TNA does not oppose PSC- Sampanthan

by K.T. Rajasingham

The Tamil National Alliance leader R. Sampanthan said that they are not opposed to the Parliamentary Select Committee proposed by the Government.

The TNA leader said, “We have made our position very clear. We have never been opposed to the Parliamentary Select Committee, though we do not have much trust in it.”

“But our position is, if the President wants to have a Parliamentary Select Committee, we will not oppose it.

But the clear understanding is that there must be some consensus, at least on some issues before and that must be taken to the Parliamentary Select Committee, before we go to the Parliamentary Select Committee.”

TNA Leader also denied that TNA as a party has not taken any decision on a third party mediation.

Given below are the excerpts of an interview Asian Tribune had with R. Sampanthan MP.

Q: There was an interview to say that you are seeking third party intervention?

A: No, as a party we have not taken any such decision. It may be the view of some people, but as a party we have not taken any such decision.

Q: Do you have confidence in this Sri Lanka Government? Do you think you will be achieving whatever you want from the Government?

A: I do not think that they should give me whatever I want, but let them give us the reasonable, and durable political solution.

We have made our best efforts towards achieving our objectives. They (Sri Lanka Government) didn’t attend the last round of talks for reasons I think is ambivalent and that is the position and we are waiting to see what they are going to do next.

Q: Are you going to participate in the Parliamentary Select Committee? You have already said ‘no’.

A: We have made our position very clear. We have never been opposed to the Parliamentary Select Committee, though we do not have much trust in it. But our position is if the President wants to have a Parliamentary Select Committee, we will not oppose it.

But the clear understanding is that there must be some consensus at least on some issues before and that consensus must be taken to the Parliamentary Select Committee before we go to the Parliamentary Select Committee.

Q: Can you name on what subject, there has to some form of consensus?

A: On some reasonable consensus on some of the issues which have been identified and on which we have been talking and these matters have been recorded in the minutes of the bilateral talks and approved in the bilateral talks. This is a clear understanding between the TNA and the President and the Government. So we are prepared to comply with that undertaking and we will comply with the understanding and that is our position.

Q: Regarding this matter of Police powers and land administration, is it meant only for the Northern Province and the Eastern Province or is it meant for the all the 9 provinces in the whole country?

A: It is meant for the whole country. These are powers that are available in any power sharing arrangements. Even the Bandaranaike – Chelvanayakam Pact contemplated land powers and powers about law and order way back in 1957. These are powers that are usually available in any power sharing arrangements. And that are there in all the proposals that have come up in the thirteenth amendment of the constitution. It is nothing new.

These things cannot be determined according to the whims and fancies of individual politicians. These things have to be determined on what is reasonable, and what pertains in countries where there are power sharing arrangements and what the standards are?

Q: May I say that you are talking for the whole country and not for one or two provinces?

A: Absolutely, it is applicable to whole country. If President Rajapaksa has some reservations with regards to some parts of the country, then he may not give it to those parts. But we want it in our parts, that means - to the North and East.

Courtesy: Asian Tribune