JVP has forgotten November Heroes’ commemoration: Kumar Gunaratnam

• Socialism only possible through revolution outside Parliament   

By Yohan Perera   

Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), a breakaway group of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), yesterday said the latter which is governing the country today had even neglected the commemoration of November heroes on the due date.   

The accusation was made by FSP Chief Secretary Kumar Gunaratnam who made the keynote address at a ceremony held in Colombo to commemorate Late Wijeweera, Upatissa Gamanayake and all JVP members who are known as November heroes.   

 “We unusually commemorate our founders who sacrificed their lives for the betterment of the nation on November 13. That was the date on which comrade Wijeweera was killed. However, we cannot remember them on November 13 as there is no possibility of holding political events on that date. This is because the silent period before the General Election began from midnight yesterday. Therefore, we had to hold this event yesterday. Wasn’t the JVP-led National Peoples Power (NPP) government aware of this fact?” Gunaratnam who was once in the JVP politburo asked.   

“NPP President and the JVPers today seemed to have forgotten the socialist path which was taught by the late founders of their party who sacrificed their lives both in 1971 and in 1989,” he added. He accused the NPP government seemed to go for a political deal with the IMF.   

He said the transition towards socialism cannot be done through Parliament. “It is true that the presidency had gone to a person who represents the downtrodden class. This is most welcome. We would also welcome the good things that may be done by the present regime such as dealing with those who have robbed public funds and the abolition of the executive presidency. We also stand for seeing new faces in Parliament. However, a complete transition towards socialism should be brought about through a revolution outside the Legislature,” he stressed.   

“The mission began by comrade Wijeweera and others are far from being over. Our challenge is to mobilize people for a revolution like the one in which we were engaged in 2022. Defeat for capitalism and victory for socialism is our theme. Time is ripe for us to get on with this exercise,” he said.   

At the same time, Gunaratnam reminded that his party had made a written request from the incumbent President to probe the killings of Wijeweera, Gamanayake and others in 1971 and in 1989. “The government of Late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and late Ranasinghe Premadasa have committed war crimes by killing those who surrendered in 1971 and 1989.

We have also seen forced disappearances and abductions in the North as well during the civil war. Accordingly, we have requested the incumbent President to probe all these and punish those who are responsible,” he said.