Govt committed to accountability - Minister Keheliya Rambukwella

By Manjula FERNANDO

Media Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told the Sunday Observer that the cornerstone of the ongoing Government-Opposition talks on the proposed constitutional reforms is retaining the executive feature of the office of the head of state.

He says the Kilinochchi Cabinet meeting had a greater symbolic value and carried a psychological message that the country was now truly united.

Minister Rambukwella stressed that there was no deviation from the government's opposition to the UN Chief's advisory panel and unless there is an indication of a constructive, useful dialogue, the panel members will not be allowed access to Sri Lanka.

Q: Is there a shift in Sri Lanka's opposition to the appointment of the advisory panel by the UN Secretary General?

A: We as a country opposed it with reasons. We showed our displeasure for a variety of reasons. One is that the Government itself agreed to look into accountability issues in the aftermath of the conflict.

Secondly, why are they asking about just two weeks? This implies that they are specific and predetermined.

The American nominee Steven Ratner has authored a book titled Accountability for Human Rights: Atrocities in International Law-Beyond the Nuremberg Legacy. In that book, on page 123 it states that there is systematic discrimination by the Government of Sri Lanka towards the Tamils. Obviously this shows his partiality. Without giving any consideration to the atrocities committed by the LTTE during the past 30 years, they have made these comments.

The UN Chief says the panel was mandated to look into the accountability issues during the tail-end of the war, by the LTTE and the Government. This draws serious doubts on their bona-fides. The military wing of the LTTE is no more and therefore the question remains as to who they would punish.

The LTTE is a listed terrorist organization. The Government is democratically elected and sovereign. Taking all these things into consideration we opposed the panel. We will continue to do so.

Q: What is the stance over allowing the members of this panel to visit the country during the course of their work?

A: We have made ourselves very clear, unless there is some indication of a constructive, useful dialogue our stance remains as it is.

Q: What is the response of the Government to the closure of the UNDP regional office?

A: In fact that is not something new. There were some 60 odd people working there and they have been notified some one and half years ago of the proposed closure. That is a policy decision that they have taken, probably to cut down on expenses, etc. Perhaps the timing was not in our favour. But the crux of the matter is that this was decided long ago.

Q: With regard to India's stance over the UN issue there had been adverse comments, that India had not stood by Sri Lanka despite a statement by the Non Aligned Movement?

A: Well it's an issue with the UN and not India. The NAM had clearly stated their stance, and also Russia, China and Iran. Basically, all I have to say is that the Opposition is running out of material to criticize the Government and accentuate that they are still in business.

Q: What is the progress the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission has made?

A: It's a Presidential Commission. We have informed the UN Security Council of the President's desire to establish a domestic mechanism for fact-finding and reconciliation as early as June 2009.

The high-powered Commission comprising Tamil as well as Muslim members has already begun pubic hearings since last week. Whatever the evidence the aggrieved parties have with them can be produced before the commission.

It is partly influenced by the South African experience and Iraq inquiry of the UK and I am sure the outcome would be quite comprehensive.

Q: What is the significance of holding a Cabinet meeting in Kilinochchi? The critics say the funds spent on this whole exercise could have been used for the development of the region?

A: Here again I would like to say that some of these critics are running out of real material.

They must dwell on constructive criticism which should help us and the country. That will always be welcomed.

Already we have spent over Rs. 3.2 billion on Northern development. On demining alone we have spent Rs. 860 million from the Consolidated Fund. That is exclusively from the Government coffers.

So comparatively, I don't understand what kind of fun they have by calling the Kilinochchi meeting an unnecessary extravaganza. We soon forget things. They are forgetting the significance of it.

Kilinochchi is where Tamilchelvam said they were going to have the capital of the dream Tamil Eelam. From time to time they were boasting about Kilinochchi.

Those who went to Medawachchi looking for Kilinochchi may not see its significance at all! I feel sorry I could not invite my good parliamentary colleague and friend Ravi Karunanayake to this event to show him the difference between the two cities.

During the infamous Ceasefire Pact, Anton Balasingham violated all our laws when he got himself flew in from Maldives in a sea plane to hold meetings with his chief in Kilinochchi. They held it in pride. That is where they had the main airstrip where the LTTE light aircraft took off.

The Cabinet is the highest body in the country. To hold a Cabinet meeting there has a very symbolic value as well as a psychological impact, to get across the message that this is a unitary state. The country has now been re-united. That was the idea behind the whole exercise.

Q: Where will be the next venue to host the Cabinet meeting?

A: This is not the first time we moved out of Colombo. We once had it in Kandy and then Embilipitiya. But only the Kilinochchi meeting courted a lot of criticism. There had been a sudden rush of blood. Or may be some of them are still feeling Kilinochchi is not ours and thinking how we dare penetrate this foreign land. Certainly there will be more Cabinet meetings outside Colombo.

Q: You have said the high Security Zones would remain in Jaffna for as long as they are felt necessary. But the war is over now, is there a need to continue them?

A: Well, the Elephant Pass was there from 1948. But I must emphasize that we will never compromise the security of the country. The Americans have a base in Korea. People are barred from entering there. The Koreans are very unhappy. But the Government of Korea and the US is not going to shift it. That is where they talk about five star democracies!

You see it's a pity that the size and economy of the country perhaps is taken into consideration when making a comment. When America is doing something it is accepted because it is a global giant and better heard. But when it comes to Sri Lanka a different rule applies.

In terms of resettlement I don't think anywhere in the world they have moved as fast as Sri Lanka, more than anything else the thought behind it, counts. We resettled 264,000 people in 365 days.

People argue about their land being used for High Security Zones and they are being resettled in other places. For 30 years what happened? Were any one of these people able to talk to Prabhakaran and bargain with him? Leave alone land, their own flesh and blood, the children had to be sacrificed.

Wherever possible we want to resettle the IDPs in their own lands. But we have to face the ground realities. We have to give them land where the land is available. Livelihoods have to be looked into.

Unfortunately some take it in a bad spirit which is not the best that can happen to a country which has just stepped out of the dark forces of terrorism that had petrified a whole nation for so long.

Q: There are allegations by the Tamil National Alliance that the Government has no funds to build houses for the displaced?

A: They have to say something for the people to remember that there is a political party called the TNA. When we met the Indian PM Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Finance Minister during our recent visit to New Delhi, Rs.1 billion was pledged to re-construct the railways, etc. and within ten minutes of the talks, a decision was made to allocate US $250 million as an outright grant to build 50,000 houses. They were so generous in helping us with the resettlement of the displaced civilians. This was not even pre-planned.

The point is the TNA has lost its base. And they keep on losing, so they need to show their presence. I will not be surprised to see another statement in papers tomorrow.

Q: How long will it take for the government to complete the resettlement?

A: We had a deadline. Up to now we had resettled 266,000. Now there are about 30,000 - 35,000 remaining. How on earth one expects the effects of a 30 year disaster to be replaced with a complete revamping within 365 days. I can say with some pride that nowhere in the world, a situation like this has been so effectively and efficiently dealt with. Over 300,000 civilians walked in within 72 hours. The government had an enormous task in sheltering, feeding and looking after them. No one died of starvation!

We should show some gratitude and take pride in what the country has achieved so far. The TNA or the Opposition must leave aside petty political differences when dealing with issues such as these. There may be areas we need to correct ourselves as a Government. That has to be discussed within ourselves. But when it comes to national issues we have to be genuine and join forces for the sake of the country.

Q: The Opposition and the Government are engaged in a dialogue over the proposed constitutional changes. Is there a road map to ensure that these talks will not end halfway? How soon will it be wrapped up?

A: The road map is to reach consensus as early as possible. It seems to me now the main opposition led by Ranil Wickremesinghe is observing that this whole process as something that should be addressed soon.

Q: Earlier there was a move by the Government to extend the two-term tenure of the Executive presidency. What is your current stand?

A: Well, that was not so. Those were all suggestions and ideas in a healthy democratic system. Even among the constituent parties of the UPFA, there were conflicting views. Prof. Tissa Vitharana came out with his opinion and Vasudeva Nanayakkara expressed his own views. This is synonymous with a vibrant democracy.

It was not as if the Government was trying to bulldoze the whole issue in its favour with the near two thirds it is currently enjoying in the House. Two Thirds is not an issue. We are five short of two thirds but there are ten excess, if you take it that way.

But we are planning to work it out in consensus with the Opposition.

Q: What are the key areas the Government is looking at in bringing amendments?

A: One of the concerns is the abolition of the Executive Presidency which is not answerable to parliament . I suppose this is something the public has also been wanting. The President too, is concerned about that. He is looking at this whole issue with an open mind.

But the Government's view is that the executive feature of the office of head of state should be retained. That is the cornerstone of the discussions. Everybody is talking about the accountability aspect of the head of the state. This will feature seriously in the discussions. The President has already said that he preferred to be in Parliament.

Q: As the Media Minister, what is in the offing for the media personnel in terms of their welfare?

A: I would not want to give fat promises that would ultimately become dead ropes. Honestly there are areas I can take some action. I am still trying to find out who is a journalist in Sri Lanka. What the criteria laid down, or the practice or the tradition which determines a journalist. Any individual who writes an article to a website the next day calls himself a journalist. That is something that worries me, because it deals with the dignity of the media personnel.

I am trying to bring them to a forum where they are honestly and really recognized as media personnel. Establish this as a recognized Service within Sri Lanka like the Foreign Service or the Education Service. The issuance of licenses and accreditations - all that will be looked into.

There are no basic educational criteria for media personnel, just like for the members of Parliament. This will have to change. We are looking at setting standards and offering mid-career training opportunities.

I will not turn myself into a talk shop just to appease the audience. I want to put all my effort to pursue what is possible within the present environment and make sure that is finally achieved with in a definite framework.