National security will not be compromised - Keheliya Rambukwella

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

Minister of Media and Mass Communication Keheliya Rambukwella said the national security would not be compromised although some persons were trying to bring up issues to tarnish the image of the Government.

In an interview with the Sunday Observer he said that though the Government was accused of treating Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) well, they have forgotten the past where LTTE frontliners were brought to the country giving VVIP facilities.

“Some went to the extent of calling the LTTE leaders as ‘machan’”, he said.

“Like we recorded the war victory, if we can win the hearts and minds of the Tamil Diaspora we can be victors”, he said adding that the Tamil Diaspora had completely dropped the LTTE’s ideology of a separate homeland for Tamils - and had pledged its support to develop post war Sri Lanka.

He said that instead of a separate homeland they now want to support the Government to develop the country to ensure a future for the Tamils.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: Once you wanted to forge a dialogue to get the support of Tamil Diaspora. What is the progress of this initiative?

A: Yes, it is vital and essential to have a genuine dialogue with them. Most of them are not aware of the ground reality and the progress of the post war period. Therefore, the outcome of the effort is successful and it is progressing.

Q: At a time the Government is striving for development, why do they want to support the Government?

A: They are not interested in the LTTE ideology of a separate homeland for Tamils. They have given up that desire as they are aware that it is a mere dream. From time to time, the Tamil Diaspora who is supportive of the LTTE will come up with issues to show that the LTTE’s ideology is still alive. The declaration of a ‘Trans-national Government’ is one such issue that the pro-LTTE Tamil Diaspora used, to give fresh breath to the LTTE. But it is slowly dying.

Instead of a separate homeland they need to support the Government to develop the country to ensure the future of the Tamils.

We need to be mindful of the fact that we need to talk to them and win them. We are talking about the winning of hearts and minds of Tamil people. We can be victors if we can win the LTTE Tamil Diaspora as well. Since the Government has eliminated LTTE terrorism, it is the time to win the hearts and minds of Tamils to get their fullest contribution to develop the country which suffered from the 30-year-old war.

That is the main desire of the Government to have a constructive dialogue with the Tamil Diaspora.

Q: However much the Government tries to convince the Tamil Diaspora, still the pro-LTTE motivated West attacks post war activities by the Government. Why?

A: There are a variety of reasons. One is that thousands of Sri Lankans who are living outside Sri Lanka still have not witnessed the ground reality. They will take time to get the real picture. The other issue is the efforts taken by the pro-LTTE Tamil Diaspora to tarnish the genuine efforts of the Government to look after the war affected.

There should be a clear distinction between the Tamil Diaspora and pro-LTTE Tamil Diaspora. When talking about Tamil Diaspora, all Tamils living abroad did not support the LTTE. Some, we know, helped the LTTE due to fear. They were forced to help the LTTE and now they freely support the Government to re-build their motherland.

Whoever who complain about treating KP, has forgotten the past. How the then governments worshipped the LTTE. During the days of signing the peace agreement, the terrorists were brought to the venue with state escort. They were brought through the airport as VVIPs. The charted helicopters were given them to travel up and down. Anton Balasingham was allowed to land a sea plane to the so called capital of Eelam.Some of the top government officials including top defence personalities went to the extent of calling them as ‘machan’. ‘Machan Pulidevan’ or ‘Machan Tamilselvam’. They virtually kneeled down to the LTTE. Prabhakaran made those governments dance to his tune. But nobody complained.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the only leader that made the so-called strong terrorist outfit into zero. Earlier they were dictating terms to us but today we are dictating terms to them. We need to look very rationally at how we can progress.

The Government has militarily eliminated terrorism here but it is still haunting outside the country. That is why we need to engage in an effective dialogue with them.

Q: International critics who earlier voiced against resettlement programs of the Government were given access to those areas and were convinced of the success of those programs. Are the doors still open for them to see ground realities?

A: Yes. We have invited them to visit Sri Lanka to see how successfully the Government handles post war activities. On his recent visit to India, the President had extended an invitation to Tamil Nadu Parliamentarians to visit Sri Lanka.

Q: But still the international critics claim the progress made after the war is not as they wish to see. What is your comment?

A: The Government has its own capabilities and framework to engage in post war activities. One who is disillusioned will say these activities can be turned out within 24-hours. But as a responsible government we have our own agendas and we are happy about outcomes we have achieved so far. The Government is going ahead steadily to achieve its sole goal of developing the country

Q: It is reported that the resettled in the North are unhappy as their lands were forcibly grabbed. Is there truth in this allegation?

A: I don’t say it is true or not. What I am saying is that there is enough and more land in the North to settle them. They are now resettled in their own areas. The de-mining is still going on and people can be resettled only after the UN issues a certificate giving the assurance that the areas are free of mines.

Q: The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs who had recently visited Mannar, Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu had complained about grabbing private land. Over 3,000 IDPs were not allowed to resettle in their own land. Your comments ?

A: The TNA, I don’t say all of their Parliamentarians, but some still try to get a mileage from creating issues. I reiterate that certain decisions taken on the basis of national security can not be compromised. It is the responsibility of the Head of State as the Commander-in-Chief to ensure the security of all citizens of this country irrespective of their ethnicity.

If one interprets these issues as grabbing land or occupying land it is totally wrong and these statements are done deliberately to discredit the Government.

Q: According to a recent foreign news report, some of the ex-LTTEers under rehabilitation are being ill-treated.

A: These accusations are normal. Those who want to criticize do not see the brighter side of the issue. No other country in the world has faced such a crucial situation where the Government had to look after over 280,000 IDPs and over 11,000 ex-LTTE cadres. Facing many obstacles, the Government handled the issue very well.

There may be one or two isolated cases where they claim poor treatment. When handling over 11,000 ex-LTTE cadres there may be some issues.

Over 3,000 have already been re-united with their families and are back in their normal lives. They have given up their arms struggle and have started living peacefully.

Step by step, others who are being rehabilitated are integrating into society with training, to make their future better. Everybody will not be happy but out of 11,000 the majority are rehabilitated and happy with their new life.

As a responsible government we are happy that we have implemented a very successful rehabilitation program for ex-LTTE cadres, to get them into the correct path. We have taken all steps to ensure their future.

Q: What is the progress made by the ‘Commission of Inquiry on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation’ appointed by the President?

A: It is progressing well and has invited the public to give evidence.