Everyone has freedom to enter politics in a democracy:

TNA’s survival depends on NE problem - Douglas Devananda

By Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Douglas Devananda, a one time Tamil militant entered into democratic politics as a result of the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Agreement in 1987, and later continued his career as a politician representing the Tamil community. He reached his highest achievement in politics after becoming a Minister in the People's Alliance Government and holding Ministerial portfolios under different governments, since 1994.

As a person who always canvassed for the full implementation of the Provincial Council system, in an interview with the Sunday Observer he suggests that the establishment of the Northern Provincial Council as part of the Provincial Council system in the country will be the best way of breaking the stalemate position in the process of finding a solution for the political problems faced by the Northern people. “The establishment of the Northern Provincial Council will solve many problems faced by the people in the North”, Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda said.

Expressing his views on the speculations about the possibility of former LTTE strongman Kumaran Pathmanathan's entry into politics, the Minister said there is no barrier for them to enter politics but it is finally the people who decide their existence in politics.

Following are excerpts of the interview the Sunday Observer had with Eelam People's Democratic Party leader and Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda.

Q: President Mahinda Rajapaksa presented the Budget for 2013. The Government is of the opinion that the 2013 Budget is a pro-development budget. But the people and political parties say people did not receive expected concessions from the Budget. What is your comment?

A: We are looking at this budget not merely as a Budget for year 2013 but also as proposals for the elimination of poverty from the country within the next three years. That is what President Mahinda Rajapaksa emphasised when he presented the budget in Parliament. It is usual for the Opposition to oppose whatever proposals are presented by the government. That is the common practice of the opposition, but we see this budget as a pro-people and pro-development budget.

Q: Do you think the people of the country receive the expected concessions from this Budget?

A: Now, we eradicated terrorism that dragged on for nearly three decades. At this point we had to purchase lots of weapons, ammunitions and other equipment from friendly nations. Repayment of these loans takes a long period. At the same time the Government also has to repay loans obtained from funding institutions to implement development projects. The Government has presented the budget considering all these factors. Once we pay back the huge loans we should be able to give concessions and salary increases to the people. I believe, the people also realise this situation.

Q: Can we see any progress in the process of finding a political solution to the North East, considering the fact that the proposed Parliament Select Committee (PSC), to find a solution for the issue did not materialise?

A: Neither the LTTE nor the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) wanted to find a solution for the problem. They have no desire to solve this problem. What they really want is to have it as a never ending problem . The history of the LTTE and the TNA very clearly proves this situation. They will not have any existence once the problem is solved. That is the true story.

The President wished to appoint the PSC with the good intention of finding a solution to the problem. As a common practice the Opposition stood against it. The TNA also did not participate. Therefore, the situation is dragging without a solution in sight.

Q: You have expressed your desire to contest as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the Northern PC representing the Government. But at present there are speculations that former LTTE strongman Kumaran Pathmanathan is also willing to contest as the Chief Ministerial candidate. What are the prospects for KP to enter politics and what is your opinion on this?

A: I have always expressed my desire to contest as the Chief Ministerial candidate. But the Government has not yet decided on the Chief Ministerial candidate. These speculations are being spread by the people with vested interests. So we should not worry about it since the President has not yet decided on the Chief Ministerial candidate.

Q: What is your opinion about KP entering into politics and working with the Tamil people?

A: I don’t have any problem about any person entering politics. Any person should have the freedom to enter politics in a democratic country. There is no issue regarding who will be contesting as the Chief Ministerial candidate because it is the people who decide who should be elected.

Q: The Government has taken the initiative to close down the ‘Menik Farm' camp after resettling the people who have been displaced during the humanitarian operation. As a whole how do you see the progress in the resettlement process undertaken by the Government?

A: The Government has taken all possible steps to fulfil the requirements of the displaced people when resettling them in their villages. There are many things to be accomplished for the betterment of the resettled people. The Government is in the process of identifying these requirements and at the second stage it will take steps to fulfil the requirements. Likewise the Government will take the initiative to uplift the living standards of the resettled people.

Q: Apart from the people who have been displaced during the humanitarian operation, there are nearly 5000 who have been displaced due to High Security Zones being established in the early 1990s. What are the plans to expedite the process of resettling them?

A: We have taken steps to resettle them in the areas which were earlier declared as High Security Zones, step by step. Even during the last week, people were resettled in three villages in Madagal, which were earlier declared as High Security Zones. In Valikamam North people are being resettled after clearing the villages which came under High Security Zones earlier.

The process is going on and we will be able to complete it in a step by step process. President Rajapaksa when he visited Jaffna on several occasions emphasised the fact that there cannot be areas called High Security Zones in Sri Lanka any longer. But there can be camps for the security of the country. That is the stance of the Government and the people who were displaced due to the High Security Zones will be able to go back to their villages gradually.

Q: What are the steps taken by the Government to further uplift the living standard of the people in the North and East?

A: The Government is implementing the ‘Divi Neguma’ program countrywide to improve the living standard of the people in every part of the country by improving their life skills and economic conditions. Through that program the government intends to assist them to stand on their own feet with their own endeavours. It is also being implemented in the North and East. The people there can benefit from the program as they can earn their own living and improve their living standard.

Q: Although we see a peaceful situation in the North and East we come across lots of people trying to flee the country by illegal means to Australia. How do you see this situation ?

A: These people are going there because they think they can have a better life in Australia. But once they realise the true situation they come back to Sri Lanka. That is the true situation. But, not only the people in the North those in the South also are doing so. There is a Tamil saying that, when there is a cow in one bank of the river it always thinks that the other side of the river is much better than where it lives at present. Similarly people also tend to think so. But they will realise the truth once they go to the other bank of the river.

Q: How do you see the efforts made by the remnants of the LTTE at international level to regroup themselves?

A: There are some individuals who had links with the LTTE trying to reorganise themselves. But we do not think that they could make a big impact internationally after their defeat in Sri Lanka.

Q: After the completion of the humanitarian operation more than 10,000 ex-combatants were rehabilitated and reintegrated into society. As a Tamil politician, what are the measures you can take to bring them into mainstream politics without compelling them to revert back to an insurgency?

A: As a solution to this, we should bring about a political solution for the North East problem. And secondly, we should take steps to improve their living standards. We are working towards that. If we could only take that step we can prevent them from reverting back to their earlier situation.

Q: What are the opportunities for them to join the mainstream politics?

A: There are no barriers for them to enter politics. They can engage in democratic politics at any time.

Q: From time to time we see the Indian media highlighting your name as a wanted criminal in Tamil Nadu. Can you explain the correct situation regarding this? Are you a wanted criminal as they say or what is the reality about this situation?

A: There is no truth about it. There is no truth in mentioning my name as a wanted criminal for murder, because we have made legal representation and they have withdrawn my name as a wanted criminal.

The real truth is, politicians there do not like my presence in Tamil Nadu. If I talk against the LTTE in Tamil Nadu the pro-LTTE Tamil politicians may not like it because they are engaged in politics after creating a different picture about the LTTE.

Q: What is your opinion on the reconciliation process to create friendship among the communities ?

A: The Government is continuing an effort to build a long-standing friendship among the ethnic groups. However, due to short-sighted acts of some Sinhala and Tamil politicians unnecessary situations arise. Therefore we should avoid making sensational statements that arouse communal feelings among the people.

Q: What is your stance on the Impeachment motions brought against the Chief Justice?

A: As a partner of the UPFA Government we support the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice. We are doing so as we share collective responsibility as a partner of the Government.