The JVP yesterday condemned the landmine explosion in Kebitigollewa, Anuradhapura on Tuesday, that killed eight Sinhalese civilians.

The following is the full text of the JVP statement:

"The JVP places the blame squarely on the LTTE for having planted the landmine, and expresses its heartfelt sympathies to the families of the dead.

"It is a fact that the LTTE, which is engaged in a separatist war, and the capitalist governements , which have been partners in a racist war without proposing any solutions to the real social, political and economic problems faced by the people, have killed innocent people again and again over a long period. The killing of unarmed citizens, from whichever quarter it occurs, is repulsive and moreover it ought to receive the full condemnation of the entire society. We consider it to be a matter of grave concern that such massacres have become routine.

"It is particularly significant that this massacre took place at a time when "peace-brokers" are pressurizing the government to bring about a so-called peace. While the gentlemen from Norway met with the LTTE leader, Prabhakaran in order to bring him to the negotiating table (truly to bring about separation), while the Foreign Minister from Britain advises Sri Lanka about Britain’s experience with devolution (they too have still not been able to resolve the question of Northern Ireland!), and while the US Deputy Secretary for South Asia is engaged in all kinds of persuasions with respect to the "peace process," the fact that the LTTE continues its long standing practise of killing innocent civilians and that these killings have come up to Anuradhapura is indeed cause for great disquiet. What is mostly regrettable is that these foreign gentlemen, who within the precincts of the US embassy, hold meetings "for peace," are unwilling to address the seriousness of these massacres nor recognize the real intent of the LTTE. These gentlemen, have not had even the decency to condemn these massacres. If the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people of this country are to be won over to the implerialist designs of separation by intervening in the internal affairs of this country and creating some hope among the people about a so-called "peace", the the people have to be made to forget everything and brought to a point where they demand "peace". For this, bombs have to be exploded. Unarmed people have to die. Therefore we have been compelled to question whether all these massacres are part of the "peace process". It is indeed sad that these atrocities have escaped the notice of the Secretary General of the United Nations.

Therefore, we appeal to the cilivized peoples of this world to intercene to pressurize the relevant people and organizations to put an immediate end to all proposals for the separation of the country as well as foreign intervention towards this end, and to condemn these killings by the LTTE, and join us to put a stop to the racist war and help us create a true peace on the basis of equality for all people."