JHU for Executive Presidency

Uditha Kumarasinghe

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JHU Parliamentarian Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera says that the Government has been able to defeat terrorism and set an example to the entire world. The war strategies followed by our Armed Forces have given the best example to the entire world on how to combat terrorism while ensuring the safety and the security of the civilians. The Thera in an exclusive interview with the Daily News spoke about war, democracy and many related subjects

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Following are extracts from the interview

Q: Do you think the Government should go for a General Election at this stage to consolidate its mandate?

A: According to the present electoral system, whatever election we conduct, the Government can get a maximum of 130 seats. The Government already maintain this number in Parliament. If a General Election is held, sometimes the UNP would be able to increase its present number to nearly 60. If the Government would go for a General Election, the President would be able to have a new group of his own who will act according to his will.

However, the President can make several vital changes in the country by using the present majority obtained by the Government in Parliament. As with the priority given to eradicate terrorism, steps should also be taken to change this proportional representation system introduced by late President J.R. Jayewardene, because this electoral system has incited class, caste and religious hatred. Corrupt politicians who has financial power can definitely go to Parliament. For example, a politician who encourages the liquor habit among the people in his particular district can also go to the Parliament with the help of those drunkards.

To cite one of the grave mistake of the present electoral system, there is no people’s representative responsible for an electorate while the people do not have a democratic right to chase away the corrupt politicians who have not done anything for their electorates. Any corrupt politician who has financial resources can come on top of the list of candidates in that particular electorate. Some popular pretenders who don’t have any sense of politics can also win. Some of these stars have gained their popularity by resorting to cheap gimmicks.

Therefore a new electoral system should be formulated as a mixture of the present proportional representation system and the first past the post system by allowing the people to elect their genuine representatives. The special Parliament Select Committee on electoral reforms has also proposed this.

These proposals should be open for dialog. The JHU also maintains the stance that there should be an Executive President in Sri Lanka. But that Executive President should be held responsible to both Parliament and the country’s people. Ensuring the country’s national security should be the main responsibility of the Executive President.

Q: What are your comments on the humanitarian operations launched by the Government to eliminate terrorism from the Northern Province?

A: The Government has defeated terrorism and set an example to the entire world. It has successfully defeated terrorism by ensuring zero casualty policy. The Government liberated the entire Eastern province without causing any major damage to the people. Therefore Sri Lanka has given the best example to the entire world on how to combat terrorism by ensuring the safety and the security of the civilians.

But it is regretted to note that there is no written military history in our country. We should request the heroic Armed Forces to write their experiences on how they launched key military operations in areas such as Vakarai, Thoppigala, Sampur, Kokadicholai and Manirasakulam by recapturing key LTTE strong holds. All these military victories should be included into the country’s official history. Our war strategies are examples to the entire world.

Q: Certain elements don’t raise any voice against the ruthless killings and grave human rights violations committed by the LTTE while certain elements always point their finger to the Government. What are your comments?

A: Certain powerful countries want to drag this terrorist problem further as it provides them the opportunity to interfere in the internal affairs of our country.

Certain journalists and various forces in western countries were keen on attaching the freedom fighter label on the LTTE. In the same way we have defeated this opinion here, steps should be taken to defeat this opinion internationally too which has been created by some Tamil intellectuals.

At present the LTTE’s battle front is not only in Vanni but also worldwide Key emphasis should be laid on how to control or defeat this Tamil diaspora. A huge publicity campaign is required in this connection. It is also important to win the hearts and minds of the educated Tamils living abroad.

The role played by the local media in this connection is very ineffective. So far we have not created a proper opinion with regard to the activities of international Organisations and various INGOs operating in Sri Lanka.

It is very important to have a dialog with these institutions. Some NGOs in Sri Lanka honestly express their view while some NGOs attempt to create internal political crises in that particular country. The Government have to balance this and give a correct opinion about these NGOs.

Q: Various local and international forces are engaged in undermining the humanitarian operations launched by the Armed Forces. What are your comments?

A: This is due to lack of a national policy in Sri Lanka. The various statements made in foreign countries by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe have brought various disadvantages to the country. If we think as a country, we all should be of one view on the question of defeating terrorism by considering it as a national requirement.

The Opposition cannot represent a different view regarding this. In the face of the Mumbai attack, the Bharathiya Janatha Party did not play a different role as the Opposition.

But the Opposition in Sri Lanka always act against the Government and the State. This is a very serious situation. Whatever political party it cannot be a traitor to the country. If any political party attempts to make any damage to the country’s sovereignty and the national interest. A decision has to be taken regarding it.

Q: Are you confident that after eradicating terrorism, the Government would be able to restore democracy in the North as soon as possible?

A: Definitely. Democracy is needed for the people, not for nationalities. This country belongs to Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim nationalities. We should consider democracy as a right of the people. According to the basic contents of the present constitution, people have not been provided enough room to exercise their mandate.

A new constitution which ensures the democratic rights of the people should be created. Steps should be taken to change this constitution created by late President Jayewardene as a political trap to retain his power.

The Government should give utmost priority to this issue.

At present the economic condition of the farmer community in the North and the East is in a perilous state.

The economic crisis is the origin of the terrorist problem in Sri Lanka. At present the economy of a large number of farmer community in Jaffna and the East has collapsed. The dairy industry has also faced to a severe setback in these north east areas. At present the country spends nearly Rs.30 billion to import milk powder.

Immediate measures have to be taken to develop agriculture and dairy industry in these areas. Tamil people are not demanding a separate State. They want the Government to take immediate measures to sort out their burning issues which have directly led to the collapse of their livelihood.

Q: Do you think that the Government should introduce a political settlement to the ethnic problem once the LTTE terrorism is eliminated from this country?

A: There is no ethnic problem in this country. We have a national problem here. Even President Mahinda Rajapaksa has never used the word of ethnic problem.

Terrorism is a national problem. If the majority Sinhala community has caused any discrimination to the minor community, we can say there is an ethnic problem in Sri Lanka. But we can’t see any such trend in Sri Lanka. We should never use the word ethnic problem.

It should be completely omitted by the media. People have a problem regarding democracy and they have economic problems as well.

Therefore a massive economic resurgence should be created within the country.