| SRI LANKA WATCH |
| “National government the only panacea”
By Wilson Gnanadass Posts and Telecommunication Minister and Peoples’ Alliance general secretary D.M. Jayaratne feels the answer to the ethnic crisis rests in the hands of a future national government. Jayaratne, one of the founder members of the SLFP says if the parties in the South are divided, they could never find an answer to the problems in the northeast. “We have to genuinely show the nation that we are united. It is our duty and responsibility to ask our Tamil and Muslim brethrens what they want. We will not have the authority to ask this question, until we are united. So I believe all parties in the South must unite and in one voice we must invite the minority for negotiations,” he told The Nation in an interview. Following are excerpts; Q: The government’s handling of the peace process has come under attack by Tamil politicians who say the UPFA is engaged in a futile exercise through the all party conferences. How would you counter this allegation? A: We are discussing with other parties especially from the South to reach a consensus. I think obtaining a southern consensus is vital because the final decision has to come from both the South and the North. We know the thinking of the North but our past leaders have failed to understand the feelings of the South. I believe the President is now trying to understand what the South has to say about the peace process. It is a good thing. Then we can speak to the LTTE with one voice. Q: If the South votes for a full scale war, would the government accede to it? A: Very difficult to answer this question. I don’t think the South wants a war. The Southern people have given a mandate to the President to solve the ethnic crisis. And this is too not through a war. You see, the Sinhalese people have begun to exhibit a lot of patience and tolerance. This is why even though there were many attacks by the LTTE on the Sinhala peasants; the South never reacted with a racial mind. Now the situation is changed. The Southern people want peace. Just because they want war, a responsible government like ours will not agree to a war. If the government was a weak government, by now we would have got engaged in a war, because every day the LTTE is inviting the government for a fight. Our faith is in a political settlement and we will find it somehow. Q: However the South insists that the unitary character of the state should be retained. Now under this system, no government has been able to find a durable solution. Do you think a solution can be found under this system to satisfy all the communities? A: For a moment forget about these two systems of the constitutions. I think our people are getting too excited over certain terms and certain words. This is why I proposed for the formation of a national government. I have already proposed that all political parties must collectively decide how this problem could be solved. We must in unison ask the northern and eastern people what they really want. I don’t think we in the South have ever asked the people of the North and East what they want. The fact that we are not united here in the South, gives the impression to the people of the north and east that whatever they propose cannot be materialised. This is the problem that we have. We have to ask them in one voice. For this, sometimes we have to change the constitution. To change the constitution we need two thirds majority. If we have a two thirds majority the people in the north and east will have some faith in us. I think we must try to win the hearts and minds of the Tamils in the north and east. We have failed to do this. We must treat them as equal citizens and stop criticising them. I think successive governments have antagonised the Tamil people. We must support them. They are our people. I think most of the Tamil people want to settle the problem amicably. We must try to find a solution with the LTTE. After all the LTTE is also a part of the Tamil nation. The SLFP has still not decided on how to solve the problem. Some say under a unitary system while others say through a federal structure. But I say it must be done under a national government. Q: Is the government committed to a federal solution? A: We should not be thinking of different systems and waste time. Whether it is federal or otherwise, we have to find a solution to suite the needs of the minority. We must have a solution that would suite our country and our environment. We have to borrow certain ideas from other countries, but not follow them. The Sinhalese, Tamils and the Muslims have a long history. Our culture goes a long way and we need to sit down and evolve a mechanism according to our own culture and so on. Q: But the JVP and the JHU are strongly opposed to the idea of a national government or an amendment to the constitution. Can the government bypass them and bring an amendment to the constitution? A: Yes. Some parties keep putting out their own thinking. But a pluralistic nation like ours should not consider the sentiments of certain parties but must think of the people and their aspirations. Q: As a leading politician, are you happy with President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s handling of the peace process? A: So far he has been able to handle it but he must find a solution soon otherwise the country’s economy can get destroyed. Q: Despite several invitations extended to the JVP to join the government by President Mahinda Rajapaska, the Marxists have still not accepted the invitations. What does it mean to you? A: The JVPers say they want to be out of the government to correct the government. This is what they say. If a party is staying away from the government to correct the government, I welcome it. I think that is a good thing. At the same time they have also told that they will not topple the government. But in some areas, I think they are not able to understand the ground situation. The party is unable to cope with reality. Q: Can the SLFP win the next election without the JVP? A: The SLFP was formed on September 2, 1951 and I was one of the founder members of the party. I am sure our party cannot be shaken by anybody. But I must say that we have to solve the crisis. Otherwise we will not be able to go before the people to obtain any new mandates. If we solve the crisis we can go before the nation as one single party and boldly ask for a fresh mandate. Already the country is suffering economically due to the prevailing security situation. And at this time, the people in my view are not too concerned about elections and so on. Q: Within the SLFP some want to contest with the JVP while some want JVP out. What is the party’s decision? A: The party has still not taken a decision on it though some members opt to keep the JVP out. Q: You are one of the founder members of the SLFP. But the party right now faces several splits. For instance the fact that no Bandaranaike is heading the party has irked some while others are unsatisfied with the links the party has established with the JVP. How do you see these developments? A: I look at it more pragmatically. I think every party has to face this situation at some point of time. The SLFP has faced a series of crises but the foundation has always been strong. One cannot expect the Bandaranaikes to lead the party always. It is not also correct to say that Bandaranaikes are out of SLFP because I am very happy that the former President has taken up the post as a patron of the party. She will be consulted at all times when taking crucial decisions. Otherwise the party will go on. This is the democracy that we find in large parties like ours and even the UNP. So we enjoy this democracy. Regarding some members wanting JVP out of the alliance, I am unable to say much because this is their own personal thinking. The SLFP I must confess is not a weak party and we can always win elections without the support of other parties. But we did join hands with other parties to form a greater alliance so that there is more representation in a political set up. This is good for the governance as well. Q: What is the plight of the Peoples’ Alliance? A: The PA is well intact. All the people who supported the PA are with the PA. The UPFA found its pitfall soon after it was formed but the PA is still strong and the people still want the PA back. Most probably we might even contest the next election under the PA. NATION, 23.7.2006 |