People in the North are enjoying normal life again - Douglas Devananda

By Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Douglas Devananda, one time militant who took to politics, is now Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development says that the Tamil people and political parties can have faith in the Parliament Select Committee which is to be appointed soon to address grievances of the Tamils as it can effectively implement decisions agreed by the PSC, unlike the arrangements made by previous governments to solve these issues.

In an interview with the Sunday Observer Minister Devananda said that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was not sincere in its effort to find solutions to the problemss of the Tamils and continue to drag the it for political survival. 'They can only solve these issue after talking to the Government. Otherwise they do not have any other alternative, the Minister pointed out.

Talking about the recently concluded Local Government election in the North, the Minister said it was due to false propaganda and the communal based campaign carried out by TNA the UPFA could not win the local bodies in the North.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

Q: The Government carried out a massive development drive in the North and had a huge election campaign for the recently concluded Local Government elections held in the North. After carrying out such a massive development drive and election campaign are you satisfied with the final result of the election?

A: There was a political issue. So we had to address that issue during the campaign.

The other thing is that the TNA carried false propaganda and conducted the election campaign creating a racial background saying that the election was between the Tamils and the Sinhalese. The propaganda carried out by them was damaging to the vote base of the government. The Jaffna Municipal Council restored the statue of the last king of Jaffna.

The TNA carried out propaganda saying that we will demolish that statue and erect a statue of the Buddha in Jaffna. Even the diaspora community were disturbed by this false propaganda and asked us why this was happening. This type of false propaganda was use to defeat us in the North.

Q: Do you think as the Eelam People's Democratic Party you could not convince the Tamil population about the Government's program?

A: We were in a winning position. Even the TNA thought that they might get six or seven Local Government bodies at the election. But due to the false propaganda and due to the communal based campaign carried out by the TNA we could not win.

Q: In the North, specially in Jaffna some disturbing incidents were reported recently. Some organisations are still pointing fingers at the military, government and at your political party for the incidents in the North. What do you have to say about these allegations?

A: If we take the two recent incidents on the attack of the Uthayan newspaper. The Uthayan has a political background and it is in favour of the TNA, as the owner of the newspaper is also a Member of Parliament. Recently the news editor of the Uthayan newspaper was assaulted. As they could not identify the person who assaulted him, they put the blame on the EPDP or the Security Forces personnel in Jaffna. Now things have been revealed about the incident. Since the inquiry is going on I cannot come out with the story behind the incident. Before that another reporter was also assaulted. That reporter was giving tuition while working in the newspaper.

So he had some funds with him from the girls who had come to his tuition class. In that case the brothers of that particular girl had assaulted the reporter. Since they could not reveal the truth they say that he was assaulted by the military or the EPDP. These days the LTTE is no more and they put these personal disputes to the account of the military the EPDP. But the truth will be revealed once the investigations into these incidents are over.

Q: On the other hand, the TNA and other Tamil organisations are accusing the Government of militarising the North. Is there any basis for these allegations?

A: No there is no truth behind these allegations. What is happening in the North is demilitarisation and re-establishment of the normal lifestyle of the people in the North. Systematically the people in the North are enjoying a free lifestyle.

Q: At the next elections for the Northern Provincial Council you have already expressed your desire to become the Chief Ministerial candidate. On what grounds did you take this decision?

A: It is my aspiration to become the Chief Ministerial candidate for the Northern Provincial Council. From the beginning I was thinking of that position.

If the election is announced tomorrow I am ready to contest the Provincial Council elections after resigning from Parliament.

Q: Does that mean that you are going to distance yourself from national politics and engage in regional politics?

A: Now the present Government summons the Chief Ministers at the end of every month to Cabinet. Sometimes the Government may bring amendments to the Constitution to make all Chief Ministers of Provincial Councils as part of Cabinet. So they will also become partners in taking decisions at national level whilst handling Provincial Councils at regional level. Considering that fact I will not be distant from national level politics.

Q: The only problem the Tamil people in the North and the East had was LTTE terrorism. After the defeat of the LTTE they do not have any problem. What is your opinion in this regard?

A: In my opinion Tamil people in the North and the East had two issues. One was the terrorist issue. With the defeat of the LTTE, terrorism is no longer there. However, there are political issues.

The Government is going to solve those issues with the appointment of the PSC to look into grievances of the Tamil community.

Q: Earlier also there were arrangements like these Parliamentary Select Committees, All Party Conference and other mechanisms. So what differences do you see between those arrangements and the decision to appoint the PSC by the present parliament?

A: All arrangement we had earlier had no vision and no time frame. In this instance President Mahinda Rajapaksa has given a proper time frame and the task should be completed within that time frame.

Political parties are now free and can take political decisions without any pressure from the LTTE.The Government enjoys a two third majority in Parliament. Therefore, decisions taken at the PSC can be easily implemented with necessary Constitutional Amendments. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has reiterated that he is ready to accept decisions taken by the PSC to grievances of the Tamil people will be addressed.

Q: Do you think that the problems of the Tamils can be addressed effectively through the PSC?

A: Yes, I believe that the PSC will solve the problem as it has all what is required to address problems of the Tamil community and mechanisms to implement solutions agreed at the PSC.

Q: When will this PSC be appointed?

A: By the end of this month or next month the government will take steps to appoint the PSC.

Q: One of the biggest issues confronting the people of the North at present is poaching of Indian fishermen into the territorial waters of Sri Lanka in the North. So far there had been many attempts to settle this issue. But time to time problems arise between fishermen of the two countries. How do you think this issue can be settled?

A: The fishing community from both countries sat together and discussed this issue. They discussed ways to avoid clashes and engage in fishing without poaching into each other's territorial waters. Once they come to an agreement it is upto the Governments of both countries to consider these solutions and implement them.

Q: But certain attempts taken at the government to government level also failed to settle these disputes?

A: There were situations where the two governments sat together and discussed. But these attempts failed. It was due to the terrorist situation prevailed.

When there were problems, the government did not allow that fishermen to engage in fishing in Sri Lankan waters due to security concerns.

That gave the opportunity for Indian fishermen to engage in fishing in Sri Lankan waters. Now this situation is not there any more and we allow fishermen to engage in fishing without any restrictions. It is natural to have clashes and they can be settled once fishermen of both countries get used to the situation and with proper implementation of decisions taken at Government to Government level.

Q: What are the implications on bilateral relationship between the two countries due to the decision taken by the Tamil Nadu State government against Sri Lanka?

A: There will be no effect on bilateral relationship even if the Tamil Nadu State government imposes economic sanctions on the Kachchathivu issue, the central government taken by the Tamil Nadu State government will not affect the relationship between the two countries.

Q: What kind of relationship do you have with the Tamil Nadu government in particular?

A: I do not have any special relationship with the TN Government. But with representatives of the central government of India I have had several rounds of talks on political issues.

Q: What is your opinion on the discussion the Government had with the TNA?

A: They have given an ultimatum to the Government. But the Government had not responded to that. My opinion is that the TNA does not want to solve the problem. They only want to drag the problem. That is their politics.

There were media reports that they were going to have discussions to decide on the next step and to decide on an alternative.

But there is no alternative for them. They have to speak to the government and solve the problem. Otherwise there is no solution.

Q: There are media reports that the people resettled in the North and Wanni are starving as the Government has stopped providing assistance to them. Is there any truth in the reports and what is the actual situation?

A: There may be lapses when providing food and other assistance to people who have been resettled in the Wanni.

But the Government is trying its best to provide all the basic facilities they require to start a new life in their villages. The Government has not discontinued these programs.

Q: What are your plans to develop the Northern province. What kind of development programs are being implemented in the North?

A: The development of the Northern Province is happening fast. We are planing to revive all the industries which were there in the North for the benefit of the people and to generate employment opportunities for people to start new industries with the help of private sector companies. The Achchuveli industrial estate will be operational soon as we are providing necessary infrastructure facilities at the industrial estate.

The roads are also developed to facilitate transport facilities. We have taken steps to restart the Elephant Pass saltern and also the Paranthan chemicals factory. Likewise many development activities are taking place to bring prosperity to the North.

Q: President Mahinda Rajapaksa moved a motion in Parliament to lift emergency regulations. As a Tamil political party leader how do you see this move by the President?

A: Lifting of the Emergency is a longstanding hope of the Tamil community and all other communities in the country.

We are thankful to the President for taking this bold step to lift emergency regulation enabling to enact the normal law in the country.

I know that all law-abiding citizens and those who respect democracy will be happy about the lifting of the Emergency.

There is a responsibility on their part too to protect the environment, which has enabled the president to lift emergency regulations after decades for the country to enjoy freedom.

We know that emergency regulations were imposed to safeguard law and order in the country. Even in such a situation the Government protected human rights.

At that time freedom of the people were restricted to some extent. Now restrictions are no longer there, people can enjoy all their rights.

The Tamil people should also be determined not to create an environment in the country to enforce emergency regulations and should once again take steps to find solutions to problems affecting them through negotiations.