Can't predict crossovers, but I will remain in UNP - Gayantha Karunatilleke

*Politicians who don’t have patience would destroy party unity
*UNP Parliamentarians must try to emulate the President
*Government has become strong as there is no strong Opposition
*We invited Anoma but she didn’t take part
*UNP vote base has dropped
*UNP is one of the oldest and is a respected party

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

UNP spokesman Gayantha Karunatilake said it was time for UNP Parliamentarians to emulate President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was patient till the right time came and ended up being Head of State, without crossing over to various political parties to gain petty political objectives.

Explaining the present situation of the party which is facing a crisis over party leadership, he said politicians who don’t have patience would destroy party unity “Though President Rajapaksa was harassed and was meted out with step-motherly treatment, he never criticised the party in open fora and patiently tolerated all the ill-treatment. He didn’t cross over to the ruling party and never left his party, although he nurtured a strong desire to do so. Even Ranil Wickramasinghe never left the party although criticism is being levelled at him. They are good examples to those who want to have instant political gain by changing their political stance”, he said.

Karunatilake said all UNPers need to get together and strive to fulfil the aspirations of UNP supporters.Excerpts of the interview:

Q: It is not a secret that the Opposition is in the doldrums due to internal clashes. How do you describe the present situation?

A: The UNP is one of the oldest and is a respected party, which fulfilled the people’s aspirations. In the history of the UNP, it faced setbacks as well as victories from time to time. People said the last nail to the UNP’s coffin was driven when the UNP lost the election in 1956. In 1970, they said the UNP was buried with the defeat. But the party won with a huge majority in 1977.

This shows that the UNP will remain in the Opposition only for seven years as people get fed up of the ruling parties which only give broken promises. Then the people want the UNP to come back. In 2001, we came to power but as we didn’t have executive power we lost the government. I do not think that though the UNP is facing some setbacks from time to time and there are temporary moves to defeat the UNP, the UNP can’t be crushed. The protests against the government have started and at the moment people are calling for a change.

Q: How is it possible for the UNP to create that change, as the party is divided now?

A: Yes, the UNP has internal problems and this is no secret. But, these problems will not reduce the party to zero.

With all the criticism and internal problems we were able to hold the UNP Convention, while the Government and the people had doubts that we would not be able to hold it due to internal issues. The Convention was approved and we are now going forward according to the new Convention.

According to the Convention there are stipulated measures to fill posts and we have to appoint members for 2013. We believe that we would be able to fill these posts in a democratic manner and the party believes that we will be able to bring the change that people are aspiring for shortly.

Q: Apart from fulfilling people’s aspirations, do you think at least the party will be able to survive after posts are changed?

A: As I said before, the UNP suffered defeats and victories but in seven years it came back to power as people supported us to change the ruling party. It is happening now. We have a democratic environment within the party and that has created a stage within the party for UNPers to have different opinions and criticise openly. We believe that with the new changes in the posts, we would have a concrete foundation for the future and we will re-organise our strategies to reach the people.

Q: While you are talking about democracy in the UNP, the co-Deputy Leader, Karu Jayasuriya said there is no democracy and that there was no transparency within the party. How do you have contradictory versions?

A: The party Convention has all these components and when following it, anyone can contest any post annually as it is mandatory to fill these posts every year. If there is more than one nominee for a post, we need to reach a consensus first but if it fails we have to have a secret ballot to get the majority wish.

The issue is to unitedly work with those who are appointed to fulfil the aspirations of the UNPers. It is time to take action according to the majority wish. Then no one can claim that the UNP does not have transparency and democracy.

Q: Though the Convention is worded well to depict democracy, isn’t the party lead by one voice and those close to him?

A: No, I refute that allegation. The UNP is a party which values democracy and also ensures democracy within the party.

This is proved by giving the opportunity to UNPers for posts they aspire for anyone can contest any post, if they think they are suitable.

Q: Critics say the government has become strong as there is no strong Opposition. What is your reaction?

A: Yes, I agree. Even the ministers say this and urge us to solve our internal issues and re-organise the party to gain the confidence of the people.

They always say that the Opposition needs to be on a strong footing.

As the main opposition party in the Opposition we hope to resolve these internal matters and create an environment in which all the UNPers can come under one umbrella and become a force to reckon with.

We hope to rally all the forces against the government around us and we are confident that we can do it soon. We had a successful protest in Colombo calling for Sarath Fonseka’s release.

Q: You invited his wife for the protest but she refused to take part. Doesn’t this show that the UNP has slogans irrelevant to the party or have no issues of national interest but in an attempt to survive, they will do anything

A: It is wrong to say we are taking issues that are non-relevant to us. Sarath Fonseka’s issue was one among many issues.

The important thing was that at that protest campaign we proved that people are ready to get onto the streets to protest against the government. We invited Anoma but she didn’t take part. As a mainstream political party we showed our protest. We are not interested whether his family members take part or not. The UNP is not running behind popular issues to gain people’s confidence but will protest where there is injustice.

Q: How do you plan to revive the party which is broken into pieces due to lack of unity?

A: We are confident that the party will be united after the new appointments and will work unitedly according to the wishes of the majority.

Q: The main demand of UNPers is to change the present leadership. Therefore will they get united if the present leadership is elected once again?

A: If the present leadership is appointed again, everyone has to agree to the consent of the majority. No party will go forward if members want individual choices. They have to listen to the majority voice.

If the majority consent is for Ranil Wickramasinghe or Karu Jayasuriya, they have no choice but to work for the leader who is selected by the majority. It is the responsibility of the new leader to bring the UNP back to its feet to come into power. The UNPers in villages are waiting for a UNP government to make their dreams a reality.

The UNP needs to sacrifice to fulfil the aspirations of the common UNP supporters without going into their personal choices or gains.

They can’t have personal agendas. Everyone has to be united under the new leadership to work for a common goal.

Q: UNP parliamentarians including you showed that it is not a responsible political party by not participating in any of the important Budget debates last week. Only two MPs were there to represent the UNP. In this scenario, how will you win the confidence of the people who brought you to Parliament?

A: We participated in all the previous budget debates till the last minute even though we are given limited time to express our views.

There were instances that we had taken extra time to present facts. But on that day several UNP MPs were to present their speeches but government MPs finished their speeches earlier than expected and Parliament was adjourned while we were rushing to Parliament. The fault is in our hands as we could not be present at the proper time.

I was returning from Belliatta after attending an important function to attend Parliament at 3 pm.

But I had to turn away as I got a message when I was in Colombo at 2.30 that Parliament was adjourned. However, we regret about what happened but we didn’t do it intentionally. This is a good lesson not only for us but for all MPs.

Q: With the controversial move by MP Mohanlal Grero, it is said that some UNP MPs are to crossover to the Government. How true is this?

A: These are rumours doing the rounds. I do not think there are MPs in the UNP who want to move to the government fold.

There is no one who wants to cross over to settle problems or secure their properties or settle their tax issues. According to the present political context I can give a guarantee about every one but can’t predict whether there will be any similar moves in future. I can only give a guarantee that I would not cross over and I am confident that I would remain for the rest of my life with the UNP to achieve our wish to come back into power.

Q: During the past several years under the present leadership the UNP vote base which stood at 45 percent has dropped to 29 percent and over 61 politicians including MPS have crossed over to the Government. Can you deny that the party needs a change?

A: Yes, the UNP vote base has dropped and we all agree the UNP has to have a strong vision in future.

Most of the MPs who crossed over had done so due to various reasons as they could not remain in the party as they were old and cannot wait until a UNP government comes into power to gain perks and other privileges. No one can remain in politics without having patience and running a rat race.

The late President J.R. Jayewardene, who became the Head of State at the age of 72, waited patiently in politics until the right time came for him to become the President. He did not take short cuts to become President and also remained in the party throughout.

Look at the political history of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Though he was harassed and faced step-motherly treatment, he did not criticise the party in open fora and also tolerated all types of ill-treatment patiently.

He didn’t cross over to the ruling party and never left his party. Even Ranil Wickremesinghe never left the party while many were criticising him.

They are good examples for those who want to have instant political gains by changing their political stance.