‘Elect politicians who love the country not lavish businessmen’:

Unite to develop the country

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

JHU Parliamentarian Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera said the people in the North and the East provinces through the election results have given a strong message to the President that the Government should implement a program to win over the people in the North and the East. Ven. Rathana Thera in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer said the people in the North and the East have also requested the President to free them from the Tamil nationalism in the same way he rescued them from LTTE terrorism.

Q: What are the key reasons which led President Mahinda Rajapaksa to achieve a landslide victory?

A: The people accepted the slogan put forward by the Government that they should extend their gratitude to the President as the leader who won the three decades old war. The people took the stand that they should make him the victor without putting the country into an unstable situation again. It was the intention of all Western forces to defeat the President because he was the leader who went against both terrorism and Western forces.

The Opposition in collaboration with local and international forces launched various conspiracies to defeat the President. The people could clearly see the Opposition alliance’s attempts to destroy the country’s unitary state and all the LTTE friendly elements were within that alliance. Therefore, the people decided to extend their gratitude to the President as the leader who freed the country from the clutches of terrorism. They accepted that the President is the hero of the war victory. Winning the war was the key factor behind the resounding victory of the President.

We should honestly accept that competitiveness at the Presidential Election increased after Sarath Fonseka came into to fray as the Opposition Candidate. Youths who are presently 25 years old do not know about a UNP administration. This Government is the only Government that they have known during their life time. But they were not able to get a totally good experience from this Government as well. We have to accept that people face various hardships at present. The people were of the view that they should re-elect the President who saved the country from the clutches of terrorism. If the Opposition fielded a neutral candidate like Karu Jayasuriya, he would have obtained more votes than Sarath Fonseka.

But the JVP can only agree to a candidate who does not represent the UNP. That is why they fielded Fonseka as the Opposition Candidate but they failed to bring JVP votes to him.

Q: What is the key reason for the rejection of the Opposition candidate by the people?

A: When Sarath Fonseka was fielded as the Opposition Candidate, some people thought he would give a big challenge to the President. People who were disappointed with some corrupt and unscrupulous politicians of the Government were of the view that the President should not be defeated but they should teach a lesson to the Government. But the people could understand that Sarath Fonseka was not the hero of the war victory. The people could also witness the doubtfulness on the forces who were behind Fonseka. The Opposition Candidate’s image was tarnished after he took part in various television programs.

Military officials know the true picture of Sarath Fonseka from their own experience. He is a person who lacks human qualities. This opinion also acted against him. Mudslinging campaigns launched in the face of an election are not valid. I think people did not firmly believe what the state media said about him. But they firmly believed what senior military officials commented on Fonseka with their own experience.

Fonseka can not be compared with senior military officials like General Denzil Kobbekaduwa or Major General Janaka Perera. Kobbekaduwa and Janaka Perera were military leaders and they were very pleasant personalities who had the ability to enter into politics and win the hearts of the people. Fonseka was very poor in his public relations. He had one significant qualification which no other military leader had. He was one of the partners who had the fame of ending the three decades old war. In order to listen to the minorities, Fonseka completely ignored the territorial integrity of the country. The people did not have any confidence in persons like Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Opposition raised the abolition of the executive presidency as a key issue but the people didn’t have any interest in it. If the JVP said they will abolish this preferential system, it would have had some impact. People do not have any experience on the misuse of the executive presidency by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The President used it only to defeat terrorism. That was the wish of the people as well. People say the country needs a stable leader with the executive presidency as a solution to instability. The Opposition Candidate’s slogans were very unclear.

Q: Do you think the reduction of the President’s vote base in the North and East means the people in the North and the East have lost their confidence in the Government or is this due to an agreement reached between the Opposition Candidate and the TNA?

A: The TNA and other Tamil nationalistic forces wanted to defeat the Sinhala leader. But that led to the victory of President Rajapaksa. This political decision taken in the North and the East was felt by the people in the South. That is why over 75 per cent Buddhists voted for the President. The people in the North and the East through this election result have given a message to the President that the Government should implement a program to win them over. The people have requested to free them from Tamil nationalism.

Q: The Opposition Candidate and his alliance request the people not to accept this election result. Your comments?

A: According to the Postal votes results, people could confirm the President’s victory. All the surveys conducted including the UNP had confirmed the President’s victory. In order to make up their mind to go to the General Election, the Opposition says bogus votes have been put. It is better the JVP should find out the reasons for their humiliating defeat without making such irresponsible statements. They should realise the people have completely rejected this claim. The JVP should talk about a new policy. If the JVP says the votes given by the people cannot be accepted, they will be further isolated politically.

Q: Was there any local and international conspiracy launched to defeat the President?

A: Definitely. Foreign forces tried their level best to defeat the President. If Sarath Fonseka obtained nearly 45 percent votes, this would have turned into a competitive election. Then there is a public mandate on behalf of his side as well. If the JVP has obtained 200,000 votes, that is quite enough to distort the public will and create a conflict. That is why the Opposition in collaboration with Western forces attempt to display this as a corrupt election to create an unstable situation within the country. At present the Opposition does not have a mentality to do it. They know they will be subjected to public criticism if they do so. Therefore, we could completely defeat this Western conspiracy. The people should not think this is only a victory of Mahinda Rajapaksa. Through his victory the people could defeat these foreign forces.

Q: Has the JHU decided to extend its support to the Government at the forthcoming General Election? Will the JHU contest from the Government’s list or as an independent political party?

A: We will contest the General Election under the Government’s list by extending our support to take forward the “Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma”. The JHU believes the President has achieved a resounding victory. After 30 years, the country has achieved peace due to attempts made by this Government. We see the future as a new era to rebuild the country. Therefore, the JHU in collaboration with this Government intends to rebuild the country in future. This is the key message we will give to the people at the forthcoming General Election.

The JHU maintains that a cultural bridge should be created between Sinhala and Tamil communities. Therefore, a Hindu and Buddhist coexistence program should be launched. During the past 30 years, a mentality had been created in the minds of Tamil community that they can achieve their own freedom. We should promote the concept that the country cannot be developed with divisions and all should be united to develop it. We are one country and it can be rebuilt. This is our country and not a Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim country. We can safeguard our lives under such country. This country belongs to all.

A new front should be created to rebuild this country irrespective of petty differences. The present trend created is that the world should be newly built. It cannot be done by adopting the traditional development methods. According to the JHU, an alternative economy should be formulated to promote our sustainable agriculture. The Tamil community will also join hands with us to make this endeavour a success especially in the North and the East. Then we can protect this soil. Initiatives should also be taken to promote our local energy sectors, environment and food security. We need Tamil intellectuals who think in this manner. A bridge should be created between such intellectuals and the Sinhalese. This is the view of the JHU.

Q: Do you intend to effectively contribute towards the attempts made by the Government to provide a solution to the ethnic problem?

A: Definitely. As I mentioned earlier, the people in the North and the East through the election result have also given this message to the Government. Compared with the previous election results, the Government has been able to obtain more votes at this Presidential Election. This is a progress achieved by the Government. Some mandate has been created in the North and East on behalf of the Government. We should attempt to further develop this positive change. This can only be achieved through a sound economic policy frame work formulated to develop the North and East areas. In order to fulfil this task, some mechanism should also be formulated with the representation of Ministers, Tamil politicians and civil society members. If we make a request through such a board, foreign investors and even Tamil businessmen will come forward to invest in these provinces as they think the Government acts in a transparent manner. The development in the North should not be artificial.

Q: Are you confident the Government would be able to obtain two thirds majority at the forthcoming General Election. If so, will there be any constitutional change?

A: The Government is in a position to easily obtain two thirds majority. The Government at the forthcoming General Election should introduce its political program to the North and the East in a proper manner. The electoral reforms proposed by a special Parliamentary Select Committee should be subjected to further discussion and it should be approved in Parliament with the approval of all political parties. The present preferential system which has led to create clashes even among the candidates of the same political party should be changed. A new system which gives more powers to the people should be formulated to replace the present preferential system. We should clearly explain this to the people.

Q: Do you think the Government should implement a program to get the votes obtained by the Opposition to the Government at the forthcoming General Election?

A: Instead of the traditional Tamil political leaders selected from the Tamil community, a new and natural political leadership should be created. For an example, the Muslim community could understand who were Muslim leaders came with former President Chandrika Kumaratunga in 1994. The Government should be able to find out a new group of Muslim leaders. Otherwise the Government would obtain the same result from the North and the East provinces.

Q: Corruption and waste is the main allegation levelled against the Government by the Opposition. Some allegations are levelled against the JHU as well. Don’t you think the President should take stern action in this regard?

A: Some legal framework should be formulated to prevent corruption, fraud and waste. According to the present electoral system, a politician has to spend nearly Rs. 20 million to win an election. He has to run throughout the district to find preferential votes. After he comes to power, he has to engage in various corrupt activities to earn the huge amount of money spent for his election campaign.

If this preferential system is annulled, this will be reduced automatically. According to my opinion, the country needs several key Ministers.

They are ministers for Finance, Defence, Agriculture, Energy, Education Health and Foreign. A New mechanism should be formulated to maintain the transparency of foreign investments.

Q: Do you think the incumbent Government should focus more attention to promote Buddhism?

A: If poverty is rampant within the country, people are not in a position to maintain their religion. If the country is developed, Buddhism will also be promoted automatically. Buddhism in Sri Lanka cannot be just considered as a religion.

This can be considered as a world heritage. Because we have been considered as the cradle of Asia for the past 2000 years. People in other countries respect Sri Lankans. We should rebuild this dignity through Buddhism.Our tourism industry should be developed not only for ordinary tourists but also for those who are interested in studying Buddhism. We have a lot of teachers who teach Buddhism and Buddhist monks who can speak in English very well.

Year 2011 has been declared as the “Buddha Jayanthi Year”. Next year would be a most significant year for us.

In order to mark this significant event, steps should be taken to promote our social and cultural identity which was considered as “Daham Divaina” in the past. In order to mould the people Buddhism should be imparted to their minds. A necessary environment should be created to produce more Dhamma teachers. It is the responsibility of the President. Buddhists voted for the President on a grant scale.

Q: What is your message given to the people for the forthcoming General Election?

A: People should not send lavish businessmen to Parliament. The people through this election should only select politicians who love this country and have the ability to build this country. That is the right of the people.

They should send some genuine politicians to Parliament who could work with the President. If the people take this decision correctly, this country can be rebuilt.

Q: Some people criticise the Buddhist monks who enter politics. Do the Buddhist monks in the JHU intend to engage in long term politics?

A: The world need some “Buddhist politics”. This is an international requirement. The Buddhist philosophy has a vision on how to develop the country’s economy. It has also a vision on how to promote aesthetic values. The younger generation should be attracted to Buddhism. Buddhism changes the minds of the people and their living environment.

Buddhism teaches us how to live with the environment in a more friendly manner. Therefore, Buddhist politics are needed in Sri Lanka. The requirement of the JHU is an international requirement. Most of the Buddhist countries have their own Buddhist political parties. The JHU has given a new dimension to the Asian Buddhist political movement.

Our intention is not to bring Buddhist monks into politics. It will be ended within a short period. Whether Buddhist monks go to Parliament or not, there is an urgent requirement for a Buddhist political party like JHU to Sri Lanka.

We will try our level best to further develop this political party. At present the JHU has been able to create a Buddhist international network named “Kalyanamiththa Dhamma Chain” throughout the world.

We plan to call a Buddhist international seminar next year.