The main opposition party the UNP and the third largest party the JVP have demanded that the ‘No Confidence Motion’ be taken up for debate in Parliament on July 18. At a Hyde Park rally, the JVP leaders said that they were going full steam ahead in a bid to defeat the government. At the same time they clearly indicated that they did not want to bring the UNP to office.

The height of absurdity is that the JVP does not want the PA government. And they equally insist that they do not want to put the UNP on the saddle. If so, it appears that their motive is to destabilize the country as in 1987-89 and bring about anarchy? Was it because of this that they hatched a treacherous conspiracy with their allies to defeat the extension of the emergency?

As a matter of fact, the JVP got ten seats because of the PR system. They could never dream of winning this number of seats under the first past-the-post system. The JVP due to the present circumstances got elevated as ‘king maker’ overnight and is putting forward demands for conditional support to the government. We had Hakeem for sometime making demands and like "Humpty Dumpty", he had a great fall.

The JVP is harping on independent commissions. They would be living in a fool’s paradise if they are working on the assumption that the people have forgotten their track record - the atrocities committed during 1987-1989. For instance, during the 1988 elections, people were asked not to vote as they never believed in elections and threatened that the first five who lined up to vote will be shot dead. They did not even spare the dead. Instead, the dead were ridiculed and humiliated.

To refreshing memories of their reign of terror here is my experience. During this period, one night, some members of the JVP visited my brother who was a police officer, blind-folded him, tied his hands amidst screams from his wife and three children and took him away. Those at home were given definite instructions not to leave the house and within half an hour they heard several gun shots. They imposed the following burial conditions:

1. The funeral to be held by mid-noon the same day.

2. The coffin was not to be carried shoulder high.

3. No decorations within the premises or along the route of the procession.

4. Only the closest relatives of the family were to attend the funeral and not to entertain any visitors.

5. Funeral rites such as wearing white clothes, lighting of traditional lamps, wailing at home or at the grave site were prohibited.

6. Speeches, recital of verses, reading of appreciation notices, etc., were banned.

The JVP by their reign of terror attempted to install a "Pol Pot" regime by dismantling democracy. These are still fresh in the minds of those who were victims of JVP terror. This is why their leaders abscond and operate from overseas. They have no courage to face the people. They and their acolytes are nothing but wolves in sheep clothing. The JVP leadership should thank their stars that they are safe and well in the hands of the present government.
Dr. P. A. Samaraweera
Colombo