JVP comes up with a 'face-saving' formula

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, AUG. 4. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), which holds the key to the survival of the minority People's Alliance Government, has signalled its willingness to prop it up on condition that the President cancel the referendum on new Constitution and introduce, within a year, the reforms in governance the party has demanded.

The JVP general secretary, Mr. Tilvin Silva, said on Thursday that representatives of his party had suggested this ``face- saving'' formula to the President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, at their meeting earlier this week.

He said the JVP had demanded the cancellation of the August 21 referendum in return for its support to the Kumaratunga Government. The JVP had also demanded an assurance from the Government that it would set up independent commissions for elections, the bureaucracy, the judiciary, police and the media within a year.

The JVP has described its proposal as ``probationary government'' whose performance would be monitored by civil society including the Buddhist clergy, trade unions, professional associations and the business community.

But Mr. Silva said this proposal was on offer only if Ms. Kumaratunga cancelled the referendum and reconvened Parliament.

There has been a welter of protests against Ms. Kumaratunga's decision to prorogue Parliament, a move apparently taken to side- step a no-confidence vote against the PA Government, and the simultaneous announcement of a referendum on the need for a new Constitution. In a bid to defuse the crisis, Ms. Kumaratunga invited all opposition parties for discussions on the political situation, but so far, only the JVP has responded.

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Section  : International
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