Government's 100-day program - A panacea for all ills - Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Justice and Labour Relations Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe(PC) said that the Government’s 100- day program will accomplish what the people yearned for more than two to three decades. When the Government completes the three- month program, we would obtain a huge majority at the general election.

The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that with this change, people from every quarter of the country experienced the same feeling just like the time we gained independence in 1948. The people were so frustrated.

The Minister said that the country was not governed by the rule of law. It was ruled by thugs, gangs and various underworld elements.

Even the people who voted against us now say that the advent of this Government was a blessing.

Once the the three months program is completed, the people will be really happy to see that democracy and good governance has been restored.

This would definitely help us win the general election and we are sure of an overwhelming majority.

Dr. Rajapakshe said “At present there is no interference with the media. They at times praise and at time criticise the Government. We have allowed them to do as they like.

But our only concern and what we expect is that they will forge ahead with some principles, norms and self discipline.

I think at the moment, there is no issue and all are writing the way they want. We also understand that still there is no allegation that media personnel are acting irresponsibly. They praise and criticise us. That is what is needed for the sustenance of democracy.”

Q: What are the key features of the proposed 19th Amendment?

A: It would consist of the abolition of the 18th Amendment and the restoration of Commissions that were introduced and established by the 17th Amendment.

Of course, they will be rather modified as there had been a lacunae. Then the executive powers will be transferred to the Cabinet of Ministers.

Those are the constitutional changes. In addition to that, we are going ahead with the Right to Information Act, Independent Audit Commission Bill and the National Drug Policy Bill. Those are the legal reforms that we are thinking of at the moment.

Q: What are the major plans for the Justice Ministry for the 100-day program?

A: All what I mentioned earlier comes under the purview of the Justice Ministry so that we are fully engaged in this exercise.

Q: What action can be taken against those who allegedly planned a military coup on the morning of January 9 in an attempt to subvert the democratic process?

A: We have sought advice from the Attorney General and the CID has already started an inquiry regarding this.

They are going ahead with this investigation and I don’t know the details. After the inquiry, the Attorney General will advise us on what to do depending on the materials available.

Q: What steps are being taken to ensure justice to General Sarath Fonseka and former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake?

A: General Fonseka’s issue has been resolved now. I sent my recommendation on Tuesday and the President granted him a Presidential pardon on Wednesday. We will have to look into the case of former Chief Justice. At the moment, there is an incumbent Chief Justice.

While he is in office, we cannot find a solution for former Chief Justice Bandaranayake’s case. Of course, the Government is concerned with the injustice caused to her. The Government will make arrangements to render some justice to her.

Q: There are those who say there is a witch hunt against the former President and his associates. But there is also a need to know the truth about certain deals and transactions done by the previous regime. What is your view?

A: From the inception, we said that we will not act out of vengeance. There is no witch hunt against anybody. But after the election results, the people are giving us information about malpractices and corruption. I think our Anti-corruption Committee has received over 30,000 complaints.

Similarly,we also get lot of information over the phone. We have sought the assistance of Police to look into these things. In certain incidents,we have found lot of illegal deals and transactions. It is not a witch hunt.

If a man is killed by an Opposition member and if he is prosecuted, how can we say that it is a witch hunt? Just because he is an Opposition political figure, does it mean that even if he kills the people, we should not inquire into it or either he has got free license to kill the people. It is also same with regard to the other offenses.

Q: Certain sections of the media have alleged that the new Government has permitted some known swindlers to flee abroad without detaining them. What is your comment?

A: I don’t blame the media or the people having that opinion by knowing the nature of the offenses that they have committed. But we are a democratic Government. Our promise to the people was that we wouldn’t follow the policy of the previous regime. We will do everything according to the law. The democratic process will be followed and we will not go out of the legal structure. Certainly, we are going ahead with inquiries. We know fleeing the country will not be an obstacle once the investigations are over. Whatever the place that they are residing, the law is available and we can get them down.

Q: Will the Government take action against KP and other surviving leaders of the LTTE? They have been roaming free while hundreds of Tamil youth have been detained for years without any charges?

A: We have observed this anomaly. In fact through my Ministry, I am going to make an evaluation of it. After the study, I will have to discuss it in the Cabinet and take a decision. That kind of serious decision must come from the Cabinet. Before that I will have to appraise them of the present situation.

Q: There is a somewhat controversial proposal in the Maithri manifesto to establish a domestic justice mechanism to probe any human rights violations during the final days of the war. Can you elaborate on this?

A: That is a strategic one. On May 23, 2009, four days after end the war, then the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government has signed an agreement with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

They cannot go ahead with any international inquiry on war crimes, because during the regime of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, he refused to sign the Rome Convention. But in terms of article 12 of Rome Convention, there is an exception and Rajapaksa regime got caught into that.

They have signed an agreement with UN secretary General Ban Ki-moon permitting an international war crime investigation.

We said we will resort to a domestic inquiry without allowing the international community to intervene into our country.

That is the strategy. Unless you are a signatory to Rome Convention, they can’t initiate any war crimes charges.

But exception is that if you give consent, they can do it. Rajapaksa regime didn’t understand that international legal position and they betrayed the soldiers who fought for the war against terrorists. We will have to get over from that. That shows their understanding of international affairs.

Q: How do you plan to address the law’s delays?

A: It is a longstanding issue of over 30 to 40 years. A lot of new court houses have also been constructed. In fact, our Ministry has started a few projects exploring the possibilities of introducing pretrial stages in the first place in an attempt to settle disputes amicably and then at the pretrial stage to determine the real issues.

The rest of the things will be settled and it will be confined to the exact issue. Likewise there is a project going on. We will go ahead and reach a finality very soon.

Q: There are several unsolved cases like Lasantha Wickramatunga, Pradeep Ekneligoda, Lalith and Koogan, Matale mass grave and so on. Will the new Government investigate these cases?

A: We will certainly investigate these cases. I think President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said so even before the election. The Government would go ahead with these investigations, because that was one of our election promises as well. I think nothing has happened so far.

But we decided that this should go ahead. Thereafter, we will have to get a Police team or CID to conduct an investigation. If necessary the President or the Prime Minister will consider to appoint a special commission.

Q: Many countries, even those who have not had very good relations with the Rajapaksa regime congratulated the new President. Will this be a new beginning for our international relations and also with Mangala Samaraweera as new Foreign Minister?

A: Of course, I am hopeful that this will be an international arena in this flourishing year. Except China, no other country was happy with the Rajapaksa regime. Now all are happy including China.

The Rajapaksa Government didn’t have any basic understanding as to what kind of international relations should be maintained and its importance.

By appointing political stooges as High Commissioners, Ambassadors and also a Member of Parliament just to oversee the Foreign Minister showed that they have created problems on their own. But our Government and Leaders are mature enough to tackle all these things.

Q: More SLFP MPs and other politicians have pledged support to President Maithripala Sirisena. You will face a General Election after the 100 days. Will the coalition increase its vote base of 6.2 million at the General Election and form a very stable Government?

A: Certainly. President Maithripala Sirisena is the Chairman of the SLFP as well as the Head of State. Once the power transfer is concluded, the President will exercise executive powers on the advice of Prime Minister and the decisions will be taken by the Cabinet.

This 100 day program will accomplish what the people cried for more than two to three decades. Once we complete this three months program, I am certain that we would be able to obtain a huge majority at the General Election.

With this people from every quarter of the country feel as if they gained independence in 1948 because the people were so frustrated.

The country was not governed by the rule of law. It was ruled by the thugs, gangs and various underworld characters. Even the people who voted against us now say that the advent of this Government is a blessing.

Once the the three months program is completed, the people will be really happy to see that the democracy and the good governance have been restored. This would definitely help us win the General Election with an overwhelming majority.

Q: What made former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to suffer this electoral defeat as his Government had enjoyed two thirds majority in Parliament?

A: He didn’t have two thirds majority in Parliament. Actually it was a crime committed by him. He bribed the MPs and gave them portfolios, vehicles and other perks. He destroyed the political party system.

He destroyed democracy as well. It was not a two thirds majority. He exploited the two thirds majority only to become a dictator and not for anything else. That is why the 18th Amendment was brought in.

There were very few people in the SLFP who were responsible for bringing him into the office of Presidency.

Those who were in the forefront were Maithripala Sirisena, Mangala Samaraweera, Sripathi Sooriayarachchi and myself. We are the people who led that campaign.

But within a few hours, he forgot the people who brought him to the throne. The former President was fascinated associating with notorious underworld figures, casino guys and drug dealers. That was the disaster.

Even the SLFPers didn’t work at the recently concluded Presidential Election. Only those who crossed over to the Government side from the UNP and the JVP were going ahead with that election campaign.

Because they know once Mahinda Rajapaksa had lost, they had no political future. That is why they were struggling to survive in politics. The SLFPers were hundred percent frustrated.

In some of the Ministries when 500 jobs were given, the Minister was not allowed to appoint even a single person. All came from Tharunayata Hetak or some rotten organisations and they were happy.

All these people still remain, they were pleading and praying in our presence. They felt it was time for him to leave the political scene. I don’t like to mention their names. But they all were top class SLFPers.

Q: The Government is going to present an interim Budget in Parliament on January 29 to provide immediate relief to the people. Would you like to comment on this?

A:The President, Prime Minister and Finance Minister are going ahead with that project.l I don’t know the details .

The ultimate objective of the interim budget is to give immediate relief to the people. Because we don’t believe in the kind of development which the former government did.

Our concept is if we are to develop, a chance must be given simultaneously for the people to live with at least the most essential things. When the people are hungry, getting commissions and doing roads won’t help anybody except the bribe takers or commission takers.

Q: How do you feel about media freedom today when compared to the situation that prevailed during the previous regime?

A: I think that is the question the journalists themselves should answer. At present there is no interference with the media. They are praising and criticising us. We have allowed them to do as they like.

Our only concern and what we expect is that they will forge ahead with some principles, norms and self discipline.

At the moment there is no issue and all are writing the way they want.

We also understand that there is no allegation that media personnel are acting irresponsibly.

They praise and criticise us, that is what is needed for the sustenance of democracy.