Interference, a violation of country’s sovereignty:

Govt can tackle internal problems – Susil Premajayantha

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

UPFA General Secretary and Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha said that the Government reiterates its position as a sovereign country, with strength and ability to solve all its internal problems. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said no external force has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka and if they attempt to do so, it is a violation of the country’s sovereignty.

The Minister queried as to why all these so-called human rights crusaders, organizations and the countries who supported the US resolution on Sri Lanka don’t talk about even a single terrorist act committed by the LTTE. They are only talking about the final week of the humanitarian operation. The war against terrorists was conducted within 156 weeks. Now they are talking only about the final week of the humanitarian operation by forgetting almost all those 155 weeks. Their intention is to punish the Sri Lankan Government which successfully defeated terrorism in the country.

Commenting on the different stands by some UPFA constituent parties on issues vital to the country and various communities, Minister Premajayantha said the UPFA has 161 members in Parliament. The Provincial Councils and Local Government Bodies are largely represented by the constituent parties of the UPFA. They have their own policies and ideologies and they have rallied round under the UPFA for one common purpose. That is to defeat terrorism and develop the country. In certain issues, they may have different ideas. This is a democratic country and the UPFA is also a democratic front. So they have the right to express their views. On the other hand ,we should think about our responsibilities as well.

The Minister said there is a significant change affecting the world economic powers within the last couple of years. Brazil has overtaken the UK economically. Its economy is ahead of the UK economy. A high level conference called BRICS was held recently with its key members such as Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa. All these five countries got together in New Delhi a few weeks ago and they had an economic summit. Now they are talking about an alternative organization to IMF. This clearly shows how these countries have emerged as economic giants within the past few years by overtaking old economic powerhouses.

Q: The Opposition has over and again questioned the Government’s precise stand on the implementation of LLRC recommendations. Could you explain this?

A: There are hundreds of recommendations made in that LLRC report. The Government is fully committed to give effect to recommendations that can be implemented. You need not necessarily implement all the recommendations.

Q: The US attitude towards the Goldstone report which is critical of Israel and the recent UNHRC resolution on Jewish settlement in the occupied territories is in sharp contrast to the resolution on Sri Lanka. Could you enlighten us on this?

A: This is not the first time that there were so many resolutions. During the past few years, there were also contradictory resolutions moved at the UNHRC. We are well aware of what happened to that resolution on Sri Lanka.

Q: In view of Sri Lanka’s recent experience with UNHRC, is it not the fact that no democratic country could eliminate the scourge of terrorism unless such country is blessed by the US and the West?

A: One can say so. Sri Lanka is the only country which eradicated terrorism from its soil with its own strategies. The LTTE was branded as a terrorist organization in all these countries including Canada, US, UK and the European Union as well. All these countries have labelled LTTE as a terrorist organization. Then we had a sole right to eradicate terrorism from our country. We can’t live with terrorism. We had our own strategies as an eye opener to the entire world as to how to eradicate terrorism. That was the very success story behind Sri Lanka’s humanitarian operation.

Q: The Government questions as to why the so-called human rights crusaders kept mum when it was reported that 66,000 youths were killed during the 1988-1989 insurgency in Sri Lanka. What have you got to say about this?

A: Unfortunately during that period, the UNHRC did not have adequate powers. It was only a gathering of representations every year. Later on with the agreement of the member states, more muscle were added to the UNHRC. That is the difference between then and today. But if you compare this situation in some other countries in the Middle East or Asian region, you find so many incidents. There is a strong possibility that one can prepare a good report and submit it to the UNHRC so that they have to consider that like other resolutions. There are three clauses in the resolution on Sri Lanka. The first clause spoke of accountability. The second and the third being the violation of the international law and that the UNHRC can appoint an advisory board or can send a team here to guide us and provide technical support.

Q: India and Sri Lanka are still the two democracies in Asia. When one looks at the recent spate of events, it easily comes to one’s mind that there is hostility against Sri Lanka. Could you elaborate this?

A: We can’t discuss this particular incident in isolation. I can remember during the latter part of the humanitarian operation, many foreign elements and some Foreign Ministers from the Western countries who came to Sri Lanka pressurized the Government. Despite such pressure, the Government could diplomatically handle the Indian factor. Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa went to India with other officials and explained the ground realities.

This led to create a very good understanding between the two countries. As a result of that, during the latter part of the humanitarian operation, we defeated terrorism and liberated nearly 300,000 people from the clutches of the LTTE terrorists. If not for the Indian support, it would have been very difficult to eradicate LTTE terrorism. That is why I categorically state we can’t just discuss this situation in isolation. I think we have to handle all these countries diplomatically.

Q: The world’s political and economic balance is tilting towards Asia, with China and India in the forefront. Will this not break the monopoly of the US and Europe in the United Nations organization, World Bank and other main international organizations?

A: The United States is still the number one economy while the China remains the second. Specially during the past two decades, China has developed its economy significantly. As a result China and India in the Asian region have become developed countries despite their huge population. I think they are in the economic forefront as against the earlier economic giants such as US, UK, Germany. There is a change of world economic powers within the last couple of years. Brazil has overtaken the UK economically. At present the Brazil’s economy is ahead of the UK economy. A high level conference called BRICS was held recently with the participation of Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa. All these five countries assembled in New Delhi a few weeks ago and they held an economic summit. Now they are talking about an alternative organization to IMF. This shows how these countries have been developed rapidly within the past few years and now they have become economic giants by overtaking old economic powers.

Q: The PSC is the ideal forum to resolve the problems faced by the people in the North and the East. How would you explain the retrogressive stance of UNP and TNA politics?

A: Actually they are attempting to gain political mileage. We can see how the UNP is getting ready to hold their May Day rally in Jaffna with TNA. The TNA had to appear on behalf of the LTTE willingly or unwillingly. Anyway they were forced to do that. We saw all those pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora kingpins and LTTE supporters were in Geneva when the UNHRC sessions were going on. It is not only in Geneva, that they were demonstrating and engaged in fund raising but in numerous other countries as well. The TNA has also become a part of that movement. The Opposition UNP leadership has decided to have a joint May day rally with TNA in Jaffna. We have to keep vigil on this situation. With the international pressure or on somebody’s advice, they try to reorganise themselves. What will happen to the Southern part of the country? People are well aware how the UNP leadership signed the Ceasefire Agreement with the LTTE and allowed the SLMM to operate in the North and the East including the areas under the control of LTTE terrorists.

Actually the UNP should extend its support to the Government to resolve this problem regardless of political affiliations. First we should have a country in peace to do UNP, UPFA or JVP politics. After 30 years of misunderstandings and fighting with each other one cannot expect to heal all wounds within a span of two or three years. It will take sometime. The Government has already rehabilitated about 11,000 ex-LTTE combatants and no a single incident involving them has been reported so far.

The attitude towards each other is changing now. After being rehabilitated the former LTTE combatants now feel that they are part and parcel of the Sri lankan society. So they have changed their attitudes. We cannot rehabilitate the entire community. The pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora is sending adverse text messages to Tamils people in the North.

That is why in the midst of various challenges, the Government has a huge task to carry out. If the Opposition frankly wants to see a peaceful country, it is their duty to support the government. In the Parliamentary Select Committee they can express their views so that we can reach agreement and implement it.

Q: How do you view the different stands by some UPFA constituent parties on issues vital to the country and its various communities?

A: We have 161 UPFA members in Parliament. We have eight Provincial Councils and more than 90 percent Local Government Bodies. In all these you find members representing the constituent parties of the UPFA. These political parties, have their own policies and ideologies. They have however rallied round under the UPFA for one common purpose.

That was to defeat terrorism and develop the country. But in certain issues, they would have had different ideas. This is a democratic country and the UPFA is also a democratic front. So they have the right to express their views. But on the other hand, we must think about our own responsibilities.

Q: The Government has already completed two years in office. How would you look at the achievements against the virulent Opposition criticism citing human rights violations and foreign policy failure?

A: Naturally if we permitted the LTTE to divide the country and impose their writ on the North and the East, these human rights crusading would have been very happy. The terrorists could also have captured the entire country. Then we will have to live under Prabhakaran or whoever the LTTE Leader. The Northern and the Eastern people were under the clutches of Prabhakaran for more than three decades. Definitely, the same would have been the fate of other people too had not LTTE been defeated militarily.

Why all these human rights movements and the organizations or the countries which supported the resolution have not talked of a single terrorist act committed by the LTTE. They are only talking about the final week of the humanitarian operation. The war against terrorists was conducted roughly within 156 weeks. Now they are talking only about the final week by forgetting those 155 weeks. That is because, they want to punish the Sri Lankan Government for defeating terrorism in the country. They want us to live with terrorism.

Q: The Opposition attacks the Government that there is no improvement in the living standards despite rapid pace of economic development. Would you like to comment on this?

A: Taxes on vehicles and motorcycles were increased last week. Some articles in newspapers which were critical of this asked why did the Government increase the taxes on vehicles? Why is that? That is because they want to support the people who are going to buy these vehicles. Why are people buying these vehicles? If their living standards had not been improved, they don’t have money to buy vehicles.

The Central Bank report which is the official document accepted by the IMF and all other international agencies and countries bears testimony to the government’s two years progress. If you go through the document, you can see there is a significant increase in the country’s development in every sphere such as service sector, agriculture, industries. The Central Bank report 2011 shows the amount of work completed by the Government during the past two years.

Q: There is speculation that the fuel prices will go up again at least by Rs.15 per litre. Is there any truth in this?

A: No. That is because the Indian Oil Company (IOC) has asked for an increase of fifteen rupees per litre of petrol and diesel due to the depreciation of the rupee. The depreciation of the rupee has been floated down. Two weeks ago, the selling rate was Rs.131. Now its somewhere around 127. the buying rate is 123 and 124. So I think within the next few weeks, the prediction is that it will drop below 125. Then we need not think about any price increase. We are not going to increase the fuel prices at this moment. I think the IOC will also realize this. If the rupee drops below 125 within the next couple of weeks, they will undergo no losses.

Q: The CPC is overburdened with outstanding bills by the Government departments and corporations. How much have been recovered and what action will be taken to settle the issue once and for all?

A: It is very difficult. There are essential services. We can’t just stop supplying oil to the Security Forces even if they don’t pay on time. If Sri Lankan Airlines does not pay on time, we can’t just stop supplying oil to them. That is because it’s a national carrier. The CPC is another similar State organization for which we have to supply fuel. It is the duty of those organizations to settle their outstanding bills. We have already informed them. With all these outstanding debt problems, its very difficult to find money to import oil.

Q: Would you not consider it better to resume law practice and live in peace and tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle of politics?

A: Every citizen has a duty to fulfil on behalf of his country.

Exactly 21 years ago, I was elected to Kotte Urban Council in 1991. During the last 21 years, eight times I contested and was elected to Urban Council, Provincial Council and the Parliament. It means until last General Election, I have performed up to that expectation. The day the people feel that I am not fit and performing well, it is my duty to quit politics. Then I can resume my legal profession.