Do not let ethnic issue hinder development- Minister Nanayakkara

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The responsibility of all is to put the ethnic issue aside and not let it hinder our development and progress, said National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara during an interview with the Daily News

Following are extracts of the interview:

Q: What is the connection between language and the ethnic issue?

A: Ethnicity is important in social relations. It becomes distinguishable by the language spoken. Therefore, language and ethnicity are interrelated. There are many languages, ethnicities and sub-ethnicities in the country. We are fortunate to have only two main languages and three main ethnicities in our country. There are small groups of other ethnicities as well. The question of using two languages is the basis of co-existence. If all people living in this island know both languages, we would have gone very far in uniting the nation. In a country which had been a colony, the most important thing is to unite the nation. Knowing two languages is a vital step and a very big leap forward in this regard. Therefore we are now attempting to get everybody to learn two languages.

Q:How do you address this issue?

National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara

A: Almost everybody including schoolchildren, teachers and government servants must learn two languages. My ministry is responsible to ensure that. Both languages must be written on name boards, in forms regarding state affairs etc. The two languages must be seen and heard in all public affairs. Then the two ethnic groups will feel proud. There is a Language Commission and a National Language Policy in this country which has prescribed two official languages. The policy must be implemented through the Language Commission. We also have the language learning and training institute to train government officers. For others we have the language section in the ministry which offers others training in the two languages.

When official languages appear on a name board, official document, form, public announcement etc the people will overcome their difficulties of not being able to read and understand. They will be able to build good relations with other communities and the state. Both have been distanced from them in the past. We will remedy this situation. Then the Tamil speaking people will accept the goodwill of the state and the Sinhalese community. Then they will trust and be prepared to accept a reasonable arrangement in governing the country. Communities will unite and help build the country.

Q: What do you think about the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee to find a solution for the ethnic issue?

A: The proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) will assist to solve the ethnic problem in many ways. If all parties which are represented in Parliament, principally the parties in the Opposition, such as, the TNA, are included in the PSC, that will be the best forum where we can express our views, give our proposals and make our suggestions in arriving at a mode of governance for the people in the Tamil and Sinhala speaking areas.

Political parties may or may not reach a consensus. If they do not reach a consensus at the very outset in the completion of the work of the PSC, they can sit together and do the adjustments, give and take and bridge the gap. The gap can be narrowed more easily than before. Then we would have become aware of the actual problems that we need to address, which may be minor or major. We will then be in a better position to give our agreement in addressing the vital issues. The minor issues can be further discussed later.

The PSC therefore is a good forum. The SLFP, all parties in the UPFA, SLMC, other Muslim groups and hill country Tamil representatives will undoubtedly take part in the proposed PSC and contribute towards compromise and reconciliation. But there are one or two parties which may not see eye to eye with the majority. But we can always let them have their disagreements and accept their submissions, but, the PSC as a whole can provide the majority position. It would then be known that the majority holds the view of reconciliation.

The TNA will view the matter from their own standpoint. It may take some time before they come to a consensus with the majority point of view of the members in Parliament. The UNP can play the most decisive role by coming into this and achieving a consensus agreement. They can add weight to the PSC and the TNA could be persuaded to look at it more favourably than before.

Q: How do you interpret the latest election victories of the UPFA government?

A: The UPFA has won everywhere with bigger majorities than before which shows the confidence placed by the people in the government.

The most important fact is that the government held elections in the North and gave the opportunity to people to exercise their franchise. The government has given the TNA a grand opportunity to establish their position among the Tamil people. That should be taken into account.

Lifting the Emergency regulations is a major step. The Emergency was replete with thousands of regulations. Now most of those regulations are gone and the people are free. Only a few regulations will remain to manage a few things, such as, keeping the LTTE ban, further detention of hardcore LTTE criminals and maintaining essential High Security Zones. Relevant rules and regulations need to be introduced for this. I would prefer if it is done under the PTA because then it will be done under judicial supervision. But, the general decision taken in this connection will not be harmful in solving those issues.

Q: What do you think about the Channel 4 videos, Darusman Report and anti-Sri Lankan elements’?

A: We do not have anything to hide. There was a very bad war for too long and a lot of deaths in both sides. Innocent people died. Nobody would deliberately kill civilians. The armed forces were acting in either defence or offense during engagement with the combatants.

The LTTE used civilians as their shield. The LTTE deliberately killed innocent civilians in the villages. It is the LTTE which is accountable. We are not accountable. If anyone accuses us that some lapse had occurred from our part, I ask them to give the details and we will hold a full investigation and take necessary action against culprits. But videos will do nothing other than create wrong impressions. We need evidence and details.

Q: What is the responsibility of the Opposition, public and media at this juncture?

A: The responsibility of all is to keep away the ethnic issue and not let it hinder our development and progress any longer.

Q: What do you think about the latest developments in the world, such as, the killing Osama bin Laden, the Oslo bombing, London riots etc and the impact they have on countries like ours?

A: Terrorism has been seen in the ‘heavens of peace’. This is only a part of the crisis in the world, mainly the crisis of the American and European economies.

There are cut-backs in social benefits and deprivations of welfare programmes. Unemployment has increased. These things naturally come in the form of unexpected earthquakes, shocks etc. The remedy is putting the world economic order in a proper footing. The world economic order must take the people as their priority instead of the profits of the multinationals and finance capitals. Then we can end terror, anger and mayhem.