President, only capable national leader to offer just solution - SLMC Chairman

New order, new thinking:

To solve Tamil question:

By P. Krishnaswamy

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Chairman Basheer Segu Dawood MP told the Sunday Observer in an interview that after the defeat of terrorism and restoration of political stability in the country, a new order and new thinking has emerged requiring all sections of the people and political parties to strengthen the hands of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his quest towards national prosperity and brotherhood among communities. The SLMC wished to become part of that process and consequently decided to support the proposed Constitutional Amendment with high hopes that the President is the only national leader capable of offering a just solution to the Tamil question.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: The UNF of which your party is a constituent opposes the proposed constitutional amendment. What prompted your party's sudden decision to pledge support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the proposed Constitutional Amendment?

A: After several years of political instability and long drawn out civil strife, a new national order has now emerged, requiring the support of different political parties to strengthen the hands of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the UPFA in their quest for national prosperity and well-being of all communities. The SLMC leadership realised the need of the hour to join and contribute its share towards that cause. This is similar to the situation that emerged after the UNP victory in 1977. There are only benefits in pledging support to the proposed constitutional amendment and there is nothing detrimental either to us or any other parties in doing so. In the past SLMC distanced itself from supporting the President's ambitions on national welfare. By pledging support, I believe, this gap would now be bridged.

Q: Your party represents a bulk of the Muslim community with eight parliamentarians, several members in the Provincial Councils and other local government bodies. Was the decision unanimously supported by these elected representatives and the party high command?

A: The party parliamentary group first took a decision and it was presented to the party high command for endorsement because only the high command has the power to take a final decision in terms of the party constitution. The high command and all elected representatives unanimously endorsed the decision after deliberations and expression of different views.

Before endorsing the decision the elected representatives and the high command took into consideration major national issues, including the President's assurance to go beyond the 13th Amendment while offering a political solution to the Tamil issue; his willingness and capacity to do it on account of the overwhelming mandate that he has received from the majority community; an assurance that he was given to the SLMC leadership on this; and to bring the focus of the international community into this reality for them to consider assistance and support to the President's far-sighted programs for national prosperity.

Q: Do you believe that the Executive Presidential system will benefit the minority communities?

A: Certainly. Prominent leaders of the minority communities, including our founder leader M.H.M. Ashraff, Saumiyamoorthy Thondaman and several leaders of the North-East Tamils had admitted that the Presidential system is advantageous to the minority communities. Voting in polls to elect the Head of the State certainly is advantageous to the minorities since it enhances their bargaining capacity because in such elections the votes of the majority community usually get divided. Of course, the voting pattern was different at the last Presidential Poll due to the reasons that LTTE terrorism was totally annihilated under the stewardship of the President. He received the overwhelming mandate of the majority community. On the other hand the Tamils of the North, distressed by the war expressed their dismay to some extent.

Q: Can I take it that these ideas are based on your past experience under the Executive Presidential system?

A: The SLMC has faced several Presidential elections. In the 1988 Presidential election party founder leader M.H.M. Ashraff indirectly supported President Ranasinghe Premadasa because a mutual understanding with the SLFP was violated by Mrs. Bandaranaike. In all subsequent elections we have remained the deciding factor. I am of the strong view that the Executive Presidential system is the best system for the minority communities.

Q: In pledging support to the Constitutional Amendment, are you anticipating President Rajapaksa to offer a solution to the Tamil question?

A: History bears witness to the fact that successive leaders belonging to the majority community merely intensified the problem instead of resolving it. But it is altogether different in the case of President Rajapaksa. He has lived with rural people and understands the problems of the people. He is an national leader who has won the hearts and minds of all communities. He is one who never said things like 'minorities are creepers in a tree'. He has admitted that the minorities have a problem. We strongly believe that he is committed to resolving the minority issues. Also he has an obligation and moral responsibility by the minority communities. A majority of the political parties of the Tamil speaking people have extended him their support. The UPFA has polled the highest number of votes in the North and East in the last parliamentary elections.

Q:The UNP has blamed you for betraying them, violating the collective responsibility and agreements?

A:There is no question of violating any agreement, understanding or collective responsibility. Agreements were signed focusing on elections on a short term basis. These do not bind the SLMC because it was mutually agreed and understood that constituent parties to the UNF will retain their right to take independent decisions at any time.

Q: In the last parliamentary election, the Muslim community extended their overwhelming support to the SLMC. Was it because you contested as a UNP ally?

A: The SLMC has its own vote base and this was proved in elections which the party contested independently on its own symbol. In fact our votes went to the UNP and not the other way about. We got two UNP national list MPs because it was our rightful due.

Q: Provincial Council administration is in place in the Eastern province for the past nearly two years. Your party has several councillors in it. Your comments on the administration?

A: I would not say that the Eastern PC is functioning with all stipulated powers. It is only functioning as an administrative body distributing dividends from the centre, including development programs being implemented by the centre. Under this the Muslim community is also getting benefited considerably.

In the third world countries the ruling is the Government unlike in the developed countries where all development works are being carried out in collaboration with the other parties. Development programs for any area is not a concession but it is a right of the people. The Muslim community is earnestly seeking to involve itself in the spheres of economy, education, health, fishing etc. We believe that by collaborating with the Government we can do much more for the community.

Q: Now that the war has been ended and peace has been restored in the Northern province, what are your plans with regard to the resettlement of the Northern Muslims who were forcibly driven away by the LTTE in 1990 and now living as refugees in other parts of the country?

A: Now there is a massive problem of resettling the war-displaced families. The Muslims who were forcibly evicted two decades ago have become 'old refugees'. In the process of the natural increase one family has now multiplied into two or three families. Those belonging to the younger generation have some facilities at their present places of domicile including education, health and livelihood opportunities. Those belonging to the older generation want to live in their own soil and breath the air of that environment. The resettlement has to be well planned so that they are not deprived of these opportunities while being resettled in their former villages in remote areas of the North. The infrastructure, housing and livelihood facilities have to be provided. We will take up this matter with the Government.

Q: Local Government elections are due in a few months. Would your party contest the elections independently on its own symbol or will it ally with the UPFA?

A: Local Government elections may be held in January 2011. It is too early to tell whether or not we will ally with the UPFA. We will take a decision at the appropriate point of time depending on the circumstances prevailing at that time.

Q: You have met with visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Ms Nirupama Rao. On earlier occasions your party had expressed concern over the sidelining of the Muslim community in the run up to the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Agreement of 1987 and the non-recognition of the community's right to independent representation at peace talks. Did you take up this issue with Ms. Rao?

A: The SLMC took part in peace talks but only as part of the Government delegation. We considered that participation only as fifty percent representation and we continued to insist on full representative status to the community. We have not abandoned this demand.

With the visiting Indian Foreign Secretary we discussed the question of a political solution to the Tamil issue. We also talked about the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Agreement.

The need for consultations with representatives of the Muslim community in matters of power devolution and any proposals on merger of the two provinces were also taken up. The discussions were mainly centred on something more than the 13th Amendment. India's role in providing rehabilitation assistance to the war-displaced people, our decision to support the Constitutional Amendment and providing assistance to the Muslim community without deterring in any manner the ongoing assistance to the war-displaced people were also discussed.