‘People should not fall prey to conspirators’

Do not use youths as political tools to achieve political expectations. By doing so the lives of youths will be destroyed forever. The people should not get caught to conspirators who are now trying to use the youths of this country as political tools to capture power, said Technology and Research Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha during an interview with the Daily News.

Following are extracts of the interview:

Q: Comment on President Mahinda Rajapaksa's second term of office and Mahinda Chinthana - Vision for the Future.

A: We had a 30-year-long war and we have a President who eradicated terrorism and realizes the aspirations of the people. He is always with the people.

He is the most popular President Sri Lanka has ever had. This is because Sri Lanka is free of fear now. In the past a father and mother did not travel in the same vehicle because they did not want their children to lose both parents at once. When the mother went by bus, the father used the train to avoid bombs and death. The whole world believed that the LTTE cannot be defeated. The TIME magazine rated the LTTE as the most ruthless terrorist outfit. But President Rajapaksa believed in himself and his people.

He handed over to his brother the task of ending terrorism after providing the LTTE an opportunity to hold peace talks with the government. The LTTE killed world leaders such as Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, local leaders, Tamil politicians such as Lakshman Kadiragamar and scholars such as Dr. Neelan Thiruchelvam who believed in democracy and peace. The LTTE preached to the Tamil community that the Sinhala community should be destroyed by war because the Sinhalese are enemies of Tamils. But today it has ended. Today, we are a nation where a mammoth development process is taking place. President Rajapaksa achieved more than any leader achieved during the last 30 years.

He brought development to the village. Earlier, development took place only in urbanized areas. He brought economic prosperity to the people living in rural areas. Today, Hambantota, Moneragala and all rural districts, especially the North and East are developing. The paradigm shift introduced by President Rajapaksa brought tangible benefits to the people of this country.

Q: Comment on the LLRC report, implementation of the 13th amendment etc.

A: The LLRC report is very comprehensive. The President gave a mandate to the LLRC and they presented the report. The report will address most of the issues faced by the Tamil community.

It is not biased and fabricated as the Darusman report. Today, some parties are talking about the devolution of power in the North and East.

The people in the North and East need better housing, schools and healthcare facilities. They need a decent life. Once they get these facilities, they will think rationally about everything including the devolution of power. Politicians thrive on people living in poverty and they use poverty as a tool to gain political advantages.

The politicians say if there is devolution of power poverty will disappear. But the people living in the North and East need development not devolution of power. Politicians use racial hatred as their political platform. The TNA should think about this situation. The LTTE destroyed everything including political leadership, infrastructure facilities etc.

The TNA should get together with the government and build the North and East. The USA produced a black President. But in US nobody talks about a person's colour, religion or ethnicity. That is because they have a decent life with all facilities. But in Africa the situation is different. They suffer from extreme poverty and there are conflict because of colour, religion, ethnicity, tribe etc. This is because politicians use these as their political platform to further destroy their lives.

The only way forward is economically empowering the people of North and East enabling them to think rationally.

A person with an empty stomach cannot think about devolution of power or anything else. The TNA was the proxy of the LTTE and they only echo the voice of the LTTE. But now they can speak freely and express their views. I humbly request the TNA to think as Sri Lankans and not as Tamils. President Rajapaksa said there are no minorities and majorities in this country. He is focused on economically empowering the people and making their lives prosperous. People are today talking about refugees.

What about the people chased away from their homes by the LTTE? A large number of IDPs were chased away by the LTTE from their original homes in the North and East and are now living in other parts of the country.

A large number of IDPs have been living out of the North and East for decades due to the LTTE's ethnic cleansing process. The TNA should talk about these people's rights. This is a much bigger issue, because the number of IDPs is high and they have been living as IDPs for decades.

Q: What will be the impact of the JVP split and UNP internal conflict?

A: The JVP destroyed the youths of Sri Lanka in 1971 and 1988. Youths are the biggest asset of our country. It is very easy to mislead youths because they are very emotional. The political leaders of Sri Lanka should not use the youths of the country as political tools to grab power. Today some politicians are trying to arouse the emotions of youths to capture power.

I believe that the youths of this country are wise and they will not fall prey. Since the present young generation is wiser than the past, they cannot be misled easily. The UNP is the second largest single party in the country.

For the sake of democracy, the UNP should shed differences and unite. They have to stay together. A stable and strong Opposition is required for the betterment of the country.

Q: Is there a move to destabilize the country and destroy peace?

A: There is a large scale conspiracy at international level and local level. We are a government of 161 seats. Therefore, the present government led by President Rajapaksa cannot be defeated through the democratic process. Therefore, the only way of destroying the government is through destabilizing the country. Certain elements are now trying to do it by misleading youths.

This is a political conspiracy. This is not democratic. But this government is strong and capable. It has already done a significant service to the country and its people. From 2001 to 2004, the UNP did not give a single job to youths. But this government has given employment to youths than any other previous regime.

I ask the politicians of this country not to use youths as political tools to achieve their political expectations. By doing so the lives of youths will be destroyed forever.

All political parties should be patriotic towards the country and involve only in constructive criticism. But this is not happening today.

Sri Lanka has received a golden opportunity after suffering for 30 years. We have to strengthen the hands of President Rajapaksa and achieve economic prosperity. President Rajapaksa cannot be dictated by any foreign force.

Q: Do you have any message to the public?

A: The people should not get caught to these conspirators who are now trying to use the youths of this country as political tools to capture power. I have a message to the TNA. TNA did not have a voice in the past under the LTTE.

It was only the echo of the LTTE voice. Please join with the government to alleviate the poverty of the people living in the North and East.