SLFP at large
does not hold MRs views: SB
 If
you go to a referendum on a federal solution today it would get
defeated, because the anti-federal view had been injected into
the people so much. But from 1994 to 1999 the Sudu Nelum
Vyaparaya went around the country promoting devolution of power
while the government was waging a war.
By Kesara Abeywardena
UNP strongman S.B. Dissanayake is spearheading a new movement to
promote federalism and devolution of power as a solution to the
North-East problem. This new movement is named as the Eksath
Janatha Viyaparaya or the United People’s Movement. Dissanayake
says that the intention of their movement is to counter the
militarist propaganda of the nationalist organisations and the
JVP and the JHU while taking the message that devolution of
power is the ultimate solution to the national problem in the
country. He is also of the view that the majority in the SLFP
and the People’s Alliance are for a united Sri Lanka and opt for
a federal solution.
Excerpts of the
interview:
Q. What is the objective of the new Eksath Janatha Viyaparaya
(United People’s Movement) spearheaded by you?
A. This is aimed at promoting federalism and benefits of
devolution of power, among the people of the country. Earlier
during the People’s Alliance government there was a movement
called Sudu Nelum Viyaparaya that was led by Mangala Samaraweera.
If the people of this country became aware of devolution of
power it was through this movement. Afterwards during our UNP
government we went further in the peace process. We initiated
discussions with the LTTE on extensive devolution of power. But
that process got halted midway through after President Chandrika
Kumaratunga dissolved parliament. Now everything has taken an
about turn. Organisations like the JVP, JHU, the National
Movement Against Terrorism are saying that the unitary nature of
the state should not be changed. So what is happening in the
country now is that an extremist, militant war mentality is
being spread around coupled with intolerance. If you consider
the extent these extremist views have gone into the minds of the
people, even those who prefer genuine devolution of power are
scared to even tell the word ‘federal’ in public. The UNP is
scared to say it. Sections in the SLFP who are for genuine
devolution, the LSSP, the Communist Party are scared to say it.
The word federal had been shown as such a bad thing by these
people so that most are scared to even utter the word. Our
intention is to gather together political parties and
organisations that are for a genuine power sharing and take this
message among the people again.
 Q.
What are the organizations and political parties who are in this
movement?
A. There are sections of the SLFP, the UNP, the SLMC, the
TNA in this. We are trying to get the CWC and the Upcountry
People’s Front also into it. We are also talking with the LSSP
and the Communist party.
Q. What is the need for such a movement in the country?
A. During the time of Chandrika Kumaratunga the People’s
Alliance was for genuine devolution of power. That’s how we were
able to abandon a unitary state and adopt the stance for a
united country. That view was completely overturned by Mahinda
Rajapaksa. He got the strength to do that from the JVP and the
JHU. But a large section in the SLFP and parties like the LSSP
and the Communist party are for devolution of power. That is why
such a report came out of the Experts panel of the All Party
Representative Committee. What we are trying to do is get all
these people together in one platform and take the message that
the only answer to the problem in the country is a federal
solution.
Q. While the country is in a different mood aren’t you trying
to swim upstream?
A. I don’t think that nationalist movements have won in this
country. There is no such huge nationalist wave in this country.
It is not us but they who are trying to swim upstream. Chandrika
Kumaratunga came to power in 1994 with 62.7 percent vote by
saying openly that she will go for genuine devolution of power
and address the grievances of the people in the North through a
united Sri Lanka. Mahinda Rajapaksa got just 50 percent. Even
within that the strength of those who were for a genuine
devolution of power remained unchanged. The JVP and the JHU
joined as just appendages. The SLFP is a party that has embraced
devolution of power. When we brought a resolution before the
SLFP for a united Sri Lanka, we approached Mrs. Sirimavo
Bandaranaike to get her opinion. She said that she would raise
both her hands for it. Even at that time Mahinda Rajapaksa was
of a different opinion. Therefore am positive that even today
the SLFP at large does not hold the view of Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The People’s Alliance is of totally different opinion to that of
Mahinda Rajapaksa. Through the Eksath Janatha Viyaparaya we are
trying to take that message to the people and tell them that the
way to solve this problem is through a federal solution and even
at the moment there is no unitary status in the Sri Lankan
government after the enactment of the 13th amendment to the
constitution.
Q. Why are you promoting federalism so much?
A. Unitary nature is not a developed form of governance. All
countries have shed their unitary character when they have
reached higher stages of development and when they have matured
democratically. The unitary nature was brought upon this country
by the British Empire. Before that during various periods in
history there had been several kingdoms. Whenever you find a
Buddhist artifact in the North to say there was a Sinhala
settlement there is wrong. Because at one point in history, with
the Asokan Empire spreading over India, the entire south India
was Buddhist. There were Tamil Buddhists all over. Most of the
people belonging to the Dravidian family were Buddhists. It was
much later they became Hindus. Also, all of us in Sri Lanka are
highly mixed. There are no pure racial lines among any of us.
Q. How is your movement going to go forward in the backdrop
of the MoU signed between the two parties?
A. What we are asking is to fully implement the MoU. What we
see now is that Mahinda Rajapaksa is doing only what he wants by
taking cover of the MoU. Today businessmen are being abducted
within the Colombo city. But the government has not taken action
to arrest the situation. Is there a solution for this within the
MoU. President Mahinda Rajapaksa only wants the war. He does not
want to devolve power. He tells one thing to the Tamils and the
international community and tells another to the JVP and the JHU.
Q. What kind of action do you plan in taking your message to
the people?
A. We don’t have money like the Desha Hitaishi Vyaparaya,
but we hope to hold seminars and rallies all over the country to
educate the people.
Q. There is a big controversy over the all party conference
reports with two committees submitting two different reports.
What is your observation on it?
A. Who appointed the experts panel in the All Party
Conference; it was President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Why did eleven
out of the sixteen in the expert’s panel go on one way? That’s
because it is the true representation of this government. The
majority of this government is for devolution of power although
they keep their mouth shut. That diversity in the All Party
Conference expert’s panel is the true ratio of the government.
The SLFP and the People’s Alliance are not in the stance taken
by the President. The majority in that alliance are for a
federal solution.
Q. Is the UNP going to back the Majority report or the
Committee ‘A’ report?
A. As the UNP, it is not for us to back this or that report.
What we are telling President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to present
his proposals before the people and we will discuss it
afterwards. Anyway, it is a good basis to begin talks. But first
of all Mahinda Rajapaksa should tell that these are his
proposals.
Q. Do you think if you go for a referendum on a federal
solution at the moment, the people would accept it?
A. If you go to a referendum on a federal solution today it
would get defeated, because the anti-federal view had been
injected into the people so much. But from 1994 to 1999 the Sudu
Nelum Vyaparaya went around the country promoting devolution of
power while the government was waging a war. We went for nine
elections at that time and talked about genuine power sharing,
and we won all those elections. We must take this message back
to the people and am sure that the people will accept it.
****
CBK should not criticise
Mahinda
She has again criticised
the leader and I do not agree with Kumaratunga’s attitude
towards the present head of state.
By Wilson Gnanadass
Seasoned politician and Minister of Power and Energy John
Seneviratne, is not satisfied how business in his own party, the
Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is conducted. He is very
concerned about the entry of former President Kumaratunga and
the criticism she has leveled against the present leadership. In
an interview with The Nation the humble politician said
everybody must understand and acknowledge the fact that it is
Mahinda Rajapaksa who is the leader of the party and the
country. “I certainly do not agree with CBK’s attitude towards
the present President,” he said.
 Following
are excerpts:
Q: What is the progress of the MoU signed between the UNP and
the SLFP?
A: The MoU was signed between these two parties to
facilitate a suitable solution to the ethnic crisis. As regards
to other matters also, the SLFP and the UNP working together
will provide an atmosphere where a significant progress can be
achieved in the fields of economic development, good governance
and electoral reforms. These are very important for the well
being and the future of Sri Lanka. This progress cannot be
achieved unless there is a consensus between the two major
parties. At the last budget there was a constituent partner of
the government, which was threatening to vote against the budget
if their proposals were not included. If the government was to
depend on this party to win the budget the government would have
been largely embarrassed. The UNP from the beginning projected
its compliance with the MoU and voted for the budget. And this
pushed this particular party also to silently vote for the
budget. As regards to the electoral reforms, I think the MoU is
providing a comfortable atmosphere to push it through provided
both parties are able to convince other parties. There is a
necessity for constitutional reforms for a stable government. So
that, decisions may be taken at the correct time in order to
solve the problems we are facing right now. Because of the MoU,
we find that there is a consensus on many issues pertaining to
the electoral reforms that is right now being discussed at a
parliamentary select committee level headed by Minister Dinesh
Gunewardene
Q: While the MoU is signed between two traditional rivals,
the JVP walks out of the APRC. Does it mean the whole purpose of
this MoU is going to be in vain
A: There have always been doubts about a possibility of
reaching a consensus to the ethnic crisis with a party like the
JVP. This is why I personally welcome the unity between the UNP
and the SLFP. Now everybody is convinced that it is impossible
to solve the ethnic crisis with the participation of the JVP,
which has publicly declared that they are against the devolution
of powers to the peripheries. They do not seem to be agreeing on
a constitutional approach towards finding a solution to the
problem. They are more concerned about building up a popular
acceptance for their party. I think their decision to boycott
the APRC has indicated to the entire nation that they are not
sensitive to the burning issues the country is faced with.
However, no process can be halted as a result of this. We will
go on regardless
Q: Do you now regret that President Mahinda Rajapaksa signed
the MoU with the JVP
A: At a time the President signed the MoU, he would not have
expected the JVP to oppose his policies and decisions. I should
say the JVP’s stance taken in the matter regarding the
electricity reforms was very embarrassing to the government. So
the JVP has been showing its insincerity for quite some time.
But apart from this the President had a far reaching wisdom to
assess his own political strength that existed then and as a
practical political leader he thought he should enter into a
pact with the JVP so that he will get an opportunity to rule the
country with them
Q: The government seems to be struggling to find solutions to
various problems. For instance the law and order has declined
drastically and the human rights situation seems to be
deteriorating faster than ever before. How do you respond to
this being a lawyer and a senior politician?
A: War is something the government never expected to engage
in at any cost, but was forced to embark on a retaliatory basis
to the LTTE attacks. So one cannot say we have failed in the
war-front but have been able to hold the LTTE in abeyance. And I
should say whether one likes it or not the government is
redeeming the Eastern province so that the zeal of the
government can be thrust on the multi-ethnic province. If the
government is sharp enough it would be able to create an
environment to all three communities in the areas to live
peacefully. With regard to the human rights problems, I consider
this very serious. We have a situation, especially in Colombo,
where people are being abducted. I understand this can’t happen.
It is a shame that we still do not know who is behind this. This
should, in my view, be averted at any cost. People must be able
to live freely and with a certain degree of dignity. If these
disappearances are executed by the para-military groups then the
government should hold the responsibility. The government must
see that it is stopped forthwith
Q: Despite a call by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the law
enforcement authority to apprehend those who are involved, the
police have not been able to do anything about it to date. What
do you think is the reason?
A: Yes, the President has been very keen to bring the
culprits to book. He personally instructed the police to be
vigilant. Now it is up to the police to keep a tab on these
people who are responsible for the abductions and so on. It is
very unfortunate that the police have not been able to detect a
single person
Q: The government and the LTTE don’t seem to understand what
peace is and go on fighting everyday despite calls by the
international community to stop fighting. The present war
situation has forced several thousands to flee the country and
also forced many to become internally displaced. What is
happening
A: I think it is high time the LTTE realised that there had
to be an end and a political solution to be found. The
government has declared more than once that it is prepared to
talk and they are also fully prepared for a solution through
maximum devolution of powers. The opportunity has come to the
government to draft a solution incorporating whatever proposals
that have been embodied in the reports presented by the
different groups representing the APRC. In this situation, I
believe the government must take a leading role in finding a
solution to the problem politically but preserving the
territorial integrity. This is essential at present.
Q: Again the SLFP has become shaky with the entry of former
president Kumaratunge. There seems to be an apprehension among
most of the senior members of the party. What is the actual
position
A: Nobody will doubt the right of President Kumaratunga to
do politics. If she wants to work with the SLFP then she will
have to work with the present President. He is the President of
the party and of course the country. Whoever who wants to do
politics in the SLFP will have to acknowledge this fact. If
anybody tried to challenge his leadership or criticise and
humiliate him, I do not think he/she can last long in the party.
The party itself will react strongly against this move. In the
case of Kumaratunga, she held the highest position in the
country. The party even today is grateful to her for what she
did to the party. If not for her, the party could not have won
the 1994 elections. But now there is no other position she can
aspire to if she wants to continue in politics except the one
that is already given to her. Therefore in my view she should
refrain from making allegations against the party or the
leadership and keep challenging them. So this is what is
happening. I think she should accept the fact that it is Mahinda
Rajapaksa who is the leader of the party and the country
Q: Recently she too has summoned a few members at
Aththanagala without prior approval of the party. How do you
view this
A: She being the patron of the party and member of the
Central Committee and also of the Aththanagala electorate is
entitled to summon party supporters. But immense damage has been
caused to the party once again by her statements made against
the leadership. She has again criticised the leader and I do not
agree with Kumaratunga’s attitude towards the present head of
state.
Q: Do you think wittingly or unwittingly the party will split
as a result of her entry into SLFP politics
A: I don’t foresee this situation because every body knows
that the former president will have to walk with the present
leader who commands all wings of the party
Q: Former President Kumaratunga is one person who could not
bring peace to the country like any of her predecessors. What is
she trying to do now in politics
A: May be she could not bring peace. But we have the fullest
respect for her as the only leader who admitted that there was
an ethnic problem in the country and further went to suggest the
devolution of powers. This we cannot forget.
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