Govt should uphold people's freedom - President
 

by Asanga Warnakulasuriya

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga yesterday stressed that a Government should be based on people's freedom rather than violence and terror. The political violence introduced by the previous UNP regimes and the JVP had claimed more than 33,000 innocent lives in the South and until now no significant contribution has been made by any Government to compensate them, President Kumaratunga said.

The President addressing a function at the BMICH yesterday to mark the first stage of the Government's scheme to compensate those victimised following the 2001 General Elections, said that state terror introduced during the 1977 UNP regime and later by the JVP had claimed lives of innocent people.

"It was revealed in the Presidential Commission report that 33,000 persons were killed in the South during the terror period. This figure excludes those killed in the North," the President said.

With the election of a UNP Government in 1977, many party supporters were killed and assaulted while their houses were burnt and stoned by thugs who went on a rampage with an 'official holiday' given to Police. The only fault of the victims was that they believed in one political party and worked in a democratic manner, the President said.

The President said that despite thuggery against party members, the PA Government that came to power in 1994 ensured that not a single UNP supporter was killed in post-election violence. On the contrary, during the 2001 post election violence, 93 persons were killed.

Although a few wanted to take revenge from the UNP, the Government did not allow any violent eruptions and strengthened the Police to carry out their duties more independently without any political pressure, she said.

"Many questioned why the Government partnered with the JVP, which has a violent background. As a Buddhist having faith in the Buddha's teachings, I believe that everyone can make headway out of violent history specially when spoken to the heart. But I was wrong," the President added. It was on the principle that everyone deserves a chance, that the Government agreed to the LTTE proposals.

The President also slammed the UNP Government's media policy which did not allow political violence to be highlighted. Even today, 3/4th of the media is owned by two UNP backed businessmen and only 1/4 by the Government, she said.

President Kumaratunga criticising so-called free media policy that prevailed during previous regimes went on to say that the only freedom enjoyed by media was to lie. "I am making this responsible statement as the President."

The reports of four Presidential Commissions were given to media institutions but they were never given enough publicity, she said.

The committee report of Presidential Commission led by former Sabaragamuwa Province Governor Saliya Mathew was presented to President yesterday.

The Presidential Commission has recommended Rs.55 million as compensation to 1,500 persons victimised during the 2001 General Election. Four hundred persons received compensation yesterday.

The Commission had received a total of 4,759 complaints following the 2001 General Election and 195 after the 2004 elections.