We are firmly committed to a political solution President
by N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief The Hindu
"Let me reiterate that my government is firmly committed to a
negotiated political solution - based on devolution of power and
ensuring the democratic, political, including linguistic, rights of all
our Tamil brethren within an undivided Sri Lanka,"
"As President of Sri Lanka, he explained in this tranquil setting,
the official residence of former Prime Ministers, "I am absolutely clear
that there is, and can be, no military solution to political questions.
I have always maintained this. A military solution is for the
terrorists; a political solution is for the people living in this
country."
Noting the tardiness of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC)
in coming up with its final proposals, he asserted: "I myself will take
charge of the political process and see it through politically."
Emphasising that "our military operations are directed exclusively at
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam" - a terrorist and secessionist
organisation banned or designated as terrorist in more than 30
countries, including India - he renewed his call to the LTTE even at
this late stage to "lay down its arms, surrender, and enter the
democratic political process."
President Rajapaksa said "the military operations directed against
the LTTE are not intended to harass Tamil civilians or cause any harm or
hardship to them." His government was doing, and would do, everything in
its power "to mitigate and resolve the plight of the civilians displaced
or affected by the conflict." In addition to ensuring that food,
medicines, and other essential commodities were "within the reach of
every one of our Tamil brethren affected by the conflict," it would
rehabilitate "every civilian affected by the conflict in a fair and
transparent manner."
The President expressed happiness over "the positive and constructive
outcome" of the discussions his Special Envoy, Basil Rajapaksa, had in
New Delhi with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and senior
Indian officials. He welcomed India's decision to contribute, as a
gesture of goodwill, 800 tonnes of relief material for the affected
civilians in the North. He appreciated Tamil Nadu's offer to make an
additional contribution to this humanitarian endeavour.
President Rajapaksa put on record his respect for Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister M. Karunanidhi, "one of India's senior-most politicians," and
his appreciation of Mr. Karunanidhi's thoughts and proposals for "a just
political solution of the current conflict within the framework of an
undivided Sri Lanka." He said he would like to convey through the
Government of India his wish to invite Chief Minister Karunanidhi to
visit Sri Lanka.
Asked about the contours of the political solution he had in mind,
the President Rajapaksa explained his four 'Ds' approach -
Demilitarisation, Democratisation, Development, and Devolution. When the
13th Amendment was introduced in the Sri Lankan Constitution at the
instance of the Indian government, it could not be implemented in the
North and the East because "there was no political will on either side
to implement it." But as a political leader, he had announced his
government's "intention of implementing this for the first time. We have
given that assurance to the Tamil people of my country and to the
international community. We are going to do it. This is not to satisfy
anybody. It is my duty by the people of this country."
President Rajapaksa pointed out that his government was implementing
the interim proposals of the All Party Representative Committee. Within
one year of clearing the Eastern Province, local and Provincial Council
elections were successfully held, a Tamil Chief Minister was in office,
and development work had been taken up on a priority basis. He would now
set up a committee to benchmark the devolution process in the Eastern
Province (against what other Provinces enjoyed).
Full text of the interview given to 'The Hindu':
Q. Mr. President, are you satisfied with the outcome of the
visit to New Delhi of your Special Envoy, Basil Rajapaksa, and the
discussions he had with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and
senior Indian officials?
A. I am extremely happy about the positive and constructive
outcome of this visit and the discussions.
Q. You have repeatedly said your government is committed to a
political solution of the Tamil question in Sri Lanka. What will be the
contours of this political solution?
A. First of all, this issue has been there for a long time,
more than 20 years, and it's high time we came to a solution. As
President of Sri Lanka, I am absolutely clear that there is, and can be,
no military solution to political questions. I have always maintained
this. A military solution is for the terrorists; a political solution is
for the people living in this country.
Let me reiterate that my government is firmly committed to a
negotiated political solution - based on devolution of power and
ensuring the democratic, political, including linguistic, rights of all
our Tamil brethren within an undivided Sri Lanka. I would like to see
more devolution to the people. It must go to the grassroots level,
because they must decide on their development work, what they need. We
must allow them to participate in the whole process.
For that I appointed an All Party Representative Committee. I have
given them time but unfortunately they couldn't give me a final proposal
in that time. But they have given me an interim proposal, which we are
implementing.
We are implementing it in the Eastern Province. Within one year of
clearing the Province, we had local government elections and Provincial
Council elections. A Tamil Chief Minister is in office and development
work has been taken up on a priority basis. We will set up a committee
to benchmark what more can be done to deepen the devolution and
democratic process in the Eastern Province.
Q. An assurance
A. As for the Northern Province, we are working to bring about
a proper environment in order to bring a lasting solution to the
conflict. I will be doing the same thing as soon as possible in this
Province, after we clear it of terrorists. Because people must be able
to express their true feelings and be able to elect their true
representatives. At present such a situation does not exist. It is
useless having any proposal in the Constitution or in an agreement or on
paper if you are unable to implement it. Even the 13th Amendment that
was introduced at the instance of the Indian Government - they thought
it was more than enough at that time - we couldn't implement in the
North and East because of Prabakaran and his men. In fact, there was no
political will on either side to implement it. In the South because it
was a political issue. But as a political leader, I have said that after
20 years we have the intention of implementing this for the first time.
We have given that assurance to the Tamil people of my country and to
the international community. We are going to do it. This is not to
satisfy anybody. It is my duty by the people of this country. And let me
repeat: I myself will take charge of the political process and see it
through politically.
Q. How do you see the relationship between your government's
military operations in the North and the political solution? The four
'Ds'
A. Our military operations are directed exclusively at the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. It is a terrorist and secessionist
organisation that - starting with the ban by democratic India following
the dastardly assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi - has
been banned or designated as terrorist in more than 30 countries round
the world. We share with India a firm and steadfast opposition to all
forms of terrorism, and I note with satisfaction that both countries
have just agreed in New Delhi that "terrorism should be countered with
resolve." The current military operations are being carried out to build
the environment required to free our own Tamil brothers and sisters from
the cruel grip of terror and implement a just and enduring political
solution based on the four 'Ds' - Demilitarisation, Democratisation,
Development, and Devolution. I wish to once again call on the LTTE to
lay down its arms, surrender, and enter the democratic political
process.
Q. The four 'Ds' in your vision of the political process -
Demilitarisation, Democratisation, Development, Devolution - are they in
some order?
A. Yes. Without demilitarisation first, you won't be able to
achieve anything. No democratisation, no development, no devolution. It
is useless to give them devolution when they are not ready to accept it
or you can't implement it.
Q. How do you view the concerns expressed in India and
elsewhere over the adverse impact of the military operations on a large
number of Tamil civilians in the Wanni?
A. The military operations directed against the LTTE are not
intended to harass Tamil civilians or cause any harm or hardship to
them. Our policy in this regard is very clear. We are making, and will
continue to make, every effort to avoid civilian casualties. We will do
everything in our power to mitigate and resolve the plight of the
civilians displaced or affected by the conflict. We are cooperating with
the United Nations and reliable international NGOs to ensure that food,
medicines, and other essential commodities are within the reach of every
one of our Tamil brethren affected by the conflict. We will rehabilitate
every civilian affected by the conflict in a fair and transparent way. I
reiterate that all hardships faced temporarily by our brothers and
sisters in the North will be brought to an end in a short time.
Meanwhile, I am happy that as a gesture of goodwill, the Government
of India will be sending around 800 tonnes of relief material to Sri
Lanka for the affected civilians in the North.
I am happy that the Government of Tamil Nadu too will be contributing
to this humanitarian endeavour. The Government of Sri Lanka will
facilitate the delivery and consult and cooperate with the Government of
India in addressing these humanitarian issues.
Q. Are you satisfied with the state of bilateral relations
between Sri Lanka and India?
A. Very much. Sri Lanka and India have excellent relations; in
fact, as far as I can see, this is the best time in our bilateral
relations. I understand and respect India's goodwill and its concern
over the humanitarian situation in the Wanni. I appreciate the concerns
relating to the welfare of Tamil civilians expressed by the Government
and democratic political parties of Tamil Nadu.
Q. What is your reading of the position taken by the Tamil
Nadu Chief Minister and Government on the current situation in Sri
Lanka?
A. I have respect for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi
- one of India's senior-most politicians - and appreciate his thoughts
and proposals for a just political solution of the current conflict
within the framework of an undivided Sri Lanka. In this connection, I
would like to convey through the Government of India my wish to invite
Chief Minister Karunanidhi to visit Sri Lanka.
Q. You must be especially happy about the practical
arrangements agreed on to resolve the fisheries issue.
A. Yes. Also because I was at one time Fisheries Minister when
the Indian Government was taking my people, Sri Lankan fishermen. When I
went to India, I said: 'This is a humanitarian problem. Fishermen go
after fish, they are not bothered about territorial waters or the
international maritime boundary!' We understand this very much. How do
you solve this problem? You can't punish the fishermen.
The practical arrangements agreed on in New Delhi on October 26, 2008
reflect the humanitarian and livelihood dimensions of the fisheries
issues.
They represent a new phase in our bilateral friendship and
cooperation.
These arrangements should bring to an end certain unfortunate
problems that have cropped up in this area and help build goodwill on
both sides. I also look forward to the speedy conclusion of a Memorandum
of Understanding between our two countries on development and
cooperation in the field of fisheries.
Q. Mr President, what is your vision of an ethnically
harmonious Sri Lanka?
A. I am absolutely clear that Sri Lanka belongs to all its
citizens - Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, others. The policy of my
Government is to uphold the equality, liberty, fraternity, and
development of people belonging to all ethnic, linguistic, and religious
communities. In fact, I am proud to say that, in September this year, I
became the first head of State to address the U.N. General Assembly in
Tamil.
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