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UNF's dream of one party system shattered,
says JVP by Shamindra Ferdinando October 20 Island: The JVP said the UNP-led UNF government's `dream' to set up a one-party `system' has been shattered as a result of the Supreme Court determination on the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. It would have helped the government to win a two-thirds majority by offering bribers, the JVP said, describing the fruitless bid as an attempt to gain powers of the Office of the President without facing a presidential election. The Supreme Court determination has not been announced officially. But according to available reports, the amendment has been totally rejected resulting in the government suffering a heavy political defeat. The JVP reminded the party was not alone in opposing the amendment. They strongly opposed the bid to tinker with the Constitution to suit the government strategy. It wanted to retain the executive presidency while removing powers that were detrimental to the government at the moment. The party said the Supreme Court, by rejecting the amendment, has justified the position taken up by the JVP and many other political parties and civil society groups. The JVP ridiculed senior UNPers involved in the bid. The JVP identified Ministers, G.L. Peiris, K.N. Choksy and Tilak Marapana as the people who played pivotal roles in the process to get the amendment passed. They failed to prepare the amendment without violating the Constitution, the JVP said, claiming that for the first time in Sri Lanka's history, Supreme Court ruled proposed constitutional amendments violated the Constitution. The JVP ridiculed the government for the Supreme Court rejection of Clause 6 of the 19th Amendment that enables MPs to vote according to their conscience without being expelled by political parties. (20/10/02 go2lanka.com) |