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| Sunday, 31 October 2004 |
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We formed the Sihala Urumaya with noble intentions - Tilak Karunaratne
Former Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) General Secretary Tilak Karunaratne who has now joined the UNP and become the Chief Organiser for Bandaragama talks to Sunday Observer Staff Reporter Rohan Mathes about his decision to defect to the UNP, his tenure with the JHU, the ISGA and current developments. Excerpts of the interview. by Rohan Mathes
Q: What made you suddenly defect to the UNP? A: I have not defected to the UNP, but joined the UNP. I joined after many lengthy discussions with the UNP leadership for over three months and not suddenly. We formed the Sihala Urumaya (SU) and subsequently the JHU with very noble intentions centred on the creation of an awareness in the major political forces of the country that the majority Sinhalese were being deprived of their economic and political clout and not keeping with their population ratio. However, I was made to realise that there was a huge gap in what we said prior to the elections and thereafter. I realised that a small party could not achieve this and it was inevitable that I should get-into the major political mainstream. The only party I could join for this purpose was none other than the UNP. Therefore I joined the UNP to pursue this cause. Furthermore, I don't want to do politics on a wheel-chair. I wish to serve the people to my maximum potential within the next ten to fifteen years of my life. Q: What have you achieved during the period you were with the SU and the JHU? A: Although a small party, we had succeeded in moulding the character of major political forces such as the JVP who changed from a Marxist to a Nationalist line, purely due to our influence though they are only 'Pseudo-Nationalist' destroying our country. Q: Was there any correlation between the JHU and Premier Mahinda Rajapakse to the extent where the JHU voluntarily refrained from contesting with Mahinda Rajapakse for the Hambantota district at the last general election? A: No not at all. It is not that we did not contest, but our nominations got rejected. Some monks withdrew from the nominations list at the last moment and we had to find monks on the spur of the moment. We did find them but they were unable to sign the affirmation and consequently our application was rejected. Q: There is a general conception among some people that you used the monks as pawns to get into Parliament, something you failed to achieve alone earlier? A: I wish to say very clearly that it was never the intention of any laymen to get into Parliament on the shoulders of the monks. If our sole intention was only to get into Parliament, we as the SU would have won some seats and got into Parliament. The monks got involved via the 'Jathika Sangha Sammelanaya' which became a formidable force with Ellawela Medananda Thera as its head, and others such as Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera, Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Thera and Kollonnawe Sumangala Thera among others. They all believed we had to get together to cleanse the Parliament which has fallen to a very low level and then get out. However after winning nine seats, the monks did not keep up to their promises. In Buddhism the monks are held in high-esteem and it is not the norm for the laity to consistently criticise the clergy. So we thought the best was to bow down and leave the party. Q: But now the monks, especially the controversial Uduwe Dhammaloka is alleged to have received massive amounts of funds from locals and foreigners, and there has not been any transparency and accountability in handling these funds. What is your view on this? A: I could say very specifically that all financial accounts of the laity in the SU and the JHU were above board. Every cent has been accounted for. As for the monks who have also given a statement, I do not know there had been any discrepancies in the accounts. I do not like to comment without knowing the facts as, it is not fair. Q: When you were with the JHU, you were very critical of the ISGA. Now that you have joined the UNP who are proponents of the ISGA, what is your stand now? A: The UNP is not a proponent of the ISGA. If they were, there would not have been a breakdown of the peace process. The UNP stand was that the peace talks should commence, based on the ISGA proposals. It does not mean that the UNP accepts the ISGA proposals in toto. The JVP and the SLFP are divided on the issue. The UNP at least is united and has a consistent policy on this. My own policy, as quite rightly pointed out by you, is that I was opposed to it. Nonetheless, I have agreed with the UNP that I would not state my position on the ISGA publicly, and would only make it known within the internal fora of the party. Q: What are your comments on certain media reports and rumours to the effect that with the apparent split in the JHU, some monks are to defect to the UNP and some others to the Alliance? A: What I could say is that there is an apparent clash between the laity and the clergy. I know that there are very honourable and respectable gentlemen in the JHU who are fighting for a worthy cause. I have also the greatest respect for all the Sangha in the JHU. I don't know why they cannot unite and work together. They should ideally function as a potent political force without taking any side. Q: It is Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera who has become very controversial in the JHU. He is also very much in the limelight. Why is this? A: He is the most charismatic of all the monks. Therefore he draws the most attention and you cannot blame him for it. There are forces who are trying to destroy his image because he keeps the JHU going in a way. Q: Your former SU and JHU colleague Champika Ranawaka said that you have made a great mistake by joining the UNP. What is your response? A: I firmly believe in democracy. Champika is a great guy who had sacrificed a lot for our cause and a good organiser too. That is his opinion. I don't agree with it. Q: Why do you say that there was no other option than join the UNP? A: I say this because the SLFP and the JVP have done much harm and caused immense destruction to the Sinhala people of this country. The JVP has killed about 600 monks, destroyed state property and killed more Sinhalese than the LTTE. On the contrary, the UNP right back from D.S. Senanayake has contributed largely to the development of the Sinhala people. The UNP developed many irrigation schemes and diverted the Mahaweli, initiated many settlement schemes for the Sinhala people in places such as Minneriya and Ampara, developed the Garment industry in the villages among others. Q: You were a strong proponent in bringing forward the 'Anti Conversion Bill' in Parliament. Have you changed your views on it now? A: We wanted to bring forward the 'Anti Conversion Bill' due to certain financially powerful and influential groups acting in this country and not against the traditional Catholic, Anglican Methodist and other churches of this country. The threat is not only to Buddhists but also to the Tamil Hindus, especially in the plantation sector and even to the traditional churches. There are some practical problems faced by the traditional churches as well. So my personal view is to form a collective forum to oversee matters. Anyway this act would never see the light of day as any government would not be keen on it. I think the pressure is also waning now. The best would be the implementation of the NGO Commission report prepared during President Premadasa's regime by Justice Raja Wanasundera, which due to immense pressure was never published. I have a copy with me. I think this would be very effective with or without the act of Parliament. Q: But are you determined to go ahead with the 'Anti Conversion Bill' itself? A: No, I am not determined to go ahead with it. It is the JHU who wants to go ahead. However I am not opposing it either. If the government is keen, let it go through. The NGO Commission report would augment it. Q: Has there been international pressure not to bring-in the bill? A: Yes, American pressure. I heard the American Embassy had been very nasty when the JHU met them on this issue. Q: There are allegations that you are also acting mysteriously as an agent for the Christian church? A: There are allegations, but it is a joke. Q: Was the JHU involved in the violence in attacking Christian places of worship? A: No, the JHU was never involved in the attacks on churches. It was a blatant lie. No inquiry has been held on them to date. Q: Do you think you would succeed in bringing-about a 'Dharma Rajjaya' in Sri Lanka? A: That was our final goal but it is an utopian concept, which is difficult to achieve. We should aim at that. Q: But how could you expect that in a pluralistic society such as Sri Lanka? A: 'Dharma Rajjaya' is not only for the Buddhists. People of all faiths would benefit from it. We would have a violence-free, crime-free society then. A Buddhist 'Dharma Rajjaya' concept could not be different from a concept of any other religion. So no one would oppose it. Q: Do you agree that the monks should be in politics? A: I think there should be a limited representation of bkikkus in Parliament, around 20 monks, but they should not contest from other parties. They should have their own party. Also they failed because things were done very prematurely and hastily. But it does not mean the bhikkus should be shunned from politics in the future. Q: You have consecutively failed in your attempts to enter Parliament. How confident are you in the same now on the UNP ticket? A: I have not failed in my attempts to enter Parliament. I have always done well and won. I am absolutely confident of entering Parliament next time by winning in Bandaragama on the UNP ticket. |
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