In war Mahinda acted as India’s cats paw

By Dr Vickramabahu Karunaratne

(January 24, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The battle between the so called main candidates Mahinda and Sarath has become a mini civil war. Already several people have died and many have been injured. It is usual for elections to take this form in a country where class struggle developed to a high level with the proletariat challenging the entire capitalist system. Then parliamentary elections will only be a stepping stone for state power. The bourgeois are trying hard to protect the disintegrating bourgeoisie state and the proletariat is preparing to demolish it and instal a system of soviets. In this country too, in 1970 some people believed that the elections will lead to a mass takeover of power. There were attempts by someLeft politicians to bring about a radical change in state power. Even the JVP as a plebeian party, in the past thought that the election is a path for a more formidable struggle for state power. But today, the struggle between these two groups stands far away from such a scenario.

Both leaders are from the helm of the bourgeois class and have been involved in the rule of society. Mahinda, who sometime back flirted with the social democratic Left of this country, after assuming the presidency became the darling of the local bourgeois and also global capitalist powers. Of course, he remained the president of the Palestinian solidarity front and other pro third world organisations, but he was very close to Indian and American leaders. In fact, his development scheme was taken directly from the Regaining Sri Lanka policy of Ranil Wickremesinghe. He was given ample support by the World Bank, IMF and the WTO. In the war, India was so close to him that he himself admitted, he conducted the war for the Indians. The rest of the global powers also helped him in every possible way. However, in the recent period, western powers were annoyed with his management policies and looked around for an alternative. They were particularly upset about the way he handled the agitations of workers and other plebeians in the south. That is why they selected general Sarath Fonseka as their champion. Obviously, Sarath Fonseka stands for the same economics and development plan. He will be closely watched by the western game keeper Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Reactionary mobilizations

There is no difference in the way they approached the Tamil national problem either. The TNA leader has not got any agreement from the General about the re- merger of the north and the east, or about the autonomy of the Tamil homeland. Of course, there was no discussion on the right of self -determination of the Tamil nationality. While Mahinda is guarded by the Hela Urumaya and Wimal Weerawansa, the General is guarded by the Jathika Bikku Peramuna of Dambara Amila sadu. The latter is now supported by Gnanasara thero and others of the Hela Urumaya. While these reactionary mobilizations are going on, the struggle is taking a very violent turn. The only conclusion we can come to is, that these clashes are not on the basis of class struggle, but merely the struggle of two corrupt murderous groups for commissions and other benefits coming from the global capitalist agenda.