Our struggle is to build a modern Socialist society
“Ranil, Maithri and Mahinda deceived the working masses, students, youths, women, farmers, fishermen and all communities. The JVP can rally those forces to develop the country. We have a struggle to develop this country as a model state for the whole world. We hold this Red May Rally with the intention of building people’s power to create a new economy and a new society. The people should be rallied for a production economy instead of burdening them with taxes and fines,” says the General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva.
He said this at the Red May rally held by the JVP at BRC grounds.
Mr. Tilvin Silva said, “We proved today that the most dignified, militant and exemplary May Day demonstration and rally is held by the JVP. The JVP is the only political party that could create a better future for our country. Infighting in the SLFP continued for several weeks as they couldn’t settle for a ground for their May Day arrangements. They went to courts. Aren’t they shameful affairs? People have to be intoxicated to draw them to their May rallies. The May rally at Campbell Park is held with a history of trampling the rights of workers. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa held the May rally at Kirulapane to wear the crown again with his henchmen around him. On the other hand Mr. Maithripala Sirisena holds the May rally in Galle not to solve issues of working masses but in an attempt to solve issues confronted by him and his lackeys. This proves that a new political environment exists at present for the people who have been deceived by both capitalist parties. The rotting political system of administration that existed for 68 years has now become a move for Messrs Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe to adorn a crown. We want to crown, not any of these people, but the masses of this country. Let’s struggle for it. We invite everyone to rally with us to achieve this. The JVP, holding this gigantic May Rally, has proved that it is the only political party in Sri Lanka that could unite with the international working masses and build Socialism in this country.
Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe attempts to teach us regarding the economic crisis in the country. He says there is a debt burden of Rs.10,000 billion. Every citizen has been made indebted to the tune of Rs.500,000. He says ‘bitter concoction’ has to be taken to come out of the crisis. First the money plundered by Rajapaksas should be recovered. This coalition government has no intention of doing so. What they do is levy VAT. They are getting ready to get a loan of US$1.5 billion from IMF. They are also planning to get US$2 billion from Asian Development Bank and another US$1.2 billion from India. The ‘yahapalana’ government, while talking about democracy, burdens the people with debt burden and the tax burden. In such an environment it is impossible to think about democracy and good governance. Also, they can never build the economy. This is why Srilankan Airlines is sold to a private company. This government took power promising to build the country destroyed by Rajapaksas. How can the coalition government that cannot salvage Srilankan Airlines build the country? They can never build the country. Only the JVP has the strength to do it. The JVP is prepared to show how the country could be developed.
Ranil, Maithri and Mahinda deceived the working masses, students, youths, women, farmers, fishermen and all communities. The JVP can rally those forces to develop the country. We have a struggle to develop this country as a model state for the whole world. We hold this Red May Rally with the intention of building people’s power to create a new economy and a new society. The people should be rallied for a production economy instead of burdening them with taxes and fines. The country cannot be developed without an economy where all participate. The benefits of this economy should be justly distributed among the people. There is a necessity to allocate 6% of GNP for education. The free health service should be broadened. The UNP or the SLFP cannot have such an economy. These two capitalist political parties have proved this throughout last 68 years. Our struggle is to build a modern Socialist society to protect our rights.
The confusion in the capitalist camp indicates their era has come to an end. What is being created is the era of the people. It is the JVP that said Mahinda Rajapaksa regime could be defeated despite members of civil society organizations, intellectuals, artistes and many others saying it is invincible. We proved it by sending Mahinda Rajapaksa home. We have built people’s trust on us that we’d do whatever we decide to do. The two capitalist parties that ruled the country separately since 1947 have now joined together to rule the country. Some said if they come together the country could be developed. What’s happening now? We ask our SLFP friends whether there is a way for both these parties to develop the country. Also, there is a clique that hangs on to Mahinda’s tail. Both are in the government. Now, only the JVP is the alternative. A large number of people are rallying with the JVP which has the leadership of a new generation that could think anew. The most militant student in the student movement, Comrade Rangana Devapriya, is with the JVP. He gives leadership to the student movement. Also, Comrade Eranga Gunasekera has been newly elected to give leadership to Socialist Youth Union. The JVP has proved it could gather these forces and build new forces to strive for a better tomorrow for the country and the people.
We are able to hold this Red May Rally with progressive forces in the country with the intention of rallying people under one flag. April Heroes were able to defend with their lives in 1971 our inviolable right to form a political party. Also, even after that many, with devotion, functioned in various levels, to develop the party. At present our party is rallying forces in the country as well as Sri Lankans in other countries and is having very close relations with international progressive and left forces. Our old friend has commenced worn out programmes anew with a few defunct characters. First coconuts were dashed and chillies were grounded joining the so-called joint opposition. Now, a mudslinging campaign has been launched as all their attempts to insult the party and its leaders have failed. Insulting and slandering us has become the job of those who are about to jump into the garbage pit. At the inception of the party they called us a CIA booby trap. Those gentlemen, who couldn’t stop the forward march of the JVP, fell into the garbage pit. Today, JVP has become the biggest left force in the country. Let those who want to sling mud at us do so. We’d response only if it is very necessary. There are no treatments for mudslinging. The insulting shows that the enemy does not have anything else to say against the JVP. The JVP is marching along a correct path. There is nothing left for us to experiment with. We are left with only to march towards victory.
The resolve to build this country has been shown by the people. The majority of workers in the country have already rallied under National Trade Union Center (NTUC), the biggest trade union movement in the country. The representatives of the World workers organizations are on this stage. We are absorbing experiences of the international left movement and strength to carry out our struggles to achieve victory. A large number of forces are joining us giving us support and determination. It has been proved already that we have more friendly forces than the number of enemies we have. They are prepared to share the burden of building a new administration. Intellectuals including university teachers are prepared voluntarily to come forward to help in the process to build the country. Also, artistes are prepared to join these forces. All forces in the society call for a social transformation that could win genuine victories. Let’s complete this struggle to create Socialism with our own hands. The media personnel have a very important and colossal task to fulfill in this venture. This task is to take our message correctly to the masses through your media. When we rally these forces a new obstacle has been thrown on our path. The TNA that has done nothing for the people in the North is now adopting resolutions that rouse communalism. This has created a very fertile ground for extremists in the South including Mahinda Rajapaksa and his gang. We reject communalism of both these extremes. The masses should have a very correct opinion regarding this menace. It has been confirmed that all progressives should rally under the glorious red flag and with the leadership of the JVP to build people’s power. Communalism could be defeated only by such a force. There aren’t many such forces in this land. This May Rally proves that the JVP is dedicated to give leadership to such forces and the masses would rally around to achieve final victory."
