This country belongs to all -PM

[Parliament]

Parliamentary Corrs.

Party leaders agree to extend Emergency

Parliamentary Corrs

Party leaders yesterday agreed to take the division in relation to extend emergency by another month in Parliament today at the Party leaders' meeting.

Protection of the Rights of Elders (Amendment) Bill, is to be taken up for debate today. The decision to take up only the division on emergency, was arrived at the Party Leaders' meeting considering the fact that it should be passed within the month.

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody presided yesterday when Parliament met at 1 pm.

After the presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up the adjournment motion moved by TNA Parliamentarian M A Sumanthiran.

M A Sumanthiran (TNA):

Security in the Jaffna peninsula is deteriorating and the matter was brought to the notice of this House by Traditional Industries Minister Douglas Devananda on January 4. Later it was brought to the notice of this country through a motion by the TNA leader.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Murugesu Chandrakumar takes the Chair.
A H M Azwer (UPFA):

The member should first of all read the contents of the motion.

M A Sumanthiran (TNA):

I am talking of the background also facts that were based to move this motion.

A H M Azwer (UPFA):

But there is a procedure in this House and he should read the contents of the motion or I will raise a point of order.

M A Sumanthiran (TNA):

The contents of the motion is that law and order is deteriorating in the Jaffna peninsula. There are a series of crimes such as murders, extortions and abductions committed. But so far the Government has not attended to these issues. There is a fear psychosis in Jaffna. There is no underworld groups in Jaffna.

A senior officer of the Security Forces once stated that members of the EPDP were responsible for these crimes.

We hope the Prime Minister would make an explanation in this respect. It is also clear as to why Minister Douglas Devananda made a statement in this connection.

Ranil Wickremesinghe (UNP):

A serious situation is now prevailing in Jaffna. Law and order has deteriorated.

Maintaining law and order is of utmost importance. Even while the LTTE was in existence, law and order in the Jaffna peninsula was maintained.

Still road blocks are prevailing in the Jaffna peninsula. There are very limited places to hide in Jaffna. A large number of military personnel are seen on the roads in Jaffna. So why can't the Government apprehend them? The Government is doing nothing in that respect.

Prime Minister D M Jayaratne:

I am happy that the TNA members and the Opposition speaks of the country. But those speeches are somewhat like novels. In novels facts are exaggerated.

Our stance is that the 19.7 million people living in our country are equally important to us. We feel sorry and angry for the crimes that are committed in any part of the country.

Before terrorism was eliminated, a large number of crimes were committed in the North. The rate of crimes committed in the North today is very minimal, compared to those committed prior to the elimination of terrorism.

In order to maintain law and order, nearly 3,000 such people are being rehabilitated.

Although the rate of crimes is minimal, we never neglect them. We take all probable measures to prevent those crimes. This country belongs to each and every person, whether he be Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim or Burger.

According to history, with the end of a war there is a higher crime rate. But with the passage of time, these crimes diminish.

The President, senior officials of the forces and other relevant officials discuss these issues on a weekly basis with the aim of taking preventive measures.

The other matter is although there is a President, Security Forces and the Police, the crime rate could never be brought down to zero.

That level could be achieved only by the moral uplift of the people in a nation.

The people in the North have a very ancient culture. Every inch of this land belongs to the people living here.

Although the Opposition had claimed of 24 such incidents, there had been only 16 incidents.

Each and every member in this House should give their support to solve this problem and then build up a great nation.

Vijitha Herath (DNA):

Several public officers, a Deputy Director of Education and some other persons were killed in the Jaffna peninsula recently. But the Government was unable to find and arrest such culprits.

The Government thought that those incidents were insignificant. A terrorist organization was formed in this country due to the Government not paying attention to such incidents during the past. Three days ago, a dumb woman was shot dead. The President went to Jaffna and said that he would control all matters in Jaffna. However, this woman was killed before the lapse of 24 hours after the President's statement. We see that the government is not taking sufficient action to maintain security in these areas. This has aroused doubts among the general public.

Innocent people are suffering as a result of the adverse situation in Jaffna. Strengthening democracy is the duty of the Government and national harmony can only be improved by doing so.

E. Saravanapavan (TNA): We are hurt over the speech of the Prime Minister. We thought that he would address the grievances of these people. These incidents are really taking place and prompt attention should be paid. But the Government has not taken sufficient interest on this topic.

Killings and lootings are rampant, but no person has been arrested in this regard.

The root cause to these killings are not revealed. If such an incident was reported outside the North, a special investigation would have been conducted. Why cannot the Government apply the same policy to these regions as well.

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa: Several ideas were brought out regarding certain incidents occurring in the Northern Province today and during the recent past in Parliament.

We see that topics of this house have changed. The House had to raise matters over air attacks and the war situation in the country in the past. Today the topic has changed to lootings and abductions in the North.

However, it is wrong to mention that we are not investigating these issues. The Government is involved in a series of investigations and due to these investigations we are unable to reveal many facts such as the persons who are engaged in them. I would like to say that we will reveal the names of all the persons behind these incidents within a very short period. Once these facts are made public, you will be surprised over the speeches of some of these members in the House today.

Within the next few days, the truth will be unveiled with evidence, witnesses and confessions.

The JVP has also been involved in false propaganda, to show the world that the Government was trying to illtreat the Tamils in the country.

The President visited Jaffna and became the first President to spend the night in Jaffna. If such an adverse situation as the Opposition claims happened, how could the President visit Jaffna and spend the night without any problem? The President moved freely among the people and participated in development activities in the area.

Some members are attempting to arouse racial conflicts in the country by provocative speeches. Soon after, they flee to foreign countries.

Why cannot they contribute to the efforts of constructing roads and other infrastructure facilities in those areas, rather than arouse racial conflicts.

AHM Azwer takes the Chair.

Lakshman Kiriella (UNP): The Prime Minister did not answer to the problems raised in the House. He ran away from the problems. After 2005 no presentation was made to Parliament regarding the killings that took place in the country.

The PM did not answer problem raised in the House.

I think the Government should compensate the people of the Northern and Eastern Provinces for what they have suffered.

Resettlement Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan:

Those days we were taught that we should struggle to win the rights and freedom of the Tamils. However, later we come to understand that our rights could not be gained by war. Therefore, we diverged from the option of war to peaceful means.

Many of those who took up arms in the past for the Tamil liberation, have now entered into the political arena, choosing peaceful means to safeguard the rights of the Tamils.

I think the incidents taking place in the North should be controlled and everybody should support this effort disregarding party differences. Even TNA Members have a duty to come forward to control these incidents.

Crimes are taking place disregarding the province and one individual was killed even in Pettah recently. However, necessary measures have been taken to strengthen the security of the people. There is no use in making allegations against me or Minister Douglas. What we should do is to work in harmony and supportively to halt these incidents.

During the flood situation, it is the Sinhala community who helped to provide relief to the affected people. Tamil diaspora provided no assistance or support. People in the South promptly provided their support to the flood affected.

Dayasiri Jayasekara (UNP):

When Sunil Handunnetti went to Jaffna, he was assaulted. If a politician has no freedom to engage in politics in whatever region he prefers to, what is the democracy that prevails in this country?

Now the Government plans to hold elections even in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. But the candidates have to get prior permission from the Security Forces to engage in propaganda work in those areas.

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody takes the Chair. Dayasiri Jayasekara continues:

When the people appear before the LLRC to give evidence, the Security Forces object to them asking whether they have obtained prior permission.

Eventhough the President went to Jaffna and stated that all problems would be controlled, a woman was killed soon after. The President travelled by helicopter and did not pass the region by car.

Suresh Premachandran (TNA):

The people in Jaffna are living in fear and a special statement was made in Parliament regarding the current situation in Jaffna a few weeks back. This was an accepted fact even by the Government side. However, what the Government is trying to interpret today is that these incidents happen throughout the country and not just limited to the Northern Province.

The illegal felling of trees is continuing on a large scale in these areas. However, if an innocent person cuts one or two trees to construct a small hut, action is taken against him. But no action is taken regarding large scale timber felling.

Chandrakumar Murugesu (UPFA):

Minister Douglas Devananda made a special statement regarding security concerns in Jaffna recently in Parliament. We observe that the situation in Jaffna should be look into.

I agree that there were certain incidents in Jaffna. Those culprits should be punished. But I think the TNA is attempting to take the people in Jaffna to a dark era. They attempt to take political mileage by alleging that there is a increase in the crime rate in Jaffna.

The people in Jaffna are peace loving. The TNA criticized the EPDP. But EPDP leader has clearly made a statement in Parliament that if anyone attached to the EPDP has done any crime, he or she would be punished. We will never attempt to prevent it.

Child Development and Women's Affairs Deputy Minister M L A M Hisbullah:

We are very sorry for the unfortunate incidents that have happened in Jaffna. Our stance is that those involved in criminal activities should be punished.

It is pointless to criticize the Government for these incidents.

If all of you support us, solutions could be found for these problems.

Now you are aware that there was havoc in the Northern and Eastern Provinces due to torrential rains and floods. But the UNP and JVP had make statements to the media and television channels that the victims were suffering. But they did not provide even a single bottle of drinking water.

But the Government led by the President and Minister Basil Rajapaksa and other Ministers took all necessary measures to provide for the needs without any delay. They themselves went to those areas to find out the needs of victims. But the Opposition spoke of only the many shortages in those areas.

Now there are only 300 families who were affected to be resettled.

A Vinayagamoorthy (TNA):

Many killings have been committed in the Jaffna peninsula in the recent past. Nobody has been arrested so far. Police says they were committed due to personal grudges. I request that all weapons be seized in Jaffna.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Murugesu Chandrakumar takes the Chair.
A H M Azwer (UPFA):

The only leader to spend the night in Jaffna was President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The people in Jaffna welcomed him cordially. We cannot forget the great Tamil politicians in the past. Who killed Amirthalingam in broad day light?

Not only President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Minister Basil Rajapaksa, but young Namal Rajapaksa too is also attempting to develop the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Our economy is developing.

The people in Jaffna say that they wished to witness Sanath Jayasuriya, Muralitharan, Sangakkara, Mahela etc play cricket in Jaffna one day.

The people in Jaffna warmly welcomed President Mahinda Rajapaksa who graced the Thai Pongal ceremony at the Duraiappa playground. Now we can travel to Thuthukudi in boats from Talaimannar. Are these not miracles.

DM Swaminathan (UNP): We cannot accept the killings, extortions and abductions committed in Jaffna. But the government did not state that it condemned these crimes. It is a responsibility of the Government to guarantee the security of Jaffna.

Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva : Today the TNA is speaking of the incidents in Jaffna. They did not have the courage to speak of crimes committed by the LTTE.

They were the cat's paws of the LTTE.

But today, they can speak of crimes whether they are true or false because this government defeated terrorism. Today their right to expression is guaranteed by this Government, whether they spoke for or against the Government. But they could not do it during the reign of terrorism.

Why is this Government developing the North and East?

The TNA has a long grudge against the EPDP. The EPDP joined the democratic stream as well as Muralitharan. Swaminathan said no criminals have been brought to book which is baseless.

He said jewellery had been robbed and people killed in Jaffna. It is the same in Badulla District. Everywhere it is the same. Even in America, Pakistan and in the Middle East countries it is common.

Today they are talking of rights, education, and schools. During those days, did Prabhakaran give the youth education? He gave the children weapons.

An insane youth left his home and died of epilapsy according to the post-mortem. But the Opposition criticized the government.

When land mines are being de-mined, skeletons are found.

You are criticizing the Government for it but they are the remains of LTTE victims.

Another complain you made was that two cyclists abducted a female cyclist. But when it was investigated, witnesses said she was cordially speaking to a youth and later left with him.

If we asked her about it, the TNA would ask don't the youth in Jaffna have the freedom to talk to each other.

In connection with another murder, the police have found that crime was committed by a T-56 and 4 suspects were arrested and brought to court. But Swaminathan misleads this House.

I table all the developments of the investigations done by the Government in connection with these incidents.

But the TNA is misleading the public as well as the international community.

In a way, as the Government, we are happy that TNA moved this motion to reveal realities to the public.

Parliament was adjourned until 1 pm today