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| Sunday, 7 March 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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'Good, LTTE entering political mainstream' Interviewed by Ananth Palakidnar
Question:- What is your opinion of the forthcoming General Elections taking place for the third time in four years? Answer:- There is no indication which way the wind is blowing. I do not expect anything to happen radically different. I believe no party would be able to gain the absolute majority. Therefore civil society, non-governmental organisations and all the progressive forces should use the forthcoming polls as an opportunity to bring pressure on the major political parties to concentrate more on solving the ethnic crisis. Q: - Was it alright to dissolve Parliament when attempts were made to settle the country's main problem, the ethnic crisis? A: - I do not think any solid attempts were made to settle the ethnic issue. No one knew what the United National Party was doing with regard to the peace process. We believe the UNP has failed in handling the negotiations. We were trying to achieve a consensus between the President and the Prime Minister. But we could not succeed. We thought the Prime Minister was doing right at the beginning. We told him to win the credibility of Parliament for his efforts and to make the Parliamentary Select Committee headed by the Opposition leader to monitor the peace process. We also pointed out that President Chandrika Kumaratunga should be included in the peace process. The impression we got was that the Premier was responding to us. But nothing happened thereafter. The President took the right decision to dissolve Parliament before the situation got worse. Q: - What is your impression of the Memorandum of Understanding reached between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government of Ranil Wickremesinghe? A: - It is good to see the LTTE entering the political mainstream. They should be given the opportunity to enter further into the democratic structure.When the People's Alliance Government came into power it was giving priority to solve the ethnic crisis with greater devolution of power. Even the United National Party along with other Tamil and Muslim political parties accepted devolving powers to settle the ethnic crisis. So I expect all political parties to rally round again to use the forthcoming polls as an opportunity to address the ethnic issue and other problems faced by the country. Q: - The LSSP has rendered its support to the United People's Freedom Alliance.What do you expect in return ? A: - We were planning to contest on our own.But we later realised that would weaken the united opposition. We came to an agreement with Sri Lanka Freedom Party to nominate our own candidates. LSSP appreciate the commitment of the SLFP towards settling the ethnic crisis with devolution of power.We expect that alternative plans must be worked out to deal with the country's economic situation. However we have our reservations. Q: - How do you comment on the JVP's MOU with the SLFP led to the formation of the United People's Freedom Alliance? A: - These two parties have joined together to reject the United National Party.This alliance is an answer to public demand. You never know what will happen in the future. LSSP never considered the JVP a Marxist Socialist party. Anyway let us hope for the best in the future. Q: - It is for the first time in the political history of Sri Lanka that more than 200 Buddhist monks are contesting at the elections. What is your opinion on this? A: - It is their decision to contest. We are not taking any hard position on this matter. What we need at this juncture is that all progressive forces should join hands to safeguard the country from the crisis situation. Q: - The Tamil National Alliance is backed by the LTTE in the North and the East. If the TNA holds the balance of power in Parliament would the LSSP agree to a coalition with them to enable the UPFA form a Government? A: - There has to be a minority Government.We the LSSP will only join the progressive forces. The Tamil people from the North and the East will know what is best for them. It is good to see the LTTE entering the democratic main stream and they are perfectly entitled to decide on their own political agenda. The polls give the Tamil community to push the Tigers further into the political mainstream and to indicate the nature of the solution they are looking forward to settle their crisis. Q: - Your party was once a Marxist, Socialist party and against capitalism but you have been in governments when have ended up implementing IMF and World Bank policies. Do you intend proceeding the same way if you come to power again? A: - That is wrong. I have not implemented IMF or World Bank policies. I did not allow the water management bill and the Eppawela phosphate project to go ahead.When I was in government I was particular that no foreign power or body dictated terms and conditions. Q: - Do you think the LTTE's Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposals presented to the Ranil Government a viable basis for continued negotiations? A: - Well, we believe a constructive settlement should be reached to defuse the North East crisis. But without underlining anything on the final agreement, proposals for an Interim Administration cannot be a substitute to a final settlement. |
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News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
LSSP's Batty Weerakoon - one time Cabinet Minister, left out of
the People's Alliance National List has abdicated his position as LSSP
leader to another stalwart Prof. Tissa Vitarana, nephew of the late leader
Dr. N. M. Perera. In an exclusive interview with 'Sunday Observer' Batty
makes incisive remarks on the current political situations.
