Anandasangaree appeals to Presidential candidates

INITIATIVE should be taken by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to arrive at a consensus before the election on the "ethnic issue" in consultation with the other political parties supporting them and take it forward jointly after the elections, the winner taking the initiative with the support of the others, TULF leader V. Anandasangaree stated yesterday.

In another appeal to the Presidential candidates, Anandasangaree said the ethnic question being the most urgent and important of all issues, and being a sensitive one, should be dealt with separately.

"I also expressed the fear that the ethnic issue may take a communal turn during the election campaign. Communalism long dead may be revived."

He said: "The advantage in this process of consensus would be that all those who are parties to the consensus arrive at, could take it as a mandate given to them by the voters at the election.

A formula that I have to solve the ethnic problem, had been discussed with leaders of many political parties, the Mahanayakas and Senior Politicians I have made it known to the Rt. Rev. Bishops and many other religious dignitaries also.

On the "Ethnic Issue" I can speak more authoritatively being one of the most Senior Tamil politicians living today. I know the history of the ethnic problem which gathered momentum only with the passage of the Sinhala only Act of 1956.

The problem could have been solved with the Bandaranaike - Chelvanayakam pact or five years later with the Dudley-Chelvanayakam pact. Both pacts were disrupted.

I do not want to blame one party or the other, but the fact remains that no one can find a solution to our problem after the election.

Having known the fate of the B-C pact, the D-C pact and the draft constitution of 1996. I declare without any hesitation that the promise of both the main candidates in respect of the ethnic issue can never be fulfilled.

It is encouraging to see that Federalism as a solution to our problem is being discussed all over the country and has been placed before the People at a very crucial election.

For the first time in the Island's history a major political party the U.N.P. has pledged to solve the ethnic problem after the elections, based on Federalism within a United Sri Lanka.

Another major political party the S.L.F.P. too has decided to find a solution based on Federalism. The Left parties had already accepted Federalism as a solution.

I have had a number of meetings with the J.V.P. Leaders and had discussed various aspects of Federalism.

They too had stated that if the LTTE openly declares to give up their demand for separation, they are also prepared to reconsider their stand. During a series of meetings I had with the Leaders of the JHU we discussed the Indian pattern of devolution also.

Above all during the past two years, a lot of speeches had been made within Parliament and outside, suggesting Federalism as the only solution. There had been a number of Workshops and Seminars on Federalism, organized by a number of NGOs.

The late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, long before he became Prime Minister, was the first to suggest a Federal solution, foreseeing the problems the country would face in the future. The late President J.R. Jayewardene also had said that Federalism is the best solution for our problem.

Unfortunately he said it after retirement Hon. Bob Rae the ex-Premier of Ontario in Canada, an expert in Federalism had said more than once that Federalism is the best solution.

Not to mention names, a lot of leaders belonging to various political parties also had agreed that Federalism will solve our problems easily.

The enthusiasm shown by most leaders and religious dignitaries had given me so much of encouragement to get actively involved in canvassing support for a solution based on Federalism.

The fear that a Federal solution will end up in separation is groundless. First of all a separate State can never be achieved. Secondly the International Community had said that the only solution should be within a united Sri Lanka and that they will never support a separate State.

India had also repeatedly said that it will not support division of the country. India tackled a similar problem in Tamil Nadu over fifty years back and no one now talks about separation. All minority groups in Tamil Nadu are leading a contended life.

Those who fear that Federalism will lead to separation must be satisfied with India's Stand and accept it as a guarantee. If the fear of separation still persist the other ideal alternative is to accept an Indian pattern of devolution.

The Indian pattern could be sold easily to our people rather than any other system which will be new to them. Thousands of Sri Lankans who fly to several destinations in India every day, see for themselves how the Indian system works.

One of the largest Democracies is our immediate neighbour India. We should take a lesson from them. The country with the largest Hindu population in the world has a Muslim scientist as the Head of the State and the Indians are very proud about it.

The Prime Minister who commands very high respect in India belongs to a community which is only 2% of its population.

We, whether Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims all came from India. Our languages, culture and two of our religions are of Indian origin.

Without any reservations I say that the Leader of the Opposition soliciting the support of the S.L.F.P. after the election and the Prime Minister promising to have direct talks with the L.T.T.E. Leader to solve the ethnic problem, within three months after the election, are all day-dreams and will never take place.

We will go back to square one. This is what happened repeatedly at all elections in the past. History is repeating itself.

I strongly plead with LTTE also to give up its demand for separation which can never be achieved, and to accept a solution based on the Indian pattern of devolution.

I am certain that peace is at our door-step. Taking it in or chasing it out is in their hands."