q: The government says that the opposition is trying to incite the people and take them to the streets because they cannot bear queues being eliminated.
A: That is the government’s story to save itself from protests. But today the people are so pathetic that they find it hard to live. We have nothing to stir up. It is the people who organize themselves and come against the government.
Q: Meanwhile, a story has come up that the president is attempting to fold the election map.
A: The government is afraid of elections. If Ranil Wickramasinghe were in the opposition at this time, he would have made the biggest sound asking for an election. Somehow, Ranil, who leapt to the presidential chair, has now come down to the level of doing any villainous move to defend that presidency. The desire to postpone the elections is one of them. If there is an election, Pohottuwa will be badly defeated. What Ranil is doing is saving Pohottuwa from defeat.
The government is trying to hold on to power without holding an election. We, and the people, are demanding an election. There is a moment for the government to give in to people’s demands. Then the government will have to hold an election. No matter how much this government goes on, the country’s problems cannot be solved. The old thieves reign again. There is no one in this government who can solve even a single problem. People don’t want this government anymore. The people should now be allowed to elect a people’s government. They must go home because of their conspiratorial work of postponing the elections. Having an election is democracy. People should rally for democracy. It is the right of the people.