Scaling APRC proposals

To give maximum and effective devolution of power to the provinces in a short term by fully implementing available provisions under the present Constitution the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) handed over their proposals to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa on January 23, 2008. This week 'Face 2 Face' focuses on the ideas of the TULF leader V. Anandasangaree and the UNP Assistant Secretary Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene.

What is your reaction to the submitted final document of the All Party Representative Committee?

V. Anandasangaree: We had been agitating for a solution based on the federal concept and also offered to accept the Indian model as an alternative - if the term federal is allergic to anyone. We have not changed our views in this matter and in the matter of merger of the North and the East. We assure everybody that while spurning violence we will by non-violent means and in a friendly way continue persuade the citizens of country to agree that no permanent solution can be found under a unitary system. We joined this to show our solidarity on behalf of the Tamil people. We want to see a re-birth of a nation where we the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Malays, Burghers and members of all the other small groups live as equals in all respects, in a society where one is no way superior or inferior to another.

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene: We have not yet officially received the document. We are not a party of the APRC yet we were in regular contact with Professor Tissa Vitharana. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is going back to the 13th Amendment that was made in 1987. But, during that time President Rajapaksa with the leadership of Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike vehemently opposed implementing the 13th Amendment. They now have realised the importance of a political solution. The APRC met over sixty times until the final solution. Isn't the APRC being wasted? What is the end result of it? It is going back to the 13th amendment.

Do you think this is going to be strong enough to solve the current national crisis we face?

V. Anandasangaree: To achieve this, the Government and the Media should seriously discourage propagating one section of the people as superior or inferior to another. This is a first step towards bringing peace, to the bleeding Nation and to its people who had undergone untold hardships particularly during the past 25 years. I hope that the APRC will continue this process in the same spirit and find a solution which will meet the aspirations of the Tamil-speaking people.

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene: We do not think so. Actually in 1987 we brought forward the 13th Amendment. Its is nothing new. It is just matter of implementing, though the Government tries to show it as something new. The architects of the 13th Amendment and the Constitution are the UNP. President is trying to show the people as if this is newly invented.

What are the strong points and weak points you see in the APRC proposal?

V. Anandasangaree: Well, the 13th Amendment was not touched for the past twenty years. This makes the civil administration easy. Appointing civil servants for important posts even heads of certain departments could have been done without delay. All the sectors under the civil administration could have performed smoothly. The Public sector would be free from being politicized.

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene: Well, we are not a party of the APRC. Strong or weak, basically this should be acceptable by all the communities of the country, be it Sinhala, Muslim, Tamil, Burgher or Malay etc. Such documents need to be endorsed by the Government and importantly by the people through a referendum or something similar.

How much do you agree with the proposed package? Percentage wise?

V. Anandasangaree: As I said, This needs to be strengthened more. But as a first step this I appreciate. I do not want to see innocent people being killed, murdered or harassed. It should be a solution where everyone living in this country, can lead a peaceful life without harassment and terrorism. We whole-heartedly support the Government's efforts to find peace in our country.

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene: Well we have to study it in detail. We are not a party of the APRC. By merely looking at it we can not answer. Whatever the matter is we are maintaining our standard. We are not trying to play petty politics with national issues. For us country comes before politics. We do not want to remain in power.

The Government says doors are still open for the LTTE for negotiations. If by any chance, the LTTE come in to negotiations what would be the fate of the proposed APRC package?

V. Anandasangaree: Over a period of 20 years several opportunities were given to the LTTE to come back to the negotiating table. I had volunteered to negotiate with the Government to obtain them a prominent role in the Administration of the North and the East. Even a general amnesty for the leaders and the carders are offered. They did not pay any attention to any offer. Instead they are sacrificing valuable human lives on both sides every day.

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene: This seem to be only words from the Government. Government should sincerely try more to encourage the LTTE to come for a negotiations. Unless, at the end of the day all efforts become a waste. Late Major General Kobbekaduwa - a patriotic son of the soil - stressed that the last solution should be political. APRC seems to be a one sided proposal. It had no discussions with the LTTE. By any means if the LTTE comes in for negotiations their point of view has to be taken into consideration. But, since the Government has vowed to wipe out the LTTE by March this year do you think they would turn up for negotiations?

Since, several main political parties, those who are playing a leading role at present in the society, are not in the APRC. Hence, do you think this is acceptable?

V. Anandasangaree: Most of the parties concerning the people of the North and East, are members of the APRC. But there are certain elements who have come in to power and have entered the Parliament by accident. They comment differently. I look at it from a different point of view. For me, putting a fullstop to the killing of innocent people is more important than thinking on those lines. To the common people the person coming in to power is irrelevant. They want to live in peace.

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene: Not acceptable at all. We were aware that this is going to happen. We knew that is this going to be a bluff. That is why we did not participate. We, the United National Party clearly stated that the only long lasting solution to solve the problem is through a negotiated political settlement.

APRC proposals are based on the 13th Amendment. The 13th Amendment itself has a federal formation. Going on with it makes it apparent. What is your point of view on this?

V. Anandasangaree: I will not call it a federal formation. If it had a federal character no one can change it or alter it. That is why we keep on stressing on a federal solution. Because in a unilateral solution anything can change by a stroke of a pen. We need a constitution that no one can change or play with.

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene: We introduced the 13th amendment. We started 21 years ago and we were going ahead. We felt that by 2002 we would be able to find a lasting solution within a united Sri Lanka. We do not want to play with words. But the UNP support maximum devolution. We would like to see a solution that people would aspire.

So far there are several positive responses to the APRC proposals. India has extended their support, according to the Indian Foreign Ministry statement. Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary said the co-chairs greeted it warmly when the Sri Lankan Government informed and explained it to them. What are your comments?

V. Anandasangaree: International response is important. But what is more important is the thinking of the people of the country. They were suffering because of terrorism. If our own younger generation cannot fully understand this existing problem I wonder how can a foreigner who was not here among us understand the true scenario.

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene: The international community - be it India or the co-chairs - wants to see that this National problem be solved through a political solution. When the Government of Sri Lanka unanimously abrogated the Ceasefire the United Nations, states and many international organisations expressed their disagreement. The UNP stands on the same point of view - we also want to see a negotiated political settlement. That is why the UNP entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the ruling party leaving aside petty politics. No other President got such a golden opportunity. The biggest national parties signed the agreement. The Buddhist clergy, priests of every religion, thinkers-everyone hailed the attempt. Because of the petty politics vision of the ruling party the MoU was violated. Government should be frank enough and sincere enough.