Lanka, a powerful hub soon in South Asia - Wimal Weerawansa

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa said Western forces are well aware that the country will move forward in another 10 years under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, it will turn into a powerful country in the South Asian region which cannot be turned back again. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said Western forces don’t want to let that happen and further they want to destabilise the country. That is why they are trying to take revenge from the President and the Government. The Minister is confident that Sri Lanka can successfully face this challenge as the people are rallying round to face it.

Q: From the time you joined the UPFA you have been signaling that there is an international conspiracy brewing against Sri Lanka. With the Darusman report and the Channel 4 documentary can you elaborate your allegation?

A: As we all know most of the Western countries did not believe that Sri Lanka would be able to defeat LTTE terrorism. They were anxiously waiting until we would be defeated in the battlefront. But we successfully defeated LTTE terrorism. The strategic plan of these Western countries was aborted due to that. Their intention was to create a Tamil Eelam, but their plan was not successful.

In order to realise their goal, these Western countries spent a huge amount of money and sacrified their time and energy. According to them it was President Mahinda Rajapaksa who threw their plan into disarray by taking a bold decision to end the war against terrorists. As a result, their money, time and energy were all in vain. Their intention was to divide Sri Lanka and create a separate state similar to Israel in South Asia. But they could not implement their plan of creating another Israel. Therefore, they have decided to take revenge.

These Western forces are determined they should not provide room for other countries to follow this example set up by Sri Lanka. As a result, they are of the view, that President Mahinda Rajapaksa who took that stubborn decision to defeat terrorism should be punished without leaving any room to other world leaders to follow him. That is why they are staging this drama of war crimes. UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon was the key person behind this drama. Later he appointed another three persons to look into these war crime charges. They have issued a report giving a new interpretation to these so-called war crimes charges.

The next drama was played by Channel 4. They presented their drama by putting the name of the American film “killing field” which was a film about human killings in Cambodia. Through all these acts they attempted to create a world opinion that the Sri Lankan President, the Defence Secretary, the military top brass and war heroes should be held responsible for these war crimes charges and that they should be brought before the International War Tribunal. They are of the view a warrant should be issued for them by the International War Tribunal. At present they have launched their operation to attract world opinion to get this warrant issued.

Q: British Prime Minister David Cameron, British South Asia Minister Alistair Burt, Former Foreign Secretary Miliband and his French counterpart Krushner seem to be taking Sri Lanka to task. Why is this?

A: As I mentioned earlier they have to take revenge from us. In order to achieve their target, they are going from plan to plan. First they issued a US State Department report and after that the Darusman report was released. As the latest development they have released a one hour doctored video documentary of ‘Channel 4’. They are reaching the target systematically, most probably in September or at the next session of the UN Human Rights Council to be held in Geneva.

These Western countries will attempt to pass a resolution against Sri Lanka to conduct a UN inquiry about alleged war crimes. With that objective they conducted a program and screened that film ‘Killing Fields’ for permanent representatives of UN member countries. However, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Dr. Palitha Kohona and Deputy Permanent Representative Major General Shavendra Silva once again threw the plan into disarray. If they pass their resolution, they will appoint a UN expert panel similar to the UN expert panel appointed to look into nuclear weapons in Iraq. Then that expert panel will come to Sri Lanka and find some bones of people and some witnesses.

They will then issue a report that there is credible information on war crimes charges in Sri Lanka and the International War Tribunal should investigate this. They have also an intention to change the political atmosphere in Sri Lanka by that time. According to their map, when a UN panel makes that statement on that day and the International war Tribunal issue that warrant, then they want to change the political atmosphere in Sri Lanka. That is why they have vested this contract to the UNP, JVP, NGOs and other groups which are in favour of Tamil separatism. These political parties and groups attempt to create a situation similar to Tunisia, Libya and some countries in the Middle African region. They get onto the streets and pelt stones at the Police and get one or two workers killed by branding the Government as a murderous government. The intention of these political parties is to artificially create an anti-government trend in Sri Lanka. Both operations are being instigated simultaneously together.

They are well aware that if this country moves forward under the present leadership, another 10 years with stability, this country will turn into a powerful country in the South Asian region. They don’t wan’t that to happen. They want to destabilise our country. That is why they are trying to take revenge from the President and the Government. I believe we can successfully face this challenge.

Q: Like Sri Lanka suffered for years from terrorism, South Africa too was a victim to the “white man’s” rule. But South Africa endorsed the Darusman Report. Why is this?

A: Among the countries in the African region, South Africa has turned into a country which maintains a close relationship with the West. South Africans think that the Sri Lankan Tamil people also have the same problem which black Africans had in South Africa. In South Africa, a small amount of white people who came from to South Africa had surrendered the majority of indigenous black people there. Tamil separatists have given a wrong interpretation to them that a minority of Sinhala people control the majority of Tamil people in Sri Lanka.

Therefore a country like South Africa has been compelled to maintain this wrong stand on Sri Lanka as they have been highly influenced by Tamil separatist ideology. Today the African Union led by South Africa has become helpless regarding the Libyan issue as well. Because they are not in a position to directly select their own strategies and go against the Western strategies as they have been subservient to the West. Therefore this move taken by South Africa can be described as an expression of subservience to the West.

Q: The Western World talks of integrity when commissions are appointed. Marzuki Darusman, Jasmin Sooka and Steven Ratner appear to be prejucided against Sri Lanka. Can anybody say then that the report is independent?

A: The pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora gave money to Darusman panel members. They got that money and formulated that report in favour of the LTTE. The entire world knows about this. The UN Secretary General wanted to formulate a report from pro-LTTE elements due to pressure from the West. He cannot issue such a report by using the official logo of the UN. He can’t use the UN Security Council or the UN Human Rights Council for that purpose. But he has to issue some report under the UN label due to pressure exerted on him. Therefore he decided to appoint this three member panel and release this report. I don’t think anybody in the world who knows about their credentials will accept this report.

Q: Are you in favour of the Right to Information Act?

A: We accept the people’s right to information. Even today this right has been safeguarded to a large extent. Two hundred and twenty five members in Parliament are the people’s representatives. Except for very sensitive information on defence, these 225 MPs can obtain any information from Parliament. If the people’s sovereignty is represented by these Parliamentarians and their right to information has been ensured, it can also be described as the people’s right to information. Anybody has the legal right to obtain information through courts or any other way. Instead of ensuring the people’s right to information, the Bill moved by UNP Karu Jayasuriya in Parliament has been formulated to assist attempts made by various forces to create an unstable situation in Sri Lanka.

This Bill is also similar to the independent commissions. Its outward appearance is very good, but after these independent commissions are established, the state mechanism will have nothing to do and a group of pensioners will try to govern the country. Those who rule the country should be able to conduct their ruling. If the ruling is wrong, it should be able to remove them. But these are reforms which would prevent A or B to continue his ruling. The bill moved by Karu Jayasuriya is also such a tactic. We should not fall prey to such traps. We would definitely dedicate ourselves for the people’s right to information and we accept the people’s right to know about any information. But that does not mean we should provide room for certain elements to destabilise the country.

Q: Western countries demand that the Emergency, PTA and Sri Lankan Army from the North be withdrawn. Is it within their right to raise this type of question from an independent and sovereign country?

A:This is the problem. They still think Sri Lanka is a puppet colony belonging to them. It is not only for Sri Lanka, they maintain this same attitude with several other countries as well. These Western countries make such statements from time to time as they still harbour misunderstandings with our country. It is entirely upto us to decide whether our Army should be kept in the North, the East or within the entire country. The US embassy or anybody cannot take decisions regarding this. Whatever comment they made, that is not of any consequence to us. The country’s leader and the Defence Minister has been entrusted with the entire responsibility of taking decisions on security matters. They will take those decisions and nobody can interfere.

Q: Being an ardent Marxist and representing a revolutionary party, what made you join the UPFA and hold a ministerial portfolio?

A: We saw the JVP being systematically withdrawing from its role. It was expected to play. Specially after the 2005 Presidential Election, the JVP leadership attempted to ignore the patriotic path based on various petty reasons. Its outcome can be seen very clearly today. At present the JVP is armed with the slogan of demanding the release of LTTE prisoners. This same slogan is in the hands of Pakyasoththi Saravanamuttu. Jehan Perera, international pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora and JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva. This shows that the JVP has given up its patriotic path and entered a political agenda favourable to NGOs and Tamil separatism which earlier belonged to Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne. Anyway we saw a massive derailment of the JVP and we engaged in a lot of effort to prevent it.

We launched a big struggle within the Central Committee. It’s ended without quitting the party. But we responded to it in a challenging manner. If we did not join the Government at that time, I think we would have not been able to win the war against terrorists in that manner. We contributed immensely to build the public view to win the war. If the people had any doubt, we eased that doubt. We could create the necessary political stability which helped the Security Forces to continue their battle with an open mind. We are happy about the decision taken by us. As a Minister, I have been able to contribute towards the attempts made by the Government to take forward the country. I will honestly fulfil my task. So we have no regrets on the decisions taken by us.

Q: Is your own party the National Freedom Front (NFF) still intact? Is there conflict between the UPFA and the NFF?

A: Some of our policies are equal while there are small differences between the policies of the UPFA and the NFF. Though we have some differences, we should be able to do our political work on behalf of the country by always giving priority to the similarities. Among our policies, we have more similarities rather than disparities. Therefore we have the strength to work together.

Q: The Opposition and some civil organisations allege rampant corruption in Government’s departments. What measures have been taken to eliminate this menace?

A: We have to admit there was a severe setback within the country’s political mechanism and public sector during the past three decades of war history. At present the political mechanism is systematically recovering from this setback due to laudable decisions taken under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. This UPFA Government has been in power since 2004. If any other Government was in power more than five years, allegations would have been levelled against even some Ministers regarding corruption.

As we know, various allegations were levelled against some Ministers during the regime of the Chandrika Kumaratunga Government on Thawakkal and Channel 9 incidents. During that period various allegations were also levelled against the sale of SriLankan Airlines as well. Although this Government has completed more than five years, the Opposition has not been able to make any corruption charge against the President or any Minister. According to past history, when the war was conducted those days, newspapers were full of news items on corruption and fraud that had taken place during the war.

But this Government could successfully end the war without leaving room for anybody to make allegations on corruption. It shows an operation has been launched within the political mechanism to prevent corruption. Once the President received information on any incident of corruption, the President has taken stern action against it.

But as we know, we have not been able to completely eliminate this menace from the State mechanism or from Government officials.

There are very good and dedicated Government officers while there is a group of Government officers who are involved in corruption. This is not a problem which can be solved at once. I am confident we can systematically face this challenge as well.

Q: There should be a solution to Tamil question but do you support the move for Police and land powers to provincial administration?

A: Not at all. Police or land powers should not be given to Provincial Councils. My personal point of view is to continuing the Provincial Council system is unnecessary waste of public funds. Instead of Provincial Councils, if we want we can consider a system like the District Sabha system. At Present Provincial Councils have turned into a white elephant. In such a situation its totally an unnecessary to give police and land powers to Provincial Councils.

Q: There is a mega plan to develop Colombo city. What is your Ministry share in the project?

A: At present the Defence Ministry is engaged in the process of turning Colombo city into a new and beautiful city. Our Ministry will also extend its fullest support to make this endeavour a success. The Defence Ministry has commenced several projects to construct condominiums to resettle shanty dwellers. Our Ministry has started to educate and get prepare them to resettle.

The Ministry is also taking steps to modernise and beautify condominiums under its purview. A country has only one capital. Specially foreigners will decide the nature of a country based on the picture of its capital. It is necessary to turn our capital into the most beautiful city. It would help to uphold the country’s fame as well. At present this task is progressing very well and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa is playing a leading role in this regard. Our Ministry will provide the necessary assistance.

Q: Sri Lanka should maintain its identity as a sovereign country. What is the path the country should follow to realise this objective?

A: Sri Lanka should move forward by facing these challenges. There is no future journey without challenges. Those who move towards the right direction have to face challenges. Whatever challenges are posed from the West, we have the ability to move forward by successfully facing those challenges. There is no doubt, if this country will move forward another 10 years with stability, we would definitely reach a position where nobody could turn us back. Comparatively we have been able to reduce unemployment and inflation. We have commenced strategically important economic development programs like Hambantota harbour and Mattala International Air Port.

In addition, mega irrigation projects and power plants are under construction. A large amount of benefits goes to the people through all these projects. If this journey goes on for the next 10 years, Sri Lanka will never turn back. That is why there are challenges from various external forces. But the President and the Government has every ability to take this country forward by successfully facing these challenges.