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| Sunday, 16 January 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Tsunami rebuilding : UNP split over co-operation with government Weekend Politics by Suraj & Viraj
Political leaders from all parties have a heavy responsibility cast on them to rehabilitate and rebuild the nation. They have to put the country before self and the party they represent. The tsunami catastrophe has given them this message. No political party will be able to play politics with the life of the people affected by this disaster. A fortnight after the tsunami disaster, it is sad that certain politicians are trying to capitalise on this disaster by pressing wrong signals to mislead the affected people. However, political party leaders and stalwarts appear to be concerned to work unitedly towards getting the nation out of the catastrophe. Sensing the conduct of some politicians in recognised political parties, Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera issued a statement on Thursday focusing this fact. He complimented Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya and UNP stalwart Milinda Moragoda for their commitment to work in line with the thinking of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to rebuild the nation. Minister Samaraweera quite rightly pointed out that while these three leaders were of the opinion that a concerted effort was needed to face the national challenge, a section in the UNP were criticising the rehabilitation and reconstruction programs launched to pull the country out of the crisis. The regular meetings between President Kumaratunga and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on the rehabilitation and reconstruction process have hurt some UNPers who are anxious to bring the party back to power early through cheap means. The immediate national crisis caused by the tsunami disaster, which is even more important than the long drawn ethnic issue should and has to be given top priority as it affected all people irrespective of race, religion or party. The UNP second eleven team that comprises vociferous characters seem to act contrary to what the party hierarchy feels about the country and the people. Members of this team who earlier shunned the state television services accusing it of distortion, now seem to love the Rupavahini and the ITN political programs to present themselves. This they use as an opportunity to criticise the ongoing rehabilitation and reconstruction programs launched by the government. If Wickremesinghe is genuinely concerned to work hand in hand with the President in accomplishing this heavy task by the people and the nation, he should warn his second eleven team not to be critical of the rebuilding process as it is unfair to do so within just a fortnight of the calamity. Milinda Moragoda, known as a moderate in the UNP has even mooted an idea that the UNP should work with the UPFA government for two years to help the present administration pull the nation out of the rubble caused by tsunami. Moragoda's suggestion looks democratic at a time of national disaster and Wickremesinghe should give serious thought to work out that strategy for the benefit of the nation. If the two main political parties decide to work together for at least two years, smaller political parties would not be able to throw their weight to achieve political gains. If the UNP leader overlooks the disruptive actions of his subordinates, he and his party will have to take the blame for that dreadful sin which the UNP would commit by the people and the nation. Within a fortnight of the calamity, President Kumaratunga categorised the rebuilding process into three segments. These three key areas are brought under a Centre for National Operations which the President personally handles and monitors. Phase one covers humanitarian aspects. Phase two deals with rehabilitation and reconstruction while phase three concerns the most important aspect of sustainable economic development. A massive rebuilding task of the current nature would at least need two to three years to normalise the lives of those affected people. The state has to identify land to resettle them 300 metres away from the beach. A sound road and railway plan need to be implemented to prevent these infra-structural facilities from falling to disasters like tsunami or otherwise. While leaders from the international community and from the South of the country went to the North and East, LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran who claims to be the leader of the Tamils in those areas has not yet surfaced to meet those affected. Though the Opposition Leader Wickremesinghe looked amenable to work with the Government for tsunami victims, Rajitha Senaratne MP held a press conference to criticise the government's plan stating that it has not given adequate consideration to humanitarian relief. He said the Government had only given consideration for property development. The UPFA was planning to hold a massive rally to mark one year in power. But with tsunami it has transformed to a massive Sramadana campaign to assist the victims. The UPFA leaders plan to conduct the campaign in certain areas in the North and East. Sri Lanka is still receiving high level delegates from abroad. President Kumaratunga has had a discussion with German Deputy Chancellor and Deputy Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. Mrs. Kumaratunga explained to him the Government reconstruction plan in detail. After a 30 minute discussion the visiting Foreign Minister pledged 500 million euro as assistance for Sri Lanka. The JVP and JHU leaders questioned at the All Party National Disaster Committee meeting as to why the US$ 11 million fund raised from the cricket match between the rest of the World and Asia was channelled through the World Vision NGO. JVP MP Wimal Weerawansa urged that these funds should be properly channelled to Sri Lanka. JHU leader Prof. Ellawala Medhananda thera noted that funds raised should not be allowed to use for another purposes of the NGO. The TNA and the LTTE blamed the Government for barring UN Chief Kofi Annan visiting the North and East. But two TNA MPs R. Sampanthan and Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam managed to meet the UN Secretary General. They explained Annan that war displaced Tamil civilians have not yet resettled despite the three year ceasefire agreement and the situation has become worse following tsunami. Secretary General Annan gave a patient hearing to the two MPs and said that he had noted their grievances. North and East Governor Tyronne Fernando had to face a hostile situation last week when he visited a camp of tsunami victims with his officials in Point- Pedro. Some people held placards and urged the Governor to send more assistance to them. However, the Governor who was a veteran politician was able to calm down the situation. Addressing them, the Governor promised to assist the victims. However, UNP back media distorted the story may be in fear that Tyronne will convert the opinion of people in the North and East against the UNP. |
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