Year 2009 will see end of terrorism

The following is a translation of an interview given by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka to Malik Chaminda Dharmawardhana of our sister publication Dinamina.

Q: The New Year 2009 dawns at a time when the country’s attention is focussed on the North. What are the Government’s plans to counter the scourge of terrorism during the New Year?

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka

A: We are stepping into 2009 with a firm determination. We have designated 2009 as the ‘Year of Heroic Victory’. For decades, terrorism engulfed the country. It created lots of problems for the people; valuable human lives perished and it uprooted the democratic heritage; basic needs were denied to the people; no schools, no workplaces. Such was the horror that had a firm grip on the North and East of the country.

It had its impact on the rest of the country as well. So the year 2009 is dedicated to salvage the country from the horror of terrorism and restore eternal peace. We don’t, however concede that destroying of terrorism will solve all outstanding problems.

We will certainly face challenges. First priority has to be given to the rehabilitation of areas wrecked by terrorist activities. For over 30 years the LTTE had destroyed all development priorities such as health, education etc. We have very successfully faced all the challenges in the East and restored normalcy.

We will no doubt implement all over development plans in the North as well when it is freed from the LTTE jackboot. In this grave task we need public cooperation. We have reached the last lap of our struggle. Prabhakaran has been cornered to a very limited territory. All his might is concentrated there. The situation will be graver but our gallant forces are determined to destroy the terrorist bastion and herald victory over the enemy forces.

Q: But Prabhakaran reiterated recently that he still remained intact. Some Government members spoke of a time-frame to capture Kilinochchi. The Forces have not reached the target as yet. Does this mean that there is some truth in what Prabhakaran has claimed?

A: We never talked of a time-frame. In military operations of this nature no time-frame can be adhered to. Did we ever think inclement weather would dampen the operations in the North? Of course, speculation was ripe that our Forces would capture Kilinochchi as early as possible. If not for the terrible downpour, the situation would have been different!

One thing is pretty certain. Whatever Prabhakaran utters, he cannot stop the advancing Forces and their final victory. We have implicit faith in the gallantry of our forces.

Q: Some sections of the media had mentioned about the increasing number of setback suffered by our Forces. Do you disown them?

A: Different people talk different things! Yet nobody knows the actual situation. I must say the scale of damaged suffered by our soldiers is rather high these days. Now only the LTTE has deployed its trained cadres. All these time they had sacrificed their conscripts, the cannon fodder! Setbacks are likely to occur. But no force on earth can stop our advancing forces!

Q: Various conflicts of interest have surfaced in India in regard to the military operations being carried out in the North. Is it due to the misconception that the Sri Lanka Government would not provide a reasonable solution through its All Party Representative Conference?

A: Problems arising in India are entirely a matter for the Indian authorities. Why should we volunteer to embrace them? We do not have any problem here. We have told the entire world that we would not give up our struggle to eradicate terrorism.

The Indian Prime Minister has conceded that this is our domestic problem and they do not want to interfere with it. Of course, when the people in the Tamil Nadu raise various issues something has to be said. This year they have their elections too! Whatever it is, their policy is not to interfere with Sri Lanka’s internal problems.

You referred to the APRC. That is a separate issue. Eradication of terrorism is a different matter. There are other issues such as giving effect to a development plan and providing a solution to the problems faced by the Tamil-speaking people, the latter being the one before the APRC.

Discussions at the APRC are mainly focussed on arriving at a consensus before the matter is taken up in Parliament. Any solution to the North/East problem has to be eventually okayed by the Parliament.

Q: In many instances it was claimed that the Government’s financial management was flawed. Was it not the reason that the people had to seek relief from the Supreme Court?

The complex situation arose among the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary is also partly due to this situation?

A: People are at liberty to seek relief from the Supreme Court if they so decide. Our Constitution provides for the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary, the three organs of the State.

They have their separate responsibilities. So the obligation is to leave no room for conflicts or clashes to occur among the three departments. The need is to ensure their smooth functioning; nobody welcomes any rift at all; because such developments are not in the interest of the democracy.

Q: Today the entire world is experiencing an economic melt-down. It has its serious impact on Sri Lanka’s export crops such as tea and rubber as well. The situation is likely to exacerbate in future. What is the Government’s blueprint to wriggle out of this economic malaise?

A: We have faced similar situations. Setbacks are only temporary. We could recover from such difficulties. What we are experiencing today is an identical situation.

We give the people whatever possible relief. There is a relief package to ensure the revival of tea industry. The demand for tea has rather dwindled due to the prevailing recession. The Government had invested a lot to cushion the impact of the slowdown.

The crisis is only a temporary phenomenon. It would recover with the passage of time. Then years ago in countries like Burma and Thailand similar economic crisis occurred. We too had to suffer. But the situation gradually improved. So we can be optimistic the recovery will not be too distant.

Q: The National Freedom Front has signed a MOU with the Government. The Front, except for the military operations appears to be criticising the Government on various issues.

Will not the MOU be the same as what was previously signed with the JVP?

A: The MOU was signed only after realising the need of the hour. It is nothing but the total annihilation of terrorism, which is our priority.

We should iron out all our differences and unite ourselves. As you said, as political parties do, there are various differences among us. Our first priority is the motherland; politics come second. We should harmonise our relations and get together to ward off the scourge of terrorism.

Q: The year 2009 has been designated the ‘Election Year’. Any scent on a general election?

A: Wayamba and Central Provincial Council elections are at hand. There will be some more in the future, but no decision on a general election so far.