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.
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