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Former UNP minister S. B.Dissanayake in an interview with the Sunday Observer staffer Jayantha Sri Nissanka said he would fight back for his civic rights. If his rights were not restored even after the UN Human Rights Committee conveys its decision which he expects to be in his favour in April, he plans to internationalise the issue. Following are excerpts of the interview:

Q: How was your life in prison?

A: Six months I was in Welikada. After that I contracted a back pain and was in hospital for six months. We were occupying a very old building in Welikada. Water leaks from the roof on rainy days. Then we spent sleepless nights. There were about 100 inmates packed in that ward. We had only two toilets which were in very bad condition. The TV was not working. We all slept on mats. Before we sleep, we apply kerosene oil around the mat to prevent ants from encroaching the mats. But they attack us in the night after kerosene oil has evaporated. Food is cooked for nearly 5000 inmates. We had to cook it again in our ward, as they were given to us in a sub quality standard. I was working in the press and I enjoyed that. But I maintained a very good fitness and did everything possible to keep me mentally fit.

Q: Can you play an active role in politics while being deprived of civic rights?

A: My lawyers and I believe that my civic rights have not been deprived. Any Sri Lankan citizen enjoys 221 rights under the civic rights category. Someone will lose his civic rights if he is convicted on election laws, bribery or criminal offences. I have not been convicted on any such offence. I believe that I have not lost my civic rights. But, I don't have any higher institution to clarify this position. Only option left is to refer it to President Mahinda Rajapakse. But the President says that his hands have been tied by the Supreme Court and others. Be that as it may, the President is a good friend of mine. When former President Chandrika Kumaratunga was ill-treating him, I was with him. Even if he does not restore my rights, I will be only prohibited from contesting future elections. But I can engage in all other activities. I will continue my politics with the UNP and do my best to bring the UNP back to power.

Q: But some senior members in the UNP are trying to bring you back to Parliament through the National list. Are you planning to use that option?

A: My lawyers and many UNP seniors are of that opinion. But I am not in a hurry to get back to parliament. My party must undergo serious reforms. Now I can devote myself for that purpose.

Q: How has the conviction affected your political life?

A: Every convicted person who comes out of the prison comes as patients. They suffer from diabetes, blood pressure or some other ailment. President Rajapakse too faced the same situation. But I was very concerned about my health even in prison. I used to do rigorous exercises and read well. I wrote three books. I became a very popular politician and won the hearts of many people. I benefitted from the imprisonment. I came out of the jail to people who walked miles, who were staging a Sathyaggraha demanding my release. But former President Kumaratunga who sent me to jail is now in political wilderness. Everyone has deserted her and today she is nobody's child.

Q: You complained to the UN Human Rights Committee against the judgement. Even if you get a favourable reply, it will not have any binding effect in Sri Lanka. Therefore, how do you plan to get your civic rights restored?

A: We have signed two treaties accepting the UN Human Rights Committee and honouring their decisions. Though we have not amended our laws to incorporate Committee decisions, we are legally bound to accept such decisions. That is why the Government had to inform them that the Government would pay compensation to Victor Ivan. If I get a favourable reply, the Government will have to restore my rights. If the Government fails to do so, I will internationalise the issue. Already many diplomats have pledged their support to me. But I am confident that the President will restore my rights if the decision is in my favour.

Q: Will you join the Government on invitation?

A: Not at all. I cannot disappoint my supporters who walked miles demanding my release. As Prabhakaran described, the President is a practical man. But he is not allowed to work the way he wants by coalition partners in the Government.

Q: Do you intend to call on the President?

A: Yes. I must go and see him when he is free.

Q: What happened to the book you promised write while in prison?

A: I have written three books. They are `Bandaranaike's and the Sinhalese'. `Poverty alleviation and the Ethnic problems focusing on Sri Lanka'. I had registered for two Phd programmes at the Tokyo University and Delhi University before I was jailed. I will submit second and third books as research studies after further improving for my Phd theses.

Q: How is the UNP reorganisation process?

A: There is a total breakdown of the party machinery. We need to introduce a new system to resurrect the party.

Q: Was it the reason for the UNP's defeat at the last Presidential election?

A: Yes. That was one of the reasons. In addition, strategies and plans went wrong. If those were rectified at the beginning, Ranil had a chance to win. All factors were in favour of Ranil. But Ranil lost due to mishandling of issues. After analyzing I told Ranil that he will lose in the South. President Rajapakse's charisma, his public relations and as a southerner contributed immensely towards his victory. But the UNP also got more votes compared to previous elections. But the President won with a thumping majority in Hambantota. UNP over estimated their position. UNP had to talk with the LTTE. But they did not do it thinking they would lose the southern votes. If I was there I would have gone there personally to meet Prabhakaran. UNP leaders were scared to talk to LTTE and the TNA.

Q: UNP seniors were agitating to remove Ranil Wickremesinghe from the leadership. Who would replace the present leader?

A: This issue should be seriously discussed within the party. Therefore, I cannot answer your question.

Q: Why only few people in the UNP always take vital decisions?

A: That is true. Decisions should be taken by politicians who knows the pulse of the people. However, everyone has agreed to broaden the decision-making process in the party.

Q: How do you analyze the Local polls?

A: UNP will lose certain Councils and win some Councils. The UNP machinery is not prepared for this election.

Q: Have you organised a strategy?

A: There is no time now. We will win certain councils and lose some. However, all parties JVP,JHU,SLFP and UNP will learn bitter lessons at this election. I like to see the results. Personal agendas are there in every party. This is detrimental for the future of the country. Every party will learn a good lesson.

Q: What do you think about the peace process?

A: It's a very small matter. This problem can be solved, if we are honestly committed to devolution of power. First we should discuss whether it should be a Federal or an autonomy based solution. Puerto Rico and Arland islands, Scotland are some examples. Belgium, USA, Malaysia, Australia devolved power within States. We cannot hoodwink each other. We must recognise Tamils as Sri Lankans and should know that they have equal rights like us. Switzerland is a smaller country than us. But they have devolved power within 26 cantons. Belgium has six Parliaments. Why are we scared of devolution of power. Only racists and religious fundamentalists are against it.

Q: Do you think that Geneva talks will help us to restart the peace process?

A: Well, we will not be able to find an answers to all our problems at once. But Prabhakaran will not try to derail the peace talks at this juncture. However, we will be able to continue talks.

Q: Can we secure the final solution for the North and East by a two thirds majority in Parliament and at a referendum?.

A: Why not. If major parties strongly advocate the need, people will endorse it. If I have the power I don't need both. I will implement it. We need a progressive dictator who respect human rights to run this country like Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore. General Park Chung Hee in South Korea and Den Xiao Peng in China. If all political parties endorse it people will vote at a referendum.

Q: Don't you think that politics has ruined this country?

A: Progressive Politics are there in all other countries. For an example Switzerland has 26 cantons, 2902 commune (Local Councils). Though there are many parties under the democracy, it has not affected the development of that country. Whatever Government came into power, India will not change their national policies. Our problem is that every political party has private agendas. We are practising this from 1911. Since then, political parties use racism, langauge, caste system, religion to come to power. We must stop these petty agendas now for the future of Sri Lanka.

Q: When a national policy is introduced by one Minister his successor decides otherwise. So how can we change personal agendas of Sri Lankan political leaders?

A: That is true. Many of my national policies were renamed and implemented by successive Ministers. But they failed. We all must stop playing petty politics and think of the country.

Q: Don't you think that western democratic models have ruined our country?.

A: That is perfectly true. Democracy works for countries like USA, Belgium, France. But this has disturbed the development of the countries in Asia.

If the Asian countries have developed, they have develop through tough leadership qualities adopted by leaders like General Park, Lee Kuan Yew, Mahathir Mohamed, Abdul Gayoom. Just see the per capita income of Maldives, it is US$ 2030 today. Where are we?

Q: Can we achieve a good economic growth by converting Sri Lanka to an industrialised nation?

A: What resources do we have to become a industrialised nation other than labour? We must become a service oriented nation. I was criticised by many fractions when I introduced banana plantation in paddy lands in Hambantota.

Now farmers earn a good income. 90 percent of paddy lands in Gampaha make loses. Farmers can make a good income if they cultivate Pineapple or Rambutan in those lands.

All unprofitable paddy fields in Kandy should plant Durian. In Kalutara paddy lands , Mangosteen should be cultivated.

Though the JVP talk big about paddy cultivation, they have not realised that it is an unprofitable venture. Farmers should commercialise agriculture field and move towards a profitable cultivation process.

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