Illustrious leadership paved the way for economic stability By Manjula Fernando Plantation Industries Minister and President’s Special Envoy on Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe said President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s far-sighted leadership has helped the country wipe out the scourge of terrorism while winning a great majority of the international community to back Sri Lanka in its quest to rise as the economic hub of the region. Asked how he viewed the leadership President Rajapaksa has shown in fulfilling international Human Rights obligations in the backdrop of a difficult prolonged war with terrorism, which the country has been successful in winning three years ago, Minister Samarasinghe said, it was not an easy road and still the country is battling a war on the international front. Excerpts of the interview: It is important to record that if not for the far-sighted, brave and purposeful leadership that President Rajapaksa has shown as Head of State and the commanding chief of the Armed Forces, we would still be facing the scourge of terrorism. A soldier carries a Tamil woman to safety during the humanitarian operation We all know our Armed Forces and the police throughout this 30- year terrorism sacrificed their lives, fought risking their lives to protect the territorial integrity of the country. When we look back over the thirty years, I don’t see a single occasion when the Forces backed down, they were always motivated to defeat the enemy, the LTTE. When there were critical moments, to defeat the LTTE once and for all, strategically international pressure was mounting on the Government. Successive leaders bowed down to such pressure and sat down for talks with the LTTE hoping that the LTTE would show flexibility in arriving at a negotiated political settlement. When President Rajapaksa took over the mantle of leadership he also took initial steps towards peace talks in the hope of arriving at a negotiated political settlement, respecting the territorial integrity, sovereignty and unity but very soon he saw that the LTTE was only using discussions to arm themselves even more and consolidate their military operations. The President after realising this bitter truth took a clear decision, unlike his predecessors that he will not bow down to international pressure, he knew that this would only give breathing space to the LTTE. So once he took this decision he did not waver. He was very firm in his resolve that he will give everything that the Forces needed, to eradicate the scourge of terrorism. And he was steadfast. I joined the Government in 2006. As we commenced negotiations and had to face the humanitarian crisis in the North and the East, I worked closely with him as the Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights. I have first-hand experience of his firmness in facing international pressure brought on the country during the crucial humanitarian operation and how he did not waver from his clear resolve in fulfilling the job of wiping out terrorism. He also understood that wiping out terrorism was the only way to start developing the country, especially the North and the East. He knew the people in those areas were deprived of basic living standards that was enjoyed in the rest of the country, he wanted to bring back normalcy in those areas. Because he always believed that we are one people - Tamils, Muslims, or others may be, he said we are one Sri Lankan community and the people trapped under the LTTE grip must be given freedom and the right to development. With all these objectives in his mind, he said whatever pressure that came about, invariably international pressure for negotiations, we should not falter for the sake of these communities. I was present on many occasions where various powerful entities in the world as well as the UN brought various proposals to him to commence negotiations. He was clear in his mind that he did not want to demoralise the Forces, by going in for talks once again, because he knew clearly that the LTTE was not genuine. He believed that applying continuous pressure on the LTTE was the key and the Forces were capable of defeating terrorism. I remember a particular incident, before the Eastern Province was liberated, when the issue of the Mavil Aru sluice gates came up, there was constant pressure on him by foreign representatives. In fact a leading political personality from a key European country, told him in my presence that Velupillai Prabhakaran was a ‘military genius’ and it was a myth to believe that a military solution will work out. The President’s reply was ‘He may be a military genius from the Wanni but I tell you that I also know a little about how a war should be waged against extreme forces like the LTTE, and let’s see if the military genius from the Wanni or politicians from Hambantota will be victorious at the end’. After the end of terrorism, when President Rajapaksa met this person again he reminded him, ‘can you remember what you said that day and today I have given you my answer’. His firmness in defeating terrorism was amazing. There were others who forced him to give up military operations, ‘We are facing a lot of pressure in our countries to intervene and stop the on-going military operations and if you don’t comply, we will not be able to continue our development aid’, they said. But the President answered, ‘I am seated on this Chair because of the people who voted me into office, I cannot betray them, their expectation is that my Government will wipe out terrorism and give them the freedom, that they have been asking for. If you don’t want to give me aid, so be it I will find development aid from somewhere else’. He said I will never let my people suffer or starve, we will somehow keep the development work going, but I am not going to be flexible on stopping the military operations, because now we are on the verge of defeating the biggest scourge that my country has faced. Even before he became the Head of State, he was known as a human rights activist. In fact when he was in the Opposition, in the early 1970s, he travelled to Geneva and represented the rights of various people in this country who were deprived of their rights. Subsequently, as a Labour Minister he was once again in the forefront fighting for labour rights. The Workers Charter that he introduced, is something the trade unions even today hail. Various personalities in the government at the time, including the Head of State were frustrated with his efforts. But he was steadfast and finally achieved his objectives. He stands out in the sphere of Human Rights. When I joined his Government in 2006, he created the Ministry of Human Rights. Never in the political history of the country has a leader thought of the need for such a ministry. He offered me this portfolio knowing my background as a Human Rights activist and so we got along well together. He was always sensitive to issues that I brought to his notice, he gave me the freedom and the backing, to meet our international obligations. As his special envoy, even today I am given full blessings and support to do what is necessary to safeguard the image of the country and to work towards further progress in the field of Human Rights. He is a humanitarian, he is a person who genuinely feels for people and he is a visionary. He is a practical politician and a workaholic. I have seen him working 18 hours a day chairing one meeting after an other. Sometimes I wonder how he keeps up. He is constantly thinking about improving the living conditions of the people of this country - development, better prospects for our people and one has to only look around and see, what he has achieved in such a short span. Whether it is highways, bridges, dams, electricity supply or any other investment in the sphere of development and infrastructure, he has done more than any other leader we have ever had. He wants to make Sri Lanka the economic hub in South Asia. I am certain that he will achieve it.