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Sunday, 13 March 2011

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LG polls:

UPFA victory will strengthen villages - Dinesh Gunawardena

The government is confident of another election victory at the forthcoming Local Government elections and people in the country would vote for the UPFA.

Minister of Water Supply and Drainage Dinesh Gunawardena in an interview with the Sunday Observer said though the government was fully committed to have a free and fair election, but the preferential vote system where candidates from the same party clash with one another and this has created some violence. The police is entrusted to maintain law and order.

"We will soon change the electoral system", he said adding that there is no organised terror but the cancerous 'manape' (Preferential System) which is the most negative contribution brought in by the UNP into the election system has become a threat to a free and fair election.

He said the victory for the UPFA at the forthcoming LG polls was a foregone conclusion.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

Q: The government predicts yet another landslide victory at the forthcoming LG polls. Will this be an easy task?

A: In short yes. The Opposition has proved to be a total failure because all their predictions have been disproved by the government. At the last elections we won with a very comfortable majority at the elections - Presidential, Provincial and the General elections. The UNP is facing an internal crisis of how to take the party forward, where to go and what policies are to be followed because of the policies they adopted in relation to terrorism, separatism and the anti-democratic moves that their governments launched in the country for which they are answerable today.

In addition the economy has been very stable under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. As Sri Lanka is politically and economically stable the country has become the centre of attention of investors. This did not exist in the country earlier and people are aware of this. Voters have benefited by some of the policies that we have followed. For an example before the world faced its first food crisis in recent times the Mahinda Chinthana gave leadership to the country by granting the fertiliser subsidiary without any increase which helped to increase production in paddy cultivation and other related food sectors. Sri Lanka was thus cushioned during the difficult period.

Secondly it has also contributed to the high incomes earned by the peasantry and rural people. Today we are also experiencing very high prices in the tea and rubber sectors. The UNP's attempt to defeat the government will definitely be a total failure and it will bring defeat for the UNP for the 19th consecutive time.

Q: UNP Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe accuses the government of creating violence in the run-up to the polls. He has also accused the police of turning a blind eye to organised terror. What do you have to say about these allegations?

A: There is no organized terror but obviously this cancerous PR System of elections and 'manapa' system which was the most negative contribution brought about by the UNP into the election system, has caused rivalry among the parties and also within the same political party. Some times the police as well as other law enforcement authorities are unable to contain it as there are certain election laws that police also have to follow. Therefore, the allegation of the UNP that elections are being intimidated is wrong because there are clashes between UNP candidates themselves and there are clashes between UPFA candidates. This is the result of the election system. Police has intervened at every possible moment to control any disruption to the normal election process.

Q: But the government was talking about changing this election system. Why is there a delay?

A: The government has been talking about changes and I have led the select committee for the revision of the election system and recommendations were made.

The UNP took such a long time as they were not in agreement and there was a golden opportunity to change the law and finally when the law was passed, we have to refer it to Provincial Councils and then to Parliament. The issue was whether we are going to postpone elections. That could have been interpreted by the UNP as an anti democratic move. Why postpone elections? If new laws have been implemented re-demarcation of wards system in all the local authorities in the country for which the relevant authorities need nine to ten months, we could have postponed the elections till the end of this year. Without that we can't implement the law which is passed by the Parliament. So this was the reason where we have to hold LG elections before March 31 following the existing process. But the government would go ahead with implementing the necessary changes to election laws in the future

Q: The CAFFE report revealed that Opposition polling agents in Ratnapura, Hambantota, Galle, Ampara and Puttalam were chased away by UPFA supporters. If these complaints are true how can the government assure a free and fair election?

A: Of course the reports are made on complaints but inquiries need to be made to see whether the allegations are true. I would say only the Elections Commissioner would be able to give a ruling on it.

Q: Of all the nominations papers that were rejected, the UPFA has the highest (36) while the UNP has eight and the JVP has one. What went wrong?

A: Nothing had gone wrong. In the North, it is true that we had a fair number of nominations that were rejected. The issue is because UPFA has not been written properly in the other languages. I don't want to comment on issues which have been referred to Courts. But we have used this same name before and it was accepted by the Election authorities.

My own view is that none of the nomination papers should be rejected for minor issues. It is a matter of a candidate's right to contest and if the basics are in order, the right of a candidate or a party should be allowed. If he has violated the law or given false information, it is upto a court of law to take a decision under an election petition to reject the organisation or annul an elected.

This is what happened in India and this is what happened in our country at the parliamentary elections. Then why don't we follow this procedure, this time too? If there is any other election violation take it up when the election is over and disqualify the candidates.

This would be the best approach. Of course these things have to be studied further.

Q: Does the government consider these matters and will it implement them in future elections?

A: The government made considerations for all these aspects in the new election laws. The Bill is before Parliament and it will be taken up at committee stage.

Q: Elections of over 60 LGs postponed and the Opposition says this happened as the Elections Commission is yet to be appointed. Why has the government failed to appoint the commission?

A: The President will appoint the Elections Commission under the 18th Amendment. He will make the announcement after the other commissions are appointed. When we inform that the President has appointed the Commission, Parliament has to make certain recommendations to the constitutional council.

Q: The opposition claims that 20 months have already passed after ending terrorism, promises like the Rs. 2,500 to public servants given to people is overlooked by the government. How do you plan to reach people as people have already shown a poor response to the polls campaign?

A: One can't say that people are fed up with elections because in a democratic society, elections to different political institutions are a necessity.

The issue is how best people can work with elected representatives and how they could have a continuous dialogue with their voters to meet their grievances. I don't think people are negative to elections. They have shown interest to politics. They look at where the political will and power lies. When the Presidential Elections were held there was a very high interest. At the parliamentary elections it dropped and at the provincial elections it will drop further and at the LG polls it will further drop.

We need to encourage people to actively participate in LG politics. We also have to elect LG bodies in the North and the East. It is a positive step which enhances democratic institutions and democratic participation of the people.

This is what the Opposition must understand. We have had 20 to 30 years where there were no elections to local authorities and no people's participation in the North because terrorist groups controlled everything.

Today the situation has been totally overturned by the government where people are free to vote and contest in the North and the East and also any other part of the country.

It is difficult for us to guarantee the victory for the UNP because they themselves have destroyed party principles and confidence of the people.

I think people will participate in this election and will give a very good mandate to the UPFA, which has not given any broken promises to the people.

Q: Almost two years after the war against terrorism ended, the government is still organising military shows, parades etc. Is the government selling the war victory for political purposes and also can this expenditure be justified in the context of the high cost of living, high debt ratio etc?

A: I must recall the famous statement by Abraham Lincoln when the US was at civil war, there was a cry for a postponement of elections and he said that "elections should be held because that was the biggest democratic right the people had".

Recalling the independence day of a country is something that does not come everyday. It is not only for those who are in the government but for the whole country, where our country gained independence after 500 years after colonial rule. One does not have to forget history, the liberation struggle that our people have gone through.

The second liberation that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has brought into this country is an unforgettable chapter in our history. Independence Day which has been held every year is not an extra activity.

The celebration was shifted to the South and why not to other areas of the country, where people from these areas also fought for the country's freedom. They also must witness the victory.

The other celebration of anniversaries of armed forces are held in other countries too because it gives strength and dedication to those who are in the Forces. It is also an opportunity for the Forces to be creative in their military activities.

Whether it is the Army's 50th Anniversary or the Air Force's 60th Anniversary, we should not forget the role they played to bring freedom to this country. We should permit these young men and women in the Forces to be more creative. I would say they have handled the most sophisticated equipment and we should be proud of sons and daughters of Maha Vidyalayas who were able to do so. That shows the challenge of IT, new technology can be easily achieved by our generation.

The government has not sold the war for any political gain and the government battle to defeat other Forces are going on. Some elements, who are outside the country are directly and indirectly involved with separatist and terrorists, are trying to embarrass the Sri Lankan government. There are some politicians who have connections through the UNP and are involved in these activities. I think that one should not embark to embarrass one's own country.

If one could work with outside forces to embarrass the country and further push our country to another internal conflict, the political elements are opportunists.

They have no love for the country. If so we have to continue with our political struggle to defeat these elements that harm the country's hard earned peace. Defeating terrorism is not a victory only for us but also for the world who have banned terrorism. I don't understand why some sections are so worried when we remind and celebrate the victories won.

Victory has to be celebrated. Even after 550 years, a little kid of today as a grown up talks of Rajasinghe the Great, who held the Portuguese for months and months without allowing them to advance. Why? Any country would be proud of their victories and we should be proud of the victory under the leadership of President Rajapaksa defeating terrorism and separatism and making new horizons and development for the people.

Q: The President recently requested the Opposition to wait until 2016 and 2017 to topple him and the government. The UNP's slogan for the LG polls is the 'first step to topple the government' and the JVP wants to 'put an end to deception'. Can the Opposition hope to gain power before 2016 and 2017?

A: I repeat that the Opposition first has to organise itself. I don't think they are very serious about this election reading what Sajith Premadasa said, "there will be a change in the leadership of the UNP soon after the LG polls'.

What does that mean? It shows the UNP's internal battle for power. First that has to be settled by themselves and we have heard enough of these slogans. 'The last days of the UPFA' was pronounced last year at the elections. Now the UNP is changing its slogan and has announced 'the first step towards toppling the government'. I think they have really missed the step.

Q: If Sajith Premadasa becomes the leader of the UNP, some say, the UNP can be a challenge to the government. What is your comment?

A: I don't think the government has any challenge by changing the leadership of the UNP. Because Sajith will take a very long time and I say if he gets a chance to be UNP leader. The UNP is in pieces. It was one of the biggest political parties in the country at one time and they lost this glory as some have crossed over, some left the party and some are fed up with party politics.

The UNP will take a long time to have a come-back and they also need to have Sri Lanka friendly politics. First they have to erase the damage done by their own politics.

As President Rajapaksa said the opportunity to change the government will come after some years, the President too can re-contest if he wants.

Therefore the UNP has to wait a very long time to capture power.

Q: Will some prominent UNPers join the government during this 'long wait'?

A: I don't want to reveal confidential political news, but we have had so much of inquires from top UNPers because they have understood that after defeating the LTTE, the country has a golden opportunity for economic development.

The younger generation, entrepreneurs and rural people, know the path to development is only possible with the UPFA government under the leadership of President Rajapaksa.

They are confident about decisions taken by the President and even the average UNPers have understood that. Unfortunately, leaders of the UNP are yet to understand this and they should end political animosity.

Today society is moving faster than the leaders. If a political party is mired in conflicts interested over personalities, those political parties cannot last long.

Some senior UNP politicians who want to contribute their share to the country's development in the post conflict era are already discussing with the UPFA to join the government.

 

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