SRILANKA GOVT PLAYING GAMES WITH THIS COUNTRY!!!

India’s solution is not What we need!


Interview:Anura Kumara Dissanaike/JVP By: Sakuntahala Perera

The JVP warns that what is in operation today is nothing but separatism in all its forms and manifestations. Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanaike maintains that the proposals for a political solution is nothing short of the political face of the same separatist agenda of the West. ‘Sometimes it has a military face ,sometimes it’s a political one. And now that the military front is being defeated we see the political face raising its head once again.’ he alleges.

He also expresses his criticisms against holding elections at this stage on grounds that what is more crucial is that they bring the defence establishment under a more transperant system and bring governance back. ‘We believe we can reinstate democracy and governance back in this country. Sadly the people are forced to vote for short term gain rather than consider the long term effects of this situation. We believe we can steer the people and the country towards that,’ he says.

Q:The UNP yesterday told Parliament that it would put no pressure on the govt on a ceasefire and was keen to see an end to the war. Isn’t this contrary to what you have been saying against the Opposition and what you called its stand against the war?

What is in operation today is nothing but separatism in all its forms and manifestations. This comes with the full blessings of the international community. The LTTE is nothing but a military front for separatism. The proposals for a political solution is nothing short of the political face of the same separatist agenda of the West. Sometimes it has a military face sometimes, it’s a political one. And now that the military front is being defeated we see the political face raising its head once again. There has never been a change in this agenda whether it came in the face of Chandrika Kumaratunga’s devolution package or the Tsunami Aid program, Ranil Wickremesinghe’s CFA or the present government’s political proposal through the APRC. To the JVP this is a threat to sovereignity so we cannot support this stand of the UNP nor fall for it. We have never seen a big difference between the stand of the UNP and the SLFP when it came to this issue. They have only changed the versions so as to confuse the people into believing there was a difference. Where both the parties are concerned they need this for their own survival.

Q:Then how do you view the criticisms against the government for failing to genuinely seek a political solution and that it was only seeking a military solution by the same international community?

True there is a criticism but we see this government working in fear of and under the threat of these elements. The best example for the government’s devolution strategy is last year’s meeting of Chief Ministers where a resolution was adopted to push for land and police power to the provinces. Another more recent one is the joint statement issued after MP Basil Rajapaksa’s visit to India which mentions seeking a solution based on devolution. When it’s a joint statement there is acceptance of that stand of the Indian government. Even the President at the Al Jazeera interview noted that there would be the same kind of political solution. What do all these stands tell you? These are not isolated incidents but parts of one single policy. It is clear that although they come in different times by different elements the main script is invariably written by the President. There is clearly devolution going far beyond the 13th Amendment at work.

Now that the military front is being defeated we see the political face raising its head once again.
There is clearly devolution going far beyond the 13th Amendment at work.
This no-confidence motion is really about bringing the UNP back to power
We have never seen a big difference between the stand of the UNP and the SLFP when it came to the national issue.
The solution we need is one that gives everyone the democratic rights they deserve and not one that will put a puppet of India to suit its own needs in the North and the East.

Q:But for a country facing such a conflict what do you see as the realistic solution if not a political one?

Certainly we are a country of many communities with two main languages. But the difficulties faced by the Tamil speaking people be it in a police station or in seeking a solution to an administrative problem can’t be ignored. But the fact remains that devolution doesn’t give these people the share of development they deserve. In a country where 50% of the GDP is concentrated in the Western Province and less than 10% of the population really able to enjoy the riches of or be part of a development program, there is something very unfair at work. The Tamil people have never been able to elect their own representative yet. The real solution must be one that deals with everyone getting a fair share even if an equal share is not realistic. The solution we need is one that gives everyone the democratic rights they deserve and not one that will put a puppet of India to suit its own needs in the North and the East. How do you otherwise explain the rights of the 52% of the Tamil people who live outside the NE? What the people in the NE need really is a strategy that will give them a fair market for the produce and one that allows them the resources that can help create that market. If they are not made self sufficient they will invariably fall prey to the whims and fancies of India. The solution is not in India’s agenda for Sri Lanka.

Q:Are you saying the situation that erupted in Tamil Nadu to exert pressure on the govt. to go for a ceasefire is one and same of that of the central Indian government?

Of course. This was not a Tamil Nadu situation but very much one of New Delhi. It is New Delhi coming out in this very different mode. The truth has even come out that New Delhi was instrumental in drawing up the CFA that came to implementation under the UNP. We need to understand why Sri Lanka is so important to India. The fact remains that 33% of our oil market is held by India. From their stake in Marine Services storage capacity, the investigating company of the Pulmodai phosphate, the power plant at Sampur, the Indian company handling the reconstruction work at the Sampur jetty to the Sethusamuduram scheme and use of Indian engineers to build the Colombo-Matara hghway, their stake in our market is no secret. How do you explain the CEPA deal killing off our small and medium scale entrepreneur? India has taken over all our strategic economic bases. What would a country that has such a share in another country do next? They have to now look at all means to safeguard those interests. And the best way to do that is to have a political entity in these areas that can safeguard these for them. This is India’s only role in Sri Lanka. This is their only involvement in the discussion for a political proposal for Sri Lanka. India’s solution is not what we need. All they want is a tool to control us.

Q:The UNP earlier this week threatened a no-confidence motion against the entire Cabinet for approving the hedging deal. Will you support such a motion in the House?

We will never support such a motion. Minister Fowzie’s statement to the Parliament must be seen in the light of the bigger forces at work in this entire deal far superseding that of the Minister. Politically appointed Chairmen work overriding directives of Ministers- and this is the reality. We believe the Minister is responsible as is the Cabinet but we are more concerned with the bigger elements at work in trying to get hold of the Oil Resources Authority in view of the many oil deals underway. Certainly the Cabinet is responsible but we can’t support a move by a Party like the UNP which is trying to cover their own sins with these things. At a time when their own leadership is at its weakest, and its harassment to media is under question and they can’t even collect their members to vote at the budget, we can’t be supporting these motions. Of course we believe there is large scale theft under this government but this no-confidence motion has nothing to do with governance but really about bringing the UNP back to power.

Q:The JVP lays serious accusations against the government on corruption. What evidence do you have and how do you plan to remedy this situation?

We have many of these corrupt deals before the country. Sadly the present government is not one humiliated by such claims but will do anything to protect its regime. All they are doing is playing games with this country but the fact is that you can’t run countries like you do electorates. So we have a serious criticism against this government and our stand that they should be removed has not changed. But what is the alternative we look at? Is the UNP the answer? How different was Ranil Wickremesinghe’s regime. He merely ruled with his three Royalist friends while presently its been done by four brothers. Many Ministers don’t even know what is happening with this government. What we need is a democratic governance. That is why this struggle can’t end with a similar regime. This is a difficult thing to do. Although we are no closer to power we are closest to the truth.

Q:But how confident are you of facing an election? With even the UNP supporting the war what can you say differently to the people to win votes?

The real question is why there is an election now. The government has to hold an election and extend its stay in power when their gains in the war front are at its height. They must go before the people before an economic recession hits the country and the people start suffering the effects of such a situation. The government knows that if they don’t go before the people before this reality hits the people their strength will be very short lived. They need to get the people to sign a blank cheque before the people find out the truth.

On those grounds we are against such an election. We believe we must bring the defence establishment under a more transparent system and bring governance back. We believe we can instil the disciplne it needs to develop. We believe we can reinstate democracy and governance back in this country. Sadly the people are forced to vote for short term gain rather than consider the long term effects of this situation. We believe we can steer the people and the country towards that.
courtesy:dailymirror.lk