It is time the JVP was exposed for what it really is. This can well be done to a reasonable extent by posing the following questions. One expects the JVP to respond if they wish to make their position clear, and have nothing to hide.

Why does the JVP dodge, evade and slip thro’ any questions posed by members of TV debate. Panels as regards the killings, murders and other horrendous crimes of the JVP during 1971 and 1987-89, even when such questions had relevance?

Its ready made reply on these occasions are two-fold: one, their past is not relevant to their present discussions, and two, the people know the truth. This evasive reply is given even though the JVP had already made the issue relevant by its stock Opening Line when its turn on the panel comes, viz "during the past 18 years we have had the UNP and SLFP.... etc. etc." So, is the JVP ashamed now of its past and wish to have no discussion on it? ‘The people know - has it statistical evidence, or taken a poll?

If the JVP regrets its murderous past, why has it not come out with a public apology to the public? It has not done so to date. Are we therefore to infer that the JVP does not regret the murders of many civilians it committed and the loss it inflicted on the economy by destroying public and private property and so on?

One notes that the Pope has issued a "Mea Culpa" for the Catholic Church’s vile acts of the past, for whatever its worth. Why has the JVP not done so to date?

The JVP’s great public posture is one of total Political and Social Morality. To hear and see them on TV discussions is to see the postures and hear the voices of the Gods themselves! Only the Halo is missing! But is this not a bogus facade they can well put up, an advantage that neither the UNP nor PA can have, for the reason that the JVP has never been in power, nor is likely to be in the immediate future?

Is it not on that account that they have the luxury of criticising both parties? Its current minor digs at the PA in contrast to its’ ‘post PA-JVP Pact’ pummelling of the UNP, is merely for show, lest its informal, unofficial and perhaps unwritten election pact with the PA becomes too obvious. Isn’t this so?

"Power without Responsibility". Wasn’t this what the much advertised PA-JVP MoU was all about so far as the JVP was concerned?

The UNP too could have come to such an agreement, and so could the SLMC. They did not as they (at least the UNP) needed to have the ability to directly take charge so as to take the country out of its current economic morass, which they cannot do unless they have effective control over the levers of power. Was not the JVP’s MoU really ploy to evade responsibility for any shortcomings of the PA, (post MoU period) and at the same time take credit for any benefits the PA gives?

The JVP well knew that had they accepted any Portfolios they would "have had it" from the Electorate considering the parlous state the country was in, economically, socially (crime rate etc.) politically and morally (bribery and corruption at the highest levels galore). The JVP well knew that it would take considerable time to rescue the country. The JVP also realised it also would take the rap when election time came. Hence was not the MoU really a device, a shrewd device admittedly for the JVP to obtain some degree of power (a gun at the PA’s head, you do these or else!) but not have any responsibility if the MoU programme went haywire, and not be subject to any blame to an appreciable degree? It could always say that it did its best to correct the PA, and it always had the facility of withdrawing on some ground or other. Was not the ‘probationary’ Govt. a JVP ploy of "heads we win, tails you lose"?

5) Now let us take the issue of why the probationary Govt. was made One Year and not before or after. Let us pull off the altruistic mask of the JVP not being greedy for cabinet posts, and so on. It is not the case that the JVP needed time to get itself really ready for elections and have a real chance to make a positive and decisive mark threat? One year seemed to be the reasonably minimum period it required to make its push for meaningful power. If the Govt. fell too early (July 2001 onwards) it would find the JVP not fully geared for elections despite it claiming it was ready anytime! Hence its virulent anger with the UNP for its no confidence motion and its annoyance with the President for dissolving parliament prematurely (for them!) and forcing an election before their own schedule for going for elections! The carpet has been pulled from beneath them is it not so, JVP?
"Politics watcher"