The Opposition is blind to reason – Minister Keheliya Rambukwella

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

His affable but almost authoritative tone as the Defence Spokesman always asserted the Government’s stand to defend the territorial integrity of the country during the height of the war against LTTE terror. It evoked a sense of relief to the war-weary listener. Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella now as Cabinet Spokesman has become a popular and amiable personality to the media fraternity. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer spoke on a wide range of issues including the recent political developments in the country.

Minister Rambukwella said that the Government has a very confident approach because it has delivered the goods. Therefore, the Government does not want to indulge in gimmicks at the election. The people are well educated and as such they always think seriously before they cast their vote. They can always differentiate between gimmicks and reality. Unfortunately the Opposition fails to understand this.

He said at present the country’s democratic process is vibrant. President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Commander-in-Chief of the security forces has given clear instructions to the law enforcement authorities to perform their task and take stern action against those violating election laws. As a result, state vehicles used for the election campaign were taken into custody and the offices of some candidates were sealed to ensure democratic process. This has never happened in the history of elections. In fact, we should be thankful to the President for his directive as the Commander-in-Chief to ensure that the laws are strictly adhered to.

Q: How independent is Sri Lanka’s media despite allegations to the contrary?

A: What happens is sometimes that the people say there is no media freedom in the country. But if you take the weekend newspapers except the two Government newspapers, all others make various allegations against Ministers, their kith and kin and other relatives as well. Sometimes they even criticise the President in their lead news stories and by doing so, they say there is no media freedom. I don’t understand it. In fact, that is where the real controversy is. Actually these allegations are made by a few institutions and organisations. If one looks at the PC elections, one could see that the Elections Commissioner has become very tough.

The national Identity Card has been made compulsory to cast the vote. The Government vehicles used for the election campaign have been taken into Police custody and the offices of some candidates sealed. This has never happened in the history of elections. Have we ever heard of this kind of things in the past? This is how the democracy is really practised.

Q: Tamil Nadu’s jingoistic politics have created a crisis situation. How would you explain this in the context of Sri Lankan nationals particularly pilgrims visiting South India?

A: In fact this is a matter which has to be handled carefully. I must say this happens not only in Tamil Nadu but right across the globe. We have the remnants of Prabhakaran’s skeletons haunting all over. That is known as the pro-LTTE diaspora. Some of those in the TNA go all over the world and meet leaders of political parties and politicians of various countries and condemn the country.

They have also been planting the dreadful seeds of separatism and their homeland concept. Obviously they have not given up their mission. Tamil Nadu is only an arm but the base from which they operate is unfortunately stemming from the Sri Lankan society where the ghost of Prabhakaran is haunting. It is something that we should take a serious note of. I feel a certain plan of action has to be put in place within the democratic framework.

This would be the ideal time for the people in the East to realise how dangerous these developments would be in time to come. Disharmony, distrust and dissension - all these should come to an end and the people should be mindful of it.

With regard to the Tamil Nadu issue, we cannot work with state governments. We are a sovereign body. So the Government will have to work with the Centre and now we are working with the Centre. When we made certain observations, the Centre responded. They have taken action against those involved in this incident by taking them to courts.

Q: Some newspapers have hinted even editorially that our foreign policy needs reappraisal so that undue international pressure or interference could be minimised. Would you like to comment on this?

A: There are serious comments in this respect. The Head of the State and the relevant Ministries will take a serious note of it. We are establishing diplomatic ties with certain countries to ensure wider relations across the globe. Perhaps it may be necessary for certain adjustments which we are looking at seriously.

Q: To the big powers, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a spent force. Cannot NAM be revitalized to serve the economic and political needs of the developing world? If so how?

A: I don’t know whether there is Non-Alignment. Some are aligned and much depends on it. But of course, these movements and international organisations go on. One may complain about Non Alignment and others about the UN. The UN is an organisation manipulated by the world super powers. It was evident in the case of Iraq and the experts may cite a few other examples. All these organisations have both pluses and minuses.

Q: The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) conference will help Sri Lanka to boost its international image. What are the other benefits specially, economic which could be reaped from such a rare event?

A: Hosting the CPA conference would be a grand opportunity gained by us and it would be much advantageous to Sri Lanka as this could be the biggest international event to be held in Sri Lanka since LTTE terrorism was eradicated in 2009. Delegates of 179 CPA branches from 54 Commonwealth countries will send a clear message to the world that there is no danger in travelling to Sri Lanka. They will no doubt endorse Sri Lanka as one of the safest destinations. This is one of the biggest advantages that we can reap from this event. In addition, this would also help project the country’s image internationally and further strengthen our bilateral ties with those Commonwealth countries.

Q: A vibrant Opposition is always regarded as the democratic alternative to the Government in power. How do you evaluate the role of the Opposition?

A: One might say there is no vibrant Opposition. Even if there is an Opposition when the Government delivers the goods the Opposition has a small role to play. This is really what has happened to the present Opposition. What can a very vibrant or strong Opposition say? Can they say the Government has not eradicated terrorism or not achieved peace to the country or not implemented development projects. After three and a half years of eradicating terrorism, don’t we see any development in the country?. Even if there is a vibrant Opposition, there is hardly anything that they can voice against the Government.

Q: The main Opposition UNP is in complete disarray today. As a one time UNPer could you tell us what has gone wrong with the party?

A: I think it is an utter waste of time to talk about it. It is very obvious there is no democracy in the UNP today and there are various factions within it. Actually we can write books about its crisis.

Q: The university dons’ strike is continuing indefinitely despite negotiations being conducted. Should not both parties thaw their rigid stand and compromise to reopen the universities?

A: As far as the Government is concerned, it has not been rigid on this issue. The Government has been very flexible, but they are moving from one position to another.

The university dons were talking about the salary anomalies which the Government has to address. Now they are talking about a six percent allocation to the higher education sector. Of the 230 countries in the world, this six percent allocation is made only in 36 countries. It is good that we could be the 37th country. Given the actual situation that we have free education from year one to universities and also taking into consideration the average literacy rate and IT literacy rate it has to be decided whether the six percent should be the norm or there are other criteria. The first thing the dons have to realise is whether holding the country to ransom-not the country in fact but the future generation is justifiable.

Q: There is unrest among the various sectors of society including students. Do you see a hidden political manipulation behind these efforts?

A: There is enough room for one to speculate on this. In the absence of a vibrant Opposition, somebody else is trying to take the stage. For example when you look at some of the organisations and the situation created with regard to the year-five scholarship examination, it was like a wild fire when it was alleged that the question papers had leaked in some school at Yakkala.

The Commissioner of Examinations referred this to the CID who probed into it. Those who made the allegation are now denying it. In fact, they have apologized on what they had alleged. I suppose, all these have to be probed. In fact, this must be given more serious thought and let the law enforcement groups to handle such situations. As I told you they cannot hold the future generation to ransom and to get into their dirty game of politics.

Q: The rising crime wave continues unabated. What is the solution to arrest this trend and dispel public fears?

A: Actually it is only a certain section of the media which attempts to build up this opinion. Otherwise, there is no unprecedented wave of crime taking place as claimed by them. I think the IGP and the law enforcement authorities are capable enough to handle this situation.

Q: Will the British government’s travel advisory has its impact on the T20 World Cup cricket tournament and the CHOGM Summit to be held in Sri Lanka?

A: Every travel advisory has its impact on that country. We are however quite confident that the British Government’s travel advisory would help reap economic and other benefits by Sri Lanka.

Q: Communal issues are harmful to the smooth functioning of democracy. Should not the Government ban the racial, religious and linguistic issues being played in elections in the larger interest of racial amity?

A: I would endorse that without any hesitation. We are a country which was battered and also suffered enough under racism and communalism. We experienced its worst during the past 30 years.

Thanks to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Security Forces, we were able to get rid of it after 30 years. It is very unfortunate to see in certain areas where they have got basically bankrupt in their political journey, they try to use communalism to realise their political ambitions. This is sad. One of the major issues that we have taken up with the people in the East at this election is to renounce communalism outright. We asked them to cast their vote having considered the development success in the East and repudiating communalism.

Q: The Opposition says the Government is using the PC election to test the mood of the electorate before going for a snap General Election. Is there any truth in it?

A: The Opposition is living in a dream world. I don’t want to interfere with it. Let them have their dream thoughts and think what they want. We have a different agenda.

Q: The Opposition says that the Government is scared to hold all PC elections on a single day and is holding them on a staggered basis to ensure its victory. What is you comment?

A: There is a provision in the constitution which was introduced by the then President J.R. Jayewardene and his team. We only follow that process and we have not made any amendments to it. Even under the previous constitutions we had by-elections. Basically by-elections were held when a parliamentary seat falls vacant. It is different under the present system.

Q: During the recently concluded PC election campaign, the Opposition attempted to drag a range of issues such as the Sacred Relics exposition and the price reduction of certain items as election gimmicks by the Government. Your views.

A: I don’t know whether this is a factor as far as the people are concerned. It is sad to note that the Opposition is talking about the exposition of Sacred Relics, which is venerated by millions of Buddhists all over the world. Sri Lanka is one of the countries where Buddhism is practised and its people had been waiting for this. The exposition of Sacred Relics was held at Matara and Gampola where no elections were held.

As the Government, we have a very confident approach because we have delivered the goods. Therefore, we don’t have to resort to gimmicks in election. People are also well educated and they think twice before they cast their vote.

Q: What criteria will the Government be looking at in appointing Chief Ministers after the PC polls?

A: The number one factor is that there is a contest among the UPFA candidates themselves. When there is no Opposition to compete under the PR system, it is obvious that the contest is among the candidates of the same party. I suppose this is something while the Head of the SLFP together with the its General Secretary would decide at the appropriate time.

Q: Incidents such as sealing candidate’s offices and Police taking state vehicles used for elections to custody augur well for an independent election. How do you look at this new development?

A: President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Head of State gave orders to take state vehicles used for election campaign to Police custody. In the past when we referred such incidents to then Heads of State, Police or the law enforcement authorities, they turned the other way without taking any action. Today democratic process is so vibrant. The President as the Commander-in-Chief of the security forces has given very clear instructions to the law enforcement authorities to carry out their duties and take stern action against those violating election laws. The people can witness that law and order is not only maintained, but also strictly enforced in the country.