Anti fascists close ranks to defeat authoritarianism

By Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratna

(January 25, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) My column in the last and several comments I made in e-mail conversations have brought in important contributions from well known radical intellectuals. One was from Prof Sumanasiri Liyanage which had raised several valid questions. Sumane began by stating: “In an e-mail conversation, two of my erstwhile political colleagues, Dr Vickramabahu Karunaratne and Prof Kumar David have proposed that it is imperative to form a broad anti-fascist front in order to face anti-democratic ‘fascistic’ acts of the current regime. I am glad that Kumar has added some reservations on Bahu’s proposal by explicitly stating that we should not be a part of a broad electoral front that appears to be in the political agenda of the UNP, SLMC and SLFP(M). If Bahu and Kumar perceive that a semblance of this so-called front had surfaced in the streets of Colombo at the event of Lasantha Wickramatunge’s funeral, I would categorically say that it was not the kind of front that we need today in order to address the five basic issues that the country is facing today.

Barbaric terror

I would further argue that a front of that sort would take us to another disaster. So in my opinion it is a dead-end formula. My two erstwhile colleagues are correct in their intention, but are totally mistaken in their proposition.” Before going any further I must say that what exists at the moment is not a front based on a political programme but an action front campaigning against the barbaric terror of Southern chauvinism. It is correct to say that the UNP and other non socialist parties involved want to form an electoral front as an alternative to the present regime. But the Left Front has a different perspective based on possible mass upsurge. In spite of different perspectives all six parties have participated in several successful campaigns. I also agree that the front of oppositional bourgeoisie parties will not be able to address the national democratic issues spelled out by Sumane. But that doesn’t mean we should not get involved in common actions to resist the present barbaric trend. We must expect things to change and new alliances to emerge, but we must go into action to resist the menace.

Tremendous potential

Sumane spells out the sort of Left alliance he has in mind. “The next question that is to be answered at least briefly is who should be the constituent elements that should be initially included in such a programmatic front. Of course, bringing them together may not be easy as some of them are already linked with immediate power projects. I refer to potential members of the front. In my view, the front should include, non-nationalist Left parties (NSSP, LSSP, CP, PDF. etc), the Tamil National Alliance, EPDP, PLOTE, TMVP, EROS, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, National Unity Alliance, Ceylon Workers Congress and the Kandurata Janatha Peramuna. How about the JVP? The JVP can be included in this front if it gives up its exclusive Sinhala nationalist position. I call this a social democratic front. The front can be broadened by inviting trade unions, selected civil society organisations, etc. This kind of political formation would have tremendous potential for change, but if that formation is going to associate with other unprincipled formations, it will lose all its energy and potential capacity. Moreover, by forming an alliance with the UNP, wittingly or unwittingly, we would contribute to further strengthening of what is known as the TINA (there is no alternative) syndrome.

Sumane comes out, here, with an idea that has no practical relevance. Many of the parties mentioned are with the government supporting its war efforts. Will they come out of it while they are celebrating the victories made against the Tamil people? As we understand substantial sections in all such parties are willing to work with the Left Front. But will they break away? I agree that a powerful Left alliance could attract many of these to go along with it. But at the same time I believe such an alliance will never be formed, if we do not go into joint action with the UNP, which is the only thrust we have. All anti racist reformist masses are behind the UNP. It is the mass party of all minority national groups, and also, of such religious groups. Thus the UNP organisers are compelled to fight back to protect their mass base. We have to start from this reality. - Sri Lanka Guardian