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We have highlighted national pride to world - Minister Keheliya

'No one can disrupt country's forward march':

Mass Media and Information Minister
Keheliya Rambukwella

Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella in a telephone interview from Australia expressed his views on the UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka, its effects on the country and the local forces working against the motherland. 'We are an independent, sovereign and proud nation and shall not bow to the whims of international forces. The following is the interview:

Q: How will the UNHRC outcome affect the country?

A: Our motherland inherited a proud history. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has never allowed it to bow down to the international forces. Irrespective of the UNHCR outcome the country has been achieving the highest victories in the recent past.

On the other hand only 24 out of a total of 47 countries supported the US sponsored proposal. This is what the world's super power could achieve after using all the clout at its hands until the very last minute. As an independent, sovereign and proud nation we have never been downhearted or stepped back.

Groups working against the country including the extremists are putting forward various types of analyses. But as a government we have a clear stand point. We will never step back or kneel down before international forces.

From the beginning certain groups tried to make petty gains through the UNHRC proposals. Today they are spreading various talks regarding this to gain innocent pleasure. They think that this is the end of the road of the government. But it is not so. This was a moment we displayed our national pride to the whole world.

Q: Some groups argue that this proved that the government has lost international support?

A: What a travesty of the truth? As I said before the super power obtained the support of only 24 out of 47 countries. We received the traditional support of countries like China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. Then how can you say that we don't have international support. These are mere hollow words.

Although some countries who did not support us voted for the resolution it is clear that they did so not because they opposed us. They took that stand due to international political compulsions.

Q: Doesn't the government allege that certain local groups worked against the country through the Geneva resolution?

A: It is unfair to call it a mere government allegation. This is a common allegation made by all who love their motherland.

Everyone was aware about those groups who are working against the country. When the programme to defeat terrorism was in operation these local groups tried hard to sabotage it until the last minute in league with international forces. When a few war heroes died in action they said our armed forces were not a proper fighting force and predicted that the Mahinda Rajapaksa government should prepare to resign and go home. They also made allegations about human rights violations and said there was no media freedom. They are used to indulge in such actions against the motherland by making baseless allegations. Some of them even betrayed the country and left its shores. While others stayed back to engineer their campaign from within the country. The activities they have launched concurrently with the UNHRC resolution were not spontaneous. This is a result of a long term plan.

Q: It is alleged that this group working against the government also includes some media persons?

A: People belonging to all sectors are found both in groups supporting the country as well as groups working against the country. As much as terrorism has no nationality or religion or include a particular sector the same applied to these groups as well. There is also a question as to whether the so called media persons in these groups are real journalists.

The media is an honorable profession in society. Some are hiding behind its cloak to work against the country and society. Similarly a majority of media persons performed a great role in defeating terrorism and fostering peace in the country. They are all immortal.

Q: Although the government claims that it has totally defeated terrorism, the manner in which certain international forces operate suggest that LTTE terrorists are still operating.

A: It is clear to everyone that terrorism had been defeated and true freedom has been restored in the country. But there is a situation where we have to look beyond this. The LTTE ghost is still active internationally. Some of our own people are acting in cohorts with international forces to give life to these ghosts.

It is because the LTTE ghost is active abroad that human rights and other allegations are levelled against the country.

LTTE supporters who could not achieve their objectives through war are now trying to achieve them through these devious ways. Certain international forces were startled to see us defeating terrorism. We defeated the terrorists who were described as invincible and these forces have harboured an anger towards us for accomplishing this task and they are trying their best to undermine us for doing so. The blessings of the people will enable us to defeat these forces and overcome all obstacles for our progress.

Q: Will the Geneva resolution affect the country's march towards development?

A: Compare the situation which prevailed in the country when President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed duties in 2005 and the situation existing today.

At that time there were the dual challenges of ending the war and steering the country towards development. While the effort to defeat terrorism was in progress the development march also progressed concurrently under a correct leadership. By the time terrorism was defeated on May 19, 2009, massive development projects were in progress in several parts of the country.

Today development projects are in progress in all parts of the country. The government which did not allow development work to lag behind even at the height of the war against terrorism will not allow development work to be hampered under any situation.

Therefore, the Geneva resolution will not cause away obstruction to the country's development march. As much terrorism was defeated notwithstanding all challenges, conspiracies and pressures no one will be able to disrupt the country's march towards development.

Translated by D P Wickramasinghe

 

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