Monday, 22nd September 2014
BY KELUM BANDARA
TNA’s claim of lack of power in NPC a farce Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) leader Minister Douglas Devananda says the Provincial Council system, established under the 13th Amendment has enough teeth to deliver something to people in terms of devel
TNA members such as Suresh Premachandran and M. K. Sivajilingam are former fighters.They were involved in an armed struggle at one point. Now they have given up violence and entered the democratic stream. Thus, Gen. Chandrasiri, as a former military officer, has every right to hold this post.
Q How do you see the situation in the Northern Province at the moment?
It is very peaceful. There is no political violence. Social issues are found here and there, as in any other part of the country. Here, in the North, violence based on social issues is a little bit higher. It is because the entire area remained engulfed in a conflict situation. This is the reason. There was political violence in the past. We had a peaceful society in the north. But, political violence subdued the northern society, begging for assistance from outside.
Q It has been a year since the establishment of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC). The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has controlled it. How do you see its progress?
The TNA won the NPC election by arousing communalism. They inflamed communal sentiments of people for political ends. They only wanted to block us from winning the council. They were well aware that we would address people’s issues if elected to office. It is politically advantageous for a party like the TNA to keep people’s issues unaddressed as long as possible. We want solutions to the people’s issues. If there is a fire raging somewhere, we should act first to douse it least by sprinkling water. Yet, they only try to add fuel to the fire.
Q But, the TNA complains that it lacks powers to deliver something to the people through the NPC. What are your views?
I cannot see any element of truth in it. It is a politically motivated, selfish claim. I raised both in and outside Parliament; the point that we all should initiate a public dialogue if the Provincial Council is straddled with any problem in working. We wanted to have a dialogue with all the stakeholders involved in the process to identify the areas where we need more powers. Then, we can sort out the shortcoming, if there is any. Likewise, we can take them up with the President to be addressed. That is the point I harboured right throughout. Yet, the TNA has not responded to it.
If we had been elected, we would have enacted statutes every month to develop the North. But the TNA has introduced statutes only on political reasons. In one instance, they brought a statute calling for the erection of a monument in Mullaivaikkal. There is the possibility of introducing so many statutes to address the developmental needs. But the TNA does not act on them. They only want people to suffer.
Today, the Indian fishermen cross the International Maritime Borders and poach in the Sri Lankan waters causing enormous damage to the marine ecology. It has denied livelihood for the northern fishermen, who could not venture out to the sea properly during the last three decades. Only now they are building up their livelihoods. Now Indian fishermen come and destroy their fishing gear in addition to damaging the marine ecology.
The President took a firm decision that this should not be allowed to happen at any cost. He rejected the proposal for the allotment of days, separately for the Tamil Nadu fishermen to fish in the Sri Lanka waters. The President did it in the interests of our fishermen. But the TNA went to India recently and made a statement in Tamil Nadu, accepting such a proposal from that side. After that, our fishermen turned tense. Recently, a large number of Indian fishermen damaged the fishing nets and boats belonging to the local fishermen.
Q What is the practical solution do you propose to address this issue in the fisheries sector?
The International Maritime Boundary should not be allowed to cross. It has to be respected. Apart from that, this problem can be addressed through negotiations only. That is what I believe. Already the marine resources in the Indian waters have exhausted, and the marine ecological system has been damaged. These poachers use bottom trawling, which is banned by the government.
Q What is your opinion on the reappointment of G.A. Chandrasiri as the Northern Governor?
The TNA is opposed to Gen. Chandrasiri’s appointment. But they supported the candidacy of ex Army Commander Sarath Fonseka to the executive presidency. It is hilarious.
Also, TNA members such as Suresh Premachandran and M. K. Sivajilingam are former fighters. They were involved in an armed struggle at one point. Now they have given up violence and entered the democratic stream. Thus, Gen. Chandrasiri, as a former military officer, has every right to hold this post.
I am in favour of his reappointment as the governor. In fact, I insisted on his reappointment. Initially, the President was reluctant because he had promised different others, since the governor would not be given another extension. Yet, he extended it at my request. I also acted in this regard on numerous requests by the public and government officials, who wanted a service extension for the governor. By experience, I know that he is the best person to do it. He disbursed all the allocations made to the province for development. After the NPC was constituted, the financial disbursement became dismal and the TNA has displayed its incompetence. The TNA did not engage with the government for developmental needs. Whereas they held talks with the government to secure various perks, such as luxury vehicles entitled to the Chief Minister and four other Ministers of the province and they did not publicise it. For public issues, they do not do so. Instead, they make public statements through the media criticising the government over such matters.
Q Recently, the TNA went to India and had talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. What are your views?
It is only the expecting mother who should endure the labour pain and deliver the baby. This is our problem; we ourselves have to solve it. An outsider can only play the role of a midwife. We have subscribed to the same stand for the last 20 years. A parliamentary select committee is ideal to discuss the problems; be it the national issue or anything. Such a body is represented by all the parties. If we discuss any issues outside the parliamentary system, other parties may oppose.
The TNA only talks about a solution. Yet, they have not proposed any solution in public so far. We have done it.
Q What are the proposals you are going to submit to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on constitutional reforms?
A group of Tamil intellectuals, based in Jaffna are drafting some proposals to be put forward to the Committee in the near future. They do it in consultation with the general public and all concerned. Besides, our party will submit a separate set of proposals. All the proposals can be discussed then in a broader context.
The TNA is not ready to address this issue. If you offer them tea, they will ask for coffee. If you offer them coffee, they will ask for Whisky and continue with their relentless demands.
From : http://dailymirrorepaper.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
