With Maubime panchayudhaya:

Steam-roller majority, says Wimal

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Wimal Weerawansa says two thirds majority is essential for the Government to restore political stability and to prevent attempts by the Opposition to turn both the country and the Government into a state of chaos. The National Freedom Front Leader and former Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa said in an interview with the Sunday Observer. Economic development can only be achieved if political stability is maintained, he emphasised.

Q: Do you feel the Government needs a two thirds majority at the upcoming General Election as an urgent need?

A: Definitely, it is very essential for the Government to obtain a two thirds majority due to several reasons. Right now peace has dawned in the country. Next the country needs to achieve its political stability, which can only be achieved through a two thirds majority in Parliament.

If we get 115 or 120 seats in Parliament like earlier it will become very difficult to prevent attempts made by the Opposition to weaken and turn both the country and the Government into an unstable situation, with the help of some foreign forces. In order to overcome this situation, a two thirds is essential for the Government. It is also required to rescue the country from the constitutional and electoral trap introduced by late President J. R. Jeyewardene. Certain international forces are still waiting 'behind the curtains' to destabilise our country. They have plenty of hatred for Rajapaksa Government.

Q:The Opposition say by giving a two thirds majority to the Government will open avenues to take the country towards dictatorship. Your comments?

A:This is a very absurd comment made by the Opposition. If any ruler wants to be a dictator, the executive powers are quite sufficient to do so. President Mahinda Rajapaksa during the past four years of his administration has clearly shown to the people that he has no intention whatsoever to play the role of a dictator.

This is the first Parliament to be formed after the lasting peace was achieved by the country. Our war heroes did it by making a lot of sacrifice on behalf of their motherland. Therefore, a two thirds majority is essential for the Government to bring about socio-economic benefits to the people.

Q:Do you think the minority vote base would turn into a more positive one for the Government?

A:The Government could have obtained a considerable amount of minority votes at the last Presidential Election as well.

I think they would show more positive response to the Government at the General Election. They are well aware at present there is no use of going behind the UNP or other Opposition alliances.

They know the country will be governed by the UPFA Government for the next six years. We are confident that they will rally round the UPFA at the forthcoming General Election.

Q:The UNP during its election campaign attempts to highlight the SLFP led Governments as unable to manage the economy well. They say it can only be done by a UNP Government. How do you view this comment?

A:This is a traditional point of view maintained by the UNP. Today the UPFA has clearly proved how successfully it has managed the economy even amidst war situation and when the entire world faced an economic recession and an energy crisis. Even under these circumstances, the Government did manage the economy well not passing the burden on to the people. In such a crisis situation, if a UNP Government was ruling the country, they would have divided the country first and sold the country's resources to foreigners.

This Government moved forward by safeguarding both the country and its national economy. This Government didn't sell any State institutions to overcome the economic problems faced like the UNP Government did then. Under the leadership of President Rajapaksa, the Government has not sold even a single State institution. The country has been safeguarded in this manner due to its sound economic policies adopted by the Government.

Q:The Opposition allege that the Government has failed to introduce a political manifesto. Your comments?

A:If we present one manifesto at the Presidential Election and another at the General Election, it will become a joke. The Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma"introduced at the last Presidential Election is the same for the General Election as well. We can't present several political manifestos like how Ranil Wickremesinghe does. If we do that, we will become a laughing stock.

Q:The Government say this may be the final General Election conducted under this preferential system. Will the new UPFA Government take measures to change the system?

A:The present preferential system should be changed. New electoral system which contains the features of the first-past-the post-system and proportional representation system should be introduced to replace the present electoral system which has provided the opportunity to only those who have wealth to come to power.

Q:You have made a public statement that you would obtain more preferential votes than Ranil Wickremesinghe. Is this a possible target for you to achieve?

A:At present Ranil Wickremesinghe is scared whether UNP candidate Rosy Senanayake might obtain more preferential votes than him. I think Ranil would not be able to match my number of votes. This is a request made by me instead of telling them I would get more votes than Wickremesinghe. I have already made a request from the people to increase the number of our preferential votes rather than to Wickremesinghe's votes who hatch various conspiracies against this country. I am very confident the people in the Colombo district would provide a more positive response to my request at the upcoming General Election.

Q:Why did you decide to launch your election campaign under the theme of Maubime panchayudhaya ?

A:During the past several years, I dedicated myself to defeat the terrorism. I extended my fullest cooperation to the President in this regard. Unlike other JVP Leaders, I didn't take decisions to obstruct the great victory achieved by the Government.

When some JVP leaders took certain decisions to betray this country, other JVP MPs and I quit the JVP and joined in the struggle launched by the Government to defeat terrorism. Normally panchayudhaya is tied on the neck of a child for his protection. This is an unique feature only to our country. The child is the most essential resource for the parents while motherland is the most essential resource for its citizens.

During the past few years, we acted and safeguarded the motherland like a "panchaudhaya" tied to a child's neck. That was the reason as to why, I had selected this slogan as the theme of my election campaign.

Q:What made you to introduce a political manifesto under the title of "Hurdha Shakshiye Malimawa"?

A:This is some sort of proposals rather than a political manifesto which points out the responsibilities of a new Parliament to be formed, after lasting peace was achieved by the country. Everybody knows that peace was achieved by making a lot of sacrifices by our war heroes.

The forthcoming New Year would also be the first new year we would be celebrating after peace had dawned. Through our manifesto, we have introduced a key vision to take the country forward.