JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe who is one of the frontline campaigners on behalf of detained General Sarath Fonseka in the general election campaign spoke on the dangers that the country faces if the UPFA is re-elected to power and vowed to fight back to restore democracy in the country despite the odds. Here are excerpts of the interview :-
Q: The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) has come out with its manifesto. What are its salient points?
A: There are five issues we have stressed on which are democracy and human rights, national unity, economic development and relief for the people, end to corruption, fraud and restoration of a law abiding nation and national security and foreign relations.
Q: You have also said you will also release all political prisoners including General (retd.) Sarath Fonseka. Why do you call them political prisoners?
A: Because they were all arrested for political reasons. Actually General Fonseka was not arrested but was dragged away in front my own eyes. He was dragged away from the office on the 8th of February and the following day the President dissolved Parliament. This shows that purpose for his arrest was to prevent him from continuing in politics.
Today there are blatant violations and violence in the country. But even then it is important for us to take part in elections. If there is an iota of democracy left in the country, we will never surrender but will l fight back to restore democracy.
Q: Mrs. Fonseka is campaigning on behalf of her husband. How do you assess her electioneering skills?
A: She has the capacity to be in politics in this country. She is determined, courageous and also level headed. She came into politics on International Women's Day and during the short time she has learnt a lot. She is charming and attractive and is very well received by the people. And she stands by justice.
Q: Aren't you looking for a sympathy vote using the Fonseka factor?
A: Why should we do that? We are not weak. It is only people who are politically sick who look for sympathy. We want people to reject these ugly politicians and show their disgust. That is what we want not the sympathy.
Q: Do you see more impediments to General Fonseka's entrance to Parliament even if he is elected.
A: They might try something. When we see what has happened already we can expect anything. On the 28th of January, two days after the presidential election, the Secretary of Ministry of Defense threatened me with death. That was the beginning.
The following day the Lanka newspaper was sealed unlawfully. Even the Police officers who came there told the staff that these are foolish actions and they are ashamed to do that.
The Rajapaksa's grabbed power but they don't have brains to use that power to rebuild this country and bring national unity and reconciliation. They could not stop the paper from being printed for even one week.
Then they arrested the Editor of the Lanka paper but after 16 days they had to release him without charges. Then they began taking revenge from those who supported General Fonseka at the election including public servants.
They are talking of "mithree " but the President's main contender in the presidential poll was taken away after alleging that he was plotting to over to overthrow the government and kill the President and the Secretary of the MOD. Now we are reaching the second month since his (Fonseka's) arrest but so far he has not been charged on any of these counts.
The military tribunal has become a joke. What has happened during this short period of time is enough for people to imagine how it will be after the general election if the UPFA is given two third in this election. But that is only wishful think. They will definitely not get the two third majority which is want. We urge the people not to vote for the UPFA.
Q: The UNF has said in its manifesto they too would release General Fonseka and some UNP members have said they are the best placed party to ensure the general's s freedom and hence people should vote for them. Your comments?
A: The UNF would have been 100 per cent sure of the release of the general if they agreed to contest under the Swan symbol as they had done at the presidential poll. I am sure they too would like to see the general released but instead of telling the people they will release him once they come to power, it would have been better if the UNP, without being sectarian, had decided to fight together along with the people of Sri Lanka who oppose this government and the abduction of the general.
Q: Do you feel the UNP just used the general for the presidential election and washed its hands off him once he was in trouble?
A: I don't think they tried to make use of him In that case you can blame us also of the same thing. Of courses we were the winners in that election which is why there is a petition before the Supreme Court. We don't accept this result. All the political parties at that time accepted that symbols and party names are not important in a situation in which there is no democracy and human rights in Sri Lanka.
That is why we say the UNP should have thought seriously about the political situation prevailing at present because it is not a question of symbols or party names. We will have a situation in the country if the UPFA comes to power in which we will have to work without symbols. We just cannot understand how the UNP is thinking otherwise.
Q: Are we on the path to national unity after the defeat of the LTTE?
A: This President got the best opportunity after the defeat of the LTTE to build national unity. Already ten months have lapsed since then but the President and the government have done nothing to achieve national unity and development He was more interested in consolidating his power which is why he had the presidential election before the parliamentary election. This situation will get worse in the future.
Q: President Mahinda Rajapaksa's foreign policy seems to be India and China centric? Your views on it?
A: My understanding is this. He doesn't have a foreign policy. He is a President who would bark against any country and the next moment kneel down before it. One must not forget that he is the President who visited the Indian High Commissioner's residence in Colombo. He is the first leader of this country to do so. At this moment there is an election campaign so he is talking against the Secretary General of the UN but he (the President) issued a joint statement with the SG to appoint a panel of experts on Sri Lanka and now they are protesting against it.
Q: Are you concerned about the level of foreign involvement in our internal affairs?
A: The President says he will not allow anyone to interfere in the internal affairs of the country but he is responsible for what is happening. Some are interfering because there is no democracy here, journalists are being harassed and political opponents are suppressed. We are obliged under international treaties to guarantee the rights of the people. His polices are leading to more interference. It is a serious situation.
Q Any predications on the out come of general election?
A: You cannot predict anything because no one can predict if the election will be a free and fair one. Today we don't know at which moment we will be attacked, at which moment our election office will be set on fire or when we will be taken into custody or killed. No one can predict because no one knows what can happen the next moment.
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