Economic and social goals must be achieved - Wigneswaran

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

In the historic Northern Provincial Council elections people of the North elected former Justice C.V. Wigneswaran of the Tamil National Alliance, legal veteran, yet a novice in politics – even in his own party. Following the victory Wigneswaran said that political goals are remote goals while economic, social and individual concerns are immediate goals. In an interview with the ‘Sunday Observer’ he said, “I am not violently motivated. I love all our Sri Lankan brethren of whatever hue or disposition. I speak all three languages.

C.V. Wigneswaran

I have been nurtured by all four religions. I have lived in the North and South, East and West and Centre.”

Excerpts of the interview:

Excerpts of the interview Northern Provincial Council's Chief Minister – designate C.V. Wigneswaran

Question: In the TNA manifesto it was mentioned that “In addition to continuing to pursue a just and lasting solution, we will actively engage in addressing the immediate and current concerns of our People.” How would this be done?

Answer: Political goals are remote goals. Economic, social and individual concerns are the immediate goals. We must find immediate solutions to the pressing needs of those affected.

Q: During an earlier interview to media you had said that “being party to violence was never the style of the elder Tamil leadership, so they had to bide their time and wait for the violence to abate.”

Would this be your perspective as well?

A: I am not violently motivated. I love all our Sri Lankan brethren of whatever hue or disposition. I speak all three languages.

I have been nurtured by all four religions. I have lived in the North and South, East and West and Centre. I consider myself a true Sri Lankan. We as a party are democratically seeking a resolution to our problems.

Q: The TNA has always been accused of supporting the ousted Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and demanding a separate State for Tamils. Yet, you say you want to achieve equal rights for Tamils within a united Sri Lanka. How can the two concepts go hand-in-hand?

A: The accusation was by you. You accused so for political reasons. We are continuing the path laid down by the Elders since 1949. The youth intervened with violence no doubt for nearly thirty years. The violent phase has given rise now to a democratic phase again.

Q: Why does the TNA want international opinion on the future of Tamils in Sri Lanka? Surely are not these internal matters? On the other hand, you have said that the Tamil community here ‘ gets affected by what is being said there'. How would you explain this?

A: Successive Sri Lankan Governments had failed to solve the problems of the Tamils. In fact, up to now the present Government has failed to give its solution to our problems. There are umpteen numbers of Reports prepared by competent persons. The Government could prepare its response to our problems by recourse to any of those. But it would not. That means the Government is not interested in solving our problems. Even that we were prepared to do, so long as the successive Governments did not make our conditions worse. As for the statements made in neighbouring countries could have on us, I had advised the neighbours to be careful not to recommend the solutions necessary. If they recommend the solutions it would be difficult for us to pursue the quest for a resolution.

Q: You talk about living united in a country and at the same time highlights the need of separate police powers to North. How would you assure that there would be no threat to the unity of the country from having separate police powers to a province?

A: How does the Metropolitan Police act in a Country? Does it toll the end of the unity of such Country? On the contrary such arrangements add efficiency to the working of the Police Force. It ensures unity.

Do you think it would be good if the People looked after themselves and policed their areas of residence?

Q: Certain elements in the North question your suitability for the post of Chief Minister, claiming that you were born and bred in Colombo and therefore not familiar with the Northern terrain. What is your opinion?

A: The elements in the North have been adequately answered by the people of the North in a convincing way at the recent elections. Do I have to opine?