Overall Constitutional amendments, the need of the hour -
Minister Wimal Weerawansa
By Uditha Kumarasinghe
Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities
Minister Wimal Weerawansa said airing views regarding the abolition of
the Executive Presidency was only a political gimmick. The Minister in
an interview with the Sunday Observer said if the powers of the
Executive Presidency were changed, subsequently the electoral system and
the 13th Amendment should also be changed.
It is not appropriate to curtail or abolish the powers vested in the
Executive Presidency without clipping the provisions of the 13th
Amendment which is favorable to separatism.
The Minister is of the view that the need of the hour is an overall
constitutional amendment which will benefit the country. Making
amendments to certain clauses of the Constitution would lead to anarchy.
Minister Weerawansa said when the Yal Devi goes back to the North
after a lapse of 24 years, the people will be aware of what the end of
the war on terrorism really feels like.
The destruction of the Yal Devi saw the breach of the economic and
cultural bridge connecting the North and the South which caused a
serious psychological impact on both sides of the divide. The Yal Devi
was the vector of religious, cultural and social sentiments between the
North and the South.
It was also a symbol of a vast network of transactions between fellow
citizens of one country.The running again of the Yal Devi amounts to the
re-establishment of relations between sons and daughters of the same
land. More than being a rail link it is a reunion of hearts.
Q: President Mahinda Rajapaksa is
reported to have said that he would consent to scrap the Executive
Presidency if the TNA renounces separatism and embraces a unitary form
of Government. How would you evaluate this development?
A: The pro-LTTE diaspora
worldwide, the TNA and those who promote racism want to govern this
country with the agreements reached upon with the minority, completely
ignoring the view expressed by the majority. They say if the minority
view goes against the view of the majority, the country should be
governed through an agreement reached with the minorities.
That is why they stress for the need of a federal constitution.
However, the Executive Presidency is a major constraint to promote
this ideology. The TNA retained the power of the Northern Provincial
Council. But the Central Government only deals with the Northern
Provincial Council through its Governor.
If there was no Executive Presidency and the powers of 13th Amendment
existed, perhaps the country would have turned into a federal state. If
attempts are made to remove certain clauses of the Constitution, nobody
knows the complexity that is created.
The Executive Presidency has come up as a result of proportional
representation. If the Executive Presidency is abolished,proportional
representation should also be removed.
The Northern Provincial council hicds of the TNA is connected to the
Central Government because of the Executive Presidency. It is not
appropriate to curtail or abolish the powers of the Executive Presidency
without clipping the provisions of the 13th Amendment which favours
separatism. Because these are interconnected.
If the powers of the Executive Presidency is changed, subsequently
the electoral system and the 13th Amendment should also be changed.
If certain clauses of the Constitution is removed, it would lead to
the collapse of the entire system. Most of those who air their views on
the Executive Presidency use it as a political gimmick. We also agree to
curtail or abolish the powers of the Executive Presidency through an
overall change made to the Constitution.
Our view is that an overall constitutional amendment is needed for
the country. Without doing so,amendments made to certain clauses of the
Constitution would lead the country to anarchy.
Q: Many people want to clip the wings
of the Executive Presidency, but we can't forget the fact that it was
the Executive Presidency that helped Sri Lanka to eradicate terrorism
and ensure a peaceful and law-abiding country. What are your views on
this?
A: Following a request
made by then President J.R. Jayewardena, Prof. Wilson was instrumental
in drafting this Executive Presidency and electoral system to the
constitution.Prof. Wilson was a relation of Chelvanayagam. He drafted
this Executive Presidency and electoral system by creating avenues for
minorities for political bargaining.
In most countries,candidates who poll the highest number of votes at
a Presidential Election are elected as President whether he has exceeded
50 percent or not. But in our country, counting of the second
preferential votes has been included into the Constitution, because
Prof. Wilson must have realised that in the future, there will be a need
for minority votes to elect a President by counting the second
preferential votes.
If minority votes enabled a President to be elected through a second
preferential vote, that President will be favourable towards the
minorities.
Therefore, the electoral system under the Executive Presidency has
created an unstable Parliament. It has also created an electoral system
which gives political bargaining power to minority groups.
Prof. Wilson's intention was not to strengthen the country but to
give room for minorities for political bargaining. But this was not
reflected in the past two to three decades as the LTTE's bargaining
power through weapons was the highlight.
Today the LTTE's bargaining has ended. Once again, avenues have been
created for minorities to bargain.
If this Executive Presidency and the electoral system continues
further in this manner, it would lead to losing the hard-earned peace
and stability.
We think the Constitution should be changed in a manner which would
not provide a stimulant for the minorities to use their bargaining power
and for separatist elements to realise their goals.
Q: What have you got to say about JHU
parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera's draft constitution which
he released on Tuesday. Would you like to comment on the major proposals
in it?
A: I also knew about it
only through newspaper reports. Sometimes, my analysis may be
incomplete. It is not clear whether these set of proposals introduced by
Ven. Rathana Thera were from the JHU or the Pivithuru Hetak organisation.
Anyway the JHU, MEP, NFF and other Buddhist organisations come under
nationalistic movements.
Though we have minor differences, there was a common ideology among
these nationalistic forces. We look at these proposals from a historical
perspective. But these proposed amendments have no connection to that
historical sequence of events.
It has also been proposed to clip the wings of the Executive
Presidency. It has made certain references on the electoral system as
well. It has also proposed some Executive Committee system which gives
representation to Provincial Councils.
Some controversial references are included in these proposals.
This draft constitution has not made any reference on the 13th
Amendment. Therefore, this is not a reflection of the country's national
forces.
We think a transformation should be made in this country. It should
be based on four major objectives which includes the formulation of the
country's fundamental law without providing any room for separatism or
racism, take forward steps to ensure democracy and good governance, make
positive changes within the electoral and political party system and
streamline the public administration system.
We can build a new chapter in our country based on these four facts.
We can't see the 19th Amendment reflecting past goals.
At present various unofficial statements have been made on a snap
Presidential Election. The budget debate will commence next week and
after that Parliament will be prorogued.
Even if these proposals are accepted, technically there is no
possibility of amending the Constitution before the Presidential
Election.
As the representatives of the country's national forces, if there are
shortcomings in this Government, we cannot act in an irresponsible
manner reverse the significant victories achieved during the tenure of
President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
What is more appropriate is to further ensure the victories gained
and take steps to win over victories that have not yet been gained.
Q: TNA's boycotting state functions
such as the re-commencement of the Yal Devi is a case in point that they
have not abandoned secessionist sentiments but committed to achieve in a
peaceful way what Prabhakaran failed to achieve militarily. Your
comments?
A: Once we militarily
defeated LTTE separatism, we should have banned the political wing as
well by not doing so it was one of the biggest mistake made by us.
At present, this political wing with the help of some Western
embassies are promoting separatist sentiments among the Tamils. The
Tamil community is systematically coming out of that vacuum and realise
the ground reality. That is why the TNA have shown a complex behaviour.
If there are differences in ideologies, we should work together on
matters of development. If we look at it from that perspective, the TNA
is not willing to cooperate.
As a person educated in a prominent school in Colombo and interacting
with the elite English speaking society in Colombo, it is difficult to
understand how the Northern Province Chief Minister has fallen victim to
some narrow-minded people.
The Yal Devi returned to Jaffna after a lapse of 24 years and is a
significant event for the people o Jaffna. It gives strong sentiments
regarding the end of the terrorist war. The feeling that the gap between
the North and the South has reduced will also be felt. But the TNA does
not like to see the people in the North experiencing it.
They only want division. Whatever massive development that takes
place, the TNA attempts to infuse separatist sentiments into the minds
of the Tamils.
This ensures their political survival and caters to the interests of
some Western countries which attempt to divide Sri Lanka.
Other than criticising the Government, the Northern Provincial
Council is not doing anything for the Tamils. The TNA's sole intention
is to drag the Tamils 30 years back again.
Q: The Opposition UNP
and other political parties have condemned the gas and fuel price
reduction as election stunts, though they were the very people who
fought for it. Is this not the political opportunism prevalent in
developing countries?
A: Electricity
rates were reduced during the recently concluded Uva Provincial Council
election. Then the Opposition alleged that electricity prices were
reduced targeting the Uva PC election.
When the amount of electricity generated through coal power plants
are increased, the necessity of getting power from diesel power plants
is drastically reduced. As a result the fuel surcharge is also saved.
That is why the President decided to reduce electricity rates by 25
percent.
Some relief should also been given to industrial sector. Reduction of
electricity rates by 25 percent is one of the biggest reliefs given to
the people. But the Opposition does not appreciate this move.
When gas prices were reduced, the Opposition says it is done
targeting the presidential election. When relief is given in the Budget,
they would make the same comment.
If prices were reduced targeting the Presidential Election then why
were the prices of cigarettes and liquor increased by the Government?
The Opposition does not respond to that. This is the political
opportunism.
Q: Some UPFA
constituent parties make public statements critical of the Government
which are harmful to good governance and democracy. Your comments?
A: Dialogue is
not harmful to democracy. The UPFA Government is a coalition. The
constituent parties of the UPFA have different views and there is
dialogue among them. All these constituent parties continue their
dialogue to achieve common goals of the UPFA.
Otherwise there is no use of dialogue, if it is with the intention of
a destructive motive.
Express positive views on the forward march of the Government and the
changes to be made for that is not harmful whatsoever.
We could see what happened to those who held different views during
the tenure of the latePresident J.R. Jayewardena.
He did what he wanted. That is why he signed the Indo-Lanka
agreement, banned some political parties, unleashed the Black July
progrom and also banned the May Day celebration.
Thousands of youth were killed during the 1988 to 1989 period.
The democratic approach practiced by the UPFA may be significant to
those who resorted to dictatorial ruling. There were no dialogues in the
former UNP Governments.
In the modern world, there are various clashes about views expressed
and new ideas are generated as a result. The country is moving forward
based on those ideas. That is what should really happen.
Q: Could you explain
how the newlyl aunched Northern railway could act as a conduit to
reconnect the North and South economically, culturally and socially?
A: I believe
that before we construct expressways, we should have constructed express
railways.
Because train compartments are occupied by people belonging to all
classes. If express railways were constructed first, all the people
would have benefited from it.
A railway bridges the gap between people. When the Yal Devi goes to
the North, the people will experience the taste of real freedom that was
deprived during the three decade terrorist war and that it has in fact
come to an end..
The destruction of the Yal Devi saw the breach of the economic and
cultural bridge connecting the North and the South which caused a
serious psychological impact on both sides of the divide.
The Yal Devi was the conduit for religious, cultural and social
sentiments between the North and the South. It was also a symbol of a
vast network of transactions between fellow citizens of one country.
The Yal Devi's being put back on track amounts in a way to the
re-establishment of relations between sons and daughters of the same
land.. it is much more than just a rail link, it is the beginning of the
reunion of hearts.
Q: The Opposition
always puts the blame on the Government for borrowing money to fulfill
its goals.. Except for a few, all most all countries run their economies
on loan funds or borrowings.Economically are these practices not
prudent?
A: Japan's debt
burden is far higher than ours as a percentage of the GDP. But the
Japanese economy is not insecure. Because Japan's production largely
benefits from industry, agriculture and new inventions.
Japan earns a considerable income by providing goods and services to
other countries. They can handle their economy.
During the tenure of Ranil Wickremesinghe, our debt burden which was
110 percent of the GDP has been reduced to 73 percent now. This is a
clear indication that if more initiatives are taken to increase the GDP,
we can reduce our debt burden.
It is not appropriate to obtain loans without increasing our GDP. To
increase our GDP, a huge amount of money which goes out of the country
to import milk powder, sugar and other agricultural products should be
stopped.
The Government should intervene and provide concessions to the
private sector to commence such industries here.
Q: The Popes proposed
visit is proof of Sri Lanka's religious tolerance and mutual respect for
rights despite minor incidents being blown out of proportion by anti-Sri
Lankan forces. How do you explain the significance of the Pope's visit?
A:
Sri Lankans never harboured
religious intolerance. It was the temple which safeguarded the people
even during the colonial era irrespective of religious differences.
Because tolerance and conduct taught in Buddhism is different to that of
other religions.
I am telling this as a neutral person and not as a person with an
extremist mentality.
Under these circumstances, Buddhists don't harbour religious
intolerance. But that does not mean, we should bow down and permit
anybody to do whatever they like.
Religious coexistence prevails in Sri Lanka. But attempts are made by
certain elements to disrupt this coexistence. It is the extremist
organisations within the Muslim society which is destroying their
society. Tamil extremism is also similar. Extremism is something which
destroys themselves while destroying others as well.
That was what the LTTE did. Extremism cannot exist in a
society.Because it has been historically proved that our society is a
society with tolerance and civilisation. But certain conspirators are in
Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim society who attempt to disrupt this religious
coexistence.
These minor incidents took place with the help of external forces
being blown out of proportion to give a wrong impression to the world.
Q: As a developing
country, Sri Lanka's post-war reconstruction is amazing despite the
Western world's obsession with human rights violations. Don't you think
the UN resolutions have weakened democracy and good governance in small
countries?
A: Any dictator
who dances to the whims and fancies of the US is good for them. Problems
and conflict occurred only in the Middle East countries which have anti-
US Leaders.
Similar situations did not arise in Middle East countries such as
Bahrain and Dubai which have pro-US Leaders.
The UN is like the Inter University Student Federation (IUSF) of the
JVP. Because the JVP is equal to the IUSF while the IUSF is equal to the
JVP.
Likewise the UN has become an integral part of the US. All those who
hold portfolios in UN committees are favourites of the US.
If 60,000 youth were killed in the South during the tenure of the
late President J.R. Jayewardena, it would not be a problem because he
danced according to the whims and fancies of the US. As President
Mahinda Rajapaksa is not doing so and ended the war against terrorism,
he is not good for the UN.
A massive transformation on world balance of forces will take place
in the next decade. Power in the East is being strengthened.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa will take a firm stand with the Eastern
powers.Therefore, the UN and other Western powers want to interfere into
our internal affairs. |