massacre, has been absent for nearly two months from the public eye. The Bejing Foreign Ministry says the 65-year old has a 'cold'.
Some rumours suggest Li has suffered a heart attack. but his disappearance may indicate a permanent departure. Li is thought to be unpopular with western governments; his removal could help the Chinese stalinists to widen the market there.
ANC corruption
investigation. An internal African National Congress investigation is underway into a trust run by ANC President Nelson Mandela and his deputy Walter Sisulu. Batho Batho trust owns the Thebe investment corporation which was to receive 20% of a national monopoly on school textbooks. The investigation is thought to centre on the activities of the investment company and where its protits go to.
By K. Govindan PROVINCIAL council results in the May elections were embarrassing for the ruling United National Party (UNP) but of little comfort to the opposition.
The Sri Lankan Freedom Party-led alliance won control of the prestigious Western province, which is the commercial and poA split from the UNP, the Democratic United National Front (DUNF), was damaged by the assassination of its leader Lalith Athulathmudali.
It will join forces in two other provinces leaving only four provinces in outright DUNF control. Elections were not held in the mainly Tamil North east province due to the ongoing war. However. neither the war market policies were the main issues. Insicad in opposton concentrarco on the imperial style and abuse of power by President Prenadasa.
Their main agitation was for the abolition of the executive presidency and the restoration of Westminster-style democracy.
Assassination With Premadasa's assassi. nation on a May Day march and the installation of DB Wijetunge, who promises to break with his predecessors authoritarian style. the ground was pulled from under their feet.
Both the SLFP and DUNF support the government's proIMF austerity and privatisation policies, and are hardline opponents of any Thus the vote they captured was an anti-government vote, rather than one for positive policies Internationalist Nava Sama Samaja Party polica a creatic out sores, but won only one seat. faction in the SFLP led by Chandrika Kumaratunge who is now Chief Minister in deal with the The left clectoral front led by the Fourth Many workers had voted for the 'left'
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 44 June 12 1993. Page 8