No further actions to weaken United National Party -Imthiyaz Bakeer Markar

By Manjula FERNANDO

Imthiyaz Bakeer Markar, former UNP Minister and a senior party member who is now supporting the dissidents' campaign to groom Karu Jayasuriya as the Party Leader and Sajith Premadasa as Deputy Leader, says despite the internal strife his party is going to retain the Colombo Municipal Council, UNP's traditional stronghold, at the forthcoming polls.

In an interview with the Sunday Observer, when asked about the reformists invitation to be the mayoral candidate, he said, "I have bid farewell to taking part in elections, but this proposal has come forth. During the times of challenge, if the members believe that my contribution is important to salvage the party, it is a decision that the party has to take. I will think about it once that decision is made."

Q: The intense power struggle within the UNP seems to have heightened despite a crucial election around the corner. Don't you think it's time the UNP gets its act together and focus on the election?

A: When you are in the Opposition such conflicts are not unnatural.

The UNP today is facing what the SLFP faced at one time during the times of Mrs. Bandaranaike and Chandrika Bandaranaike.

Within the SLFP there were different factions in the past. The situation today can be described as a conflict of different opinions within the UNP.

The struggle is to strengthen the space for internal democracy. There are different points of opinions, in a democratic system, this is natural.

I believe, these discussions and expressions of opinions will lift the UNP to new heights and a new beginning.

We see the phase that we are just passing, as the darkness you see just before the dawn. So we hope this is the last lap of darkness our party has to endure. This darkness that overshadows our party will be eliminated shortly.

Q: Your name has been proposed by the UNP reformists group as the new Mayoral candidate. The Opposition Leader is tipped to have in mind provincial councillor M. Muzzammil for the highly coveted post?

A: I don't personally have big dreams for senior positions and titles. The UNP policies for the future of this country are far more important than personal recognition.

I have bid farewell to taking part in elections, but this proposal has come forth.

During the times of challenge, if the members believe that my contribution is important to salvage the party, it is a decision that the party has to take. I will think about it once that decision is made.

Q: But many believe you will be a sound choice since you are seen as a popular figure who can win the confidence of people?

A: Let the party decide what best options they could pursue to win over the confidence of the people.

I will pay attention to this matter only then. I believe it is not proper for me to comment on this at this point.

Q: Did you take part in the Sathyagraha campaign organised by the reformists at Viharamaha Devi Park to force the Opposition Leader to step down on Wednesday?

A: Yes I did.

Q: The working committee yesterday took a decision to initiate disciplinary action against four of your members who took part in that?

A: When some of our members tried to express some of their concerns at a parliamentary group meeting, the leadership stepped in saying such matters can only be discussed at the Working committee stage, that this was not the correct forum to take up these issues by the MPs.

He scuttled their attempts. Later on, when I spoke against his unilateral decision to appoint members to five positions in the party at the subsequent working committee meeting and proposed Ranjith Maddumabandara for the post of national organiser, he got offended.

I was ousted from Deputy Chairman post and removed from the working committee.

Hence I strongly believe, I should not fear disciplinary action and calling for explanations from the party leadership and take my decisions based on these factors.

I will always be led by my conscience. I have a special bond to this party, it is a inherited bond, and I will do whatever necessary to salvage this party from its current predicament.

UNP is the party that gave political Independence to this country. This is the party that established free education and health, Mahapola, Janasaviya and the party that pioneered housing program concept.

We will not fear threats. I should emphasize that I will bow down to people's verdict but not intimidation.

Q: The Opposition Leader accused recently that the reformists uprising is timed to sabotage UNP from winning Colombo Municipal Council and other local bodies that it has never lost?

A: No, what we planned on Wednesday was a silent protest (sathyakriya) in front of Sirikotha with the participation of UNP supporters. Suddenly a decision was taken to close the road by 6.00 am.

We also believe the timing of the forthcoming local government bodies election is ideal for the UNP Leader who is struggling to cling on to the post even for a day more.

Q: What will you do if the working committee finalises the nominations list without your consent?

A: Our common enemy is the Government. Whatever the stumbling blocks we face, we will not take any action to further weaken the party. We want to support the changes that are necessary to steer the party towards victory. We will not work for its downfall. That has to be made very clear.

Q: Will you be working together during the poll campaign?

A: We will do our best to get the UNP win at the forthcoming election.

Q: Suppose you get your wish fulfilled, Karu Jayasuriya will be appointed new UNP Leader prior to the polls, do you think there will be a change overnight?

A: The UNP Leader claimed the call to appoint Karu Jayasuriya as the new leader was coming from Tamil diaspora.

What a desperate statement this is? Karu Jayasuriya is a leader who can bring together all ethicities under one banner - Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims. Everyone views him as such a leader. Moreover he can unite all the polarised elements within the party as well.

We are not clamouring for an overnight change. We want to revive our party.

To steer it in the right path. He can fulfil this goal. He went to the Government side to support the war against the LTTE.

He came back in response to our call. But not without voting in favour of the UPFA Budget that funded the final battle to crush the LTTE.

He came back on the invitation of Ranil Wickremesinghe who thought his strength of personality was invaluable to reclaim the lost glory of his party. He offered him the Deputy Leader's post.

It is true we have been defeated many times in the history.

We were defeated in 1956, 1970. Even if we got lesser number of seats than the SLFP in 1970 the percentage of our vote base was higher.

Never had the UNP lost in such a humiliating manner in our entire political history. Our vote base has eroded by humiliating proportions.

Facts speak for themselves. But we don't want to put anyone to shame. We want an honourable solution.

That is why we propose, Ranil Wickremesinghe to remain as the Opposition Leader. Karu Jayasuriya must be the Leader of the Party and Sajith Premadasa should be the Deputy Leader and we must unite the party under their leadership.

Q: Can we disregard eradicting terrorism that secured this overwhelming mandate for the UPFA, Can you blame it 'all' on Ranil Wickremesinghe?

A: It is not just one week or one month since the war against terrorism has been won.

Can we cite just the war victory as per the reason for our humiliating and repeated poll defeats? If I mention the results of the so many elections in the recent history which we were badly defeated, I will be putting my party in a difficult situation.

We did an indepth study of the past poll results, of the ones that we won as well as the ones that we lost.

The findings speak for itself that a change in the leadership is critical.

Only then we decided to take the course of action that we pursued.

Now we have been compelled to fight for that change in the name of the party.

This has been the trend anywhere in the world. In Thailand the former PM lost, he resigned from the party leadership and he is in parliament as a regular MP now.

British Conservative Party's Leader William Hague, he lost only one election, he handed the reigns to David Cameron. With the leadership of David Cameron the party made a comeback. This is the democratic practice.

Q: What do you think will happen at the forthcoming local government polls?

A: Despite the setbacks and internal strife, we are definitely going to win the Colombo Municipal Council.