Ceylon Today | There are signs of democracy and good governance
Dr. Suren Raghavan an academic-political expert, who also played a key role in the peace process at government and non – government level during former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's regime said the 100 day programme is well spelt out in the election manifesto.
Dr. Raghavan who is also an expert in Federalist ideas said, "Removing the Military Governor and Provincial Chief Secretary in the North, lifting the travel ban, a process of releasing the political prisoners and rehabilitation for the LTTE cadres, starting to implement the 13A are all possible within 100 days. I think the government is serious. Appointing Justice K.Sripavan as Chief Justice is a clear signal in that direction,"
Q:
How do you view the change in regime after almost 10 years?
A: At her 67th independence year, Sri Lanka perhaps has got an unmatched opportunity in her State formation at structural level.
Within the last 20 plus days what the new administration has been able to initiate give great signs of democracy and good governance. What Sri Lanka has achieved on the 9th of January should not be considered in a light manner.
Q:
Most of the minority political parties claim that President Maithripala Sirisena secured victory with the majority votes of the minorities. As an academic and political expert how do you view this?
A: I do not have to be apologetic to share the fact that Tamils of North and East contributed very uniquely to the victory of President Sirisena, so as the Muslims and other communities.
President Sirisena won with a margin of some 450,000 votes. He obtained nearly 876,000 votes from the North and East. In that sense if the Tamils of the North and East did not vote for him in that high volume his vote base would have been 5.44 million votes from the rest of the island where as former President Rajapaksa's vote bank was 5.76 million.
Therefore, I would argue that the Tamils have send few clear signals to the Southern brothers and sisters that they still believe in a united Sri Lanka, they are willing to work with a democratic Southern government and that they are willing to forgive the past even the recent past during which the Tamil nation suffered limitlessly but work with the South as equal partners.
Q:
How do you view the strategies of the new government to solve the issues of Tamils in the North and East?
I have close friends in TNA, UNP, SLFP and JHU. So I have provided my expertise in democratization and ethno-religious nationalist political bargains. I did contribute to some area of cohesive voice building with a national reconciliation process in mind. In terms of what the new government has in mind we are not sure, since TNA supported President Sirisena without any pre-election Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) because that was the need of the hour.
But the new Prime Minister in his inaugural speech in the Parliament in presence of the newly elect president declared that the government is keen to pursue a solution based on the 13th Amendment. That is a very encouraging step.
Looking at the actions they have taken so far, I have reasons to believe that they are keen and honest about their efforts. One further important issue is that JHU and its Sangha leader Venerable Athuraliye Rathana Thera is a partner to the campaign for President Sirisena and they have openly expressed their willing to support a genuine process of political partnership with the Tamils. I believe this is the first time such position was reached so it is very hope giving situation for the Tamils and all peace loving democrats of this country.
Q:
Do you feel there are positive chances for the minorities to achieve their political goals through proper implementation of the 13th Amendment? Also, currently TNA leader Sampanthan has requested President Maithripala Sirisena to appoint an exclusive body to solve the issue. How do you view this?
A: After nearly three decades no one in this country has fully experienced the fruits of the 13th Amendment. This Amendment is still a solid framework for us to begin to negotiate the aspiration of the Tamils. Now in political theory we agree that many nations can live within a single State boundary. They became multinational democracies. I look at the morality of politics than the legality. As long as the majority Sinhalese are willing to accept that the Tamils are fully equal citizens and their collective political aspirations are a legitimate part of the State of Sri Lanka we can start working, since beyond the written Constitution the political willing and culture of the Sinhalese that would determine the future democracy.
Q:
The new government has come forward to resettle those who are yet to be settled in the North and East. Minister of Resettlement Swaminathan said his main goal during the 100 day programme would be to resettle people from Valikamam North. However, the process seems a long one. Do you feel it would be practical? Do you feel the entire crowd would get chances to return back to their own places?
A: The devastation during the war was beyond words and the neglect during the post- war five years was even worse. So there is a huge job to be done socially, demographically, economically, physically and psychologically.
There is a full time cabinet minister, but what does that mean? We had such ministers even before. The question is how much of power, money and will such ministry has within to reach this huge task.
Q:
The TNA is urging to remove all the unnecessary security check points in the North. But the newly elected government has said that they cannot remove the check points immediately. Do you feel this situation would further affect the people of North?
A: De-securitizing is a systemic process and a very sensitive issue to the kind of history we have gone through. North and East have to return to normalcy like any other part of the country. If there is no threat to the national security it is only a political loss to keep such huge number of Army in one area.
Q:
How do you view the school drop outs in the North and East, as the recent statistics show an increase. Why do you think this situation has aroused?
A: Civil wars kill more civilians and destroy societies than Army camps. Both Tamils and Sinhalese have suffered due to a deep protracted war. Such war for 26 years was powerful enough to destroy every aspect of the social and cultural fabric of our society.
Tamils always valued education. They use education as their key social mobilization tool. In that sense a generation of school dropout is a sad and long-term impact bring negative deployment. That is the cost of war. That is why anyone should not to go to war. But having faced such fate, we need to seek newer mechanism to rectify. The Provincial Councils should be empowered to find solutions to the socio-economic conditions under which this occurs and remedy them. If so we should be able to overcome this by at least 5- 6 years from now.
Q:
It is understood that most of the war widows who are also breadwinners do not have adequate support to maintain their families. Funds allocated for them have not reached them properly. Do you feel they can expect for a positive change in future? What strategies do you think should be adopted to support them?
This is a deep and painful condition. I assume the new Parliament after May will empower a special North Development Process to address this devastating condition
Q:
How do you view the proceedings of the Missing Persons Commission? It is said that the new government would appoint their own independent commission to look into disappearances.
A: Reconciliation and rehabilitation has many facets. A Missing Persons Commission is a preconditions this includes the civilian, LTTE cadres, and State soldiers. A proper and thorough going mechanism needs to be funded and functioned.
Q:
How do you view the international probe on war crimes in Sri Lanka?
A: The Prime Minister has mentioned that he will engage with the UN body on this. Our eminent UN experts such as Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala and Dr. Radhika Coomarswamy are already engaging on this. We can engage and learn their concerns and help them with our own local investigations. This is what the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission also has recommended.
Q:
What method do you think should be adopted to overcome the land grabbing issues in the North and East?
A: Land is part of the heritage and part of the international law of right to live. The military or State sponsored business ventures all should stop the land grab or internal colonization at once without any conditions.
Q:
How do you see the political representation of the plantation Tamils in the presidential elections? Do you feel they adopted a crucial role to win over their rights?
A: The plantation Tamils are the most exploited and most neglected community. They should revolt against their current political leadership who has done next to nothing.
Recently 350 people were buried alive even then the plantation Tamil politicians who were part of the government failed to act. So my suggestion to them is to revolt nonviolently against your oppression, exploitation and the currently bondage they have kept you in. I think the total plantation Tamil population should rally around a party like JVP and make them their leaders.
Q:
Since you are more influenced by Buddhism. How would do you examine the problems caused by Buddhist extremism towards Muslims in past?
A: Political Buddhism and the Sangha social activism are my research interest at Oxford. Buddhism is part and parcel of the politics of this country since it arrived here. It has been the religions of the Courts and Sangha are advisers to the kings.
Q:
How do you view the 100 day programme of the new government? How do you feel this would benefit all minorities in general?
A: The 100 day program is well spelt out in the election manifesto. As regards to the Tamils I believe beside the general benefits, structural level benefits can start during this time. Removing the military governor and Provincial Chief Secretary in the North, lifting the travel ban, a process of releasing the political prisoner and rehabilitation for the LTTE cadres, starting to implement the 13A are all possible within 100 days. I think the government is serious. Appointing Justice K.Sripavan as Chief Justice is a clear signal in that direction.
) wanted a change.. And they didnt change him for his foreign policy but as you know for his domestic policies
