PA on the beaten track as UNP returns

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti, our lobby correspondent.

Tuesday marked the return of the UNP to Parliament, ending a month long boycott the party launched protesting against what it called the government-sponsored political violence.

The boycott campaign had yielded little benefit to the UNP while the media and many civic-minded people criticised the move and wanted the UNP back in parliament to perform the vital role as the democratically elected opposition.

The Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing the people's representatives began from where he stopped before the boycott. He cried foul once again over alleged intimidation by the PA.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said he was compelled to take the "extreme measure" of boycotting Parliament as the government had failed to recognize the legitimate role played by an opposition in a democracy.

Describing the debate over the Wijeyapala Mendis civic rights issue as a breach of confidence, he said it was the first time in the country's history that parliamentary proceedings were telecast live without consulting the opposition.

"We are not articulating our grievances, but of the people, which is our given role. If facts were erroneous, the government could straighten the record. Instead, our supporters are beaten up and meetings broken up. Sri Lanka was fast becoming a police state with many police stations becoming the local PA headquarters," he said, perhaps not taking into account the days of yore when the UNP held sway.

The UNP's return did not signify any change in the government's vindictive policies, but the UNP's willingness to uphold democratic practices and procedures, Mr. Wickremesinghe said as government members tried to drown his voice chorusing that he was "a born again democrat."

The return of the prodigal-or-not UNP to parliament coincided with what has now become the monthly ritual — the extension of emergency.

Ratwatte: finds 'UNP's role of champion' hilarious


Moving the motion, Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte ritualistically pledged to bring the situation under control.

PA's Benett Cooray sounded unhappy about the wave of strikes which had a crippling effect and proposed the appointment of a permanent arbitration board to resolve disputes.

UNP's Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku gleefully welcomed the change in the PA's attitude, noting that the PA was paying the price for instigating workers to strike while in opposition.

"More than 400,000 letters have accumulated at the Central Mail Exchange, including important letters and money orders meant to reach destinations before the New Year. In this backdrop, armed men have forcibly removed mail bags. The Minister who washes the PA's dirty linen must reply," he asked.

Referring to remarks made by President Kumaratunga about Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda and Maduluwawe Sobhita theras, Dr. Kodituwakku said the question of violating the 'Vinaya Pitakaya' never arose. Monks, despite the saffron robes had the right to seek remedy for people's grievances.

Describing the Permanent Commission on Bribery and Corruption set up with much fanfare as a 'lame duck' with only two commissioners, Dr. Kodituwakku said it functioned without a secretary and the Attorney General has withdrawn his lawyers.

"We have reliably learnt that the Commission has virtually come to a standstill because there were charges against ministers as well. The Anniewatte purchase by the Deputy Defence Minister has violated financial regulations and everything else is done with lack of accountability and transparency," he charged.

Kodituwakku: Maonks have the right to seek remedy for people's grievances.


The media Dr. Kodituwakku added was being 10LABELled as LTTE informants for publishing military-related information, but the Air Force published a calendar furnishing details of air power; there was nothing left to be done. Further, the Air Force printed diaries with velvet covers at exorbitant costs at a time when a full scale war was on.

Awaiting their turn to come were the TULF MPs who were under pressure from Tamil lobbies for increasing harassment to the Tamils, especially to those who live in the city and the suburbs.

Neelan Thiruchelvam describing emergency as a compromise to the Rule of Law said the situation had led to unwarranted harassment of Tamils and called the arbitrary arrests which are taking place daily as a 'deliberate policy of harassment.'

UNP's Colombo District member Tyronne Fernando who heads the party's human rights committee, endorsed Dr. Thiruchelvam's view and said the PA had mishandled the whole problem.

"Senior NIB officials were transferred after 10LABELling them as UNP stooges. Intelligence gathering is poor today. NIB officials were busy spying on the UNP than the LTTE," Mr. Fernando said philosophising that perfect security did not mean deliberate vindictiveness.

Displaying his customary thrust and parry was LSSP firebrand Vasudeva Nanayakkara who quipped that he was delighted to witness the UNP becoming crusaders of workers' rights, democracy and Tamil people. "It is the role of a democratic opposition," he conceded, "but when a fox was keen on a hen, we all know it is the desire for meat than any genuine love as in 'Magul Kema.' Like the innocent hen, people of this country took time to realize the intentions of the UNP."

The remark earned many angry responses from the UNP back benchers.

"Why were there many guns adorning the walls of the LSSP headquarters during the 1989 insurgency?" demanded Rajitha Senaratne.

Mr. Nanayakkara said: "because it was difficult during that time to ascertain whether the threat came from the UNP or the JVP as the demarcation between state sponsored violence and other forces was difficult."

It was UNP's Gamini Atukorale who was firing his salvos again, threatening to expose government members who have obtained land illegally.

Referring to a letter addressed to him by film director Chandran Ratnam, the bespectacled general secretary of the UNP asked why a businessman sought to reply matters raised in Parliament. "When I queried about Lion Air receiving the lion's share, this member of your invisible government replied," he said.

"When the Opposition demanded some explanation regarding the Air Lanka-Emirates deal, Minister G.L. Peiris faithfully promised to do so prior to signing the agreement. Forty percent of shares of the national carrier had been given to Emirates violating tender procedures. The cabinet paper was distributed among ministers for 10 minutes, and collected soon afterwards," he said.

Mr. Atukorale said the PA which criticised the UNP's Air Bus deal, was purchasing six air buses outside the tender procedures. The previous deal was probed and it was proved the deal as clear.

"The Finance Minister should accept responsibility for the stinking deals reeking with corruption," he said.

Raising objections to these remarks, Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said they were direct references to the President. The provoked MP fired back asking if he referred to her as an attractive woman, whether that remark would also be expunged.

To strike back, Minister Maithripala Sirisena resorted to the oft-repeated tactics — reminding the UNP of its alleged past deeds.

Calling the UNP's stance as an apathetic display by a weak opposition, Mr. Sirisena said having violated everybody's rights, muzzled media, held a bogus referendum and proposed to close the electoral map for 10 years, the UNP was now seeking justice and fair play within three years of the PA government.

The UNP, in its inimitable style disrupted trade union work and rendered them helpless culminating in the era of terror when corpses floated about, he said.

A. H. M. Azwer, the UNP's vociferous voice in the House, began his speech by describing the government a 'gullo gahapu anduwak,' and vigorously showed the many moth-eaten reports submitted to the House.

The MP also said that nowhere in the world was a day of religious significance declared a holiday only for a particular community. "There was much to celebrate about other religions and other cultures. This should be the hallmark of a plural society."

In a fierce mood was Hambantota MP Mervyn Silva, who lambasted Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera for his recent criticism of the UNP.

"He is able to wash others' dirty linen but cannot look after his own Ministry. Instead, he resorted to calling the UNP names while striving to drive a wedge between two UNP members.

"Today, various PA politicians have launched operations similar to 'Jaya sikurui'. There was 'operation Yasodha' to destroy a businessman, 'operation Anamaduwa' to intimidate people, 'operation Phosphate', 'operation Susanthika' to disrupt her career and the like, all aimed at furthering political careers," he said.

Speaking of extraneous matters was no lesser person than the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle who spoke on Ronnie- Anura battle, the UNP boycott and MP salaries but little on emergency.

"If you boycotted, you should not draw salaries, and not dine here. For privileges you come rushing in, but wouldn't want to represent your constituents," he quipped smilingly. But it prompted Mr. Azwer to rise up in protest.

"He is speaking irrelevancies. His proposal to deduct the UNP members' salaries for March was totally rejected by the Speaker," he said, to which Deputy Speaker Anil Moonesinghe added that it was not a point of order, but only a point of education.

Concluding the debate for the UNP was Rajitha Senaratne who was earlier engaged in a heated verbal battle over a session of trading insults. "From Iqbal Athas to the innocent villager, all people are being ill-treated. When I claimed the Galle Development project a fraud, I was insulted, but the President has recently admitted this."

Waving a piece of paper, he charged that Deputy Minister Athauda Seneviratne who made elaborate claims of financial integrity had appealed to President Jayawardene to allow the purchase of 50 acres of the Galhena Estate which was a part of LRC land.

Refuting UNP allegations of withdrawing permission to hold a public rally in Polonnaruwa, Minister Ratwatte said amidst UNP jeers that the venue was insecure and an alternative was suggested though the UNP refused it fearing poor crowds.

On a smug note, he added that it was hilarious to witness the UNP taking up the role of champion of the down trodden — a reminder to the voters that in a game lacking permanent interests but only permanent self interest, our memories are too short while our representatives often suffer from amnesia.

Indian Nuke threat an overdue wake-up call?

The unanswered ques tion for the new gov ernment in India: is the country now going to come out of the closet and declare itself an armed nuclear power, ready and prepared if necessary to strike a mortal blow at its adversaries? Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said shortly after the election that the government has resolved to "re-evaluate the country's nuclear policy and exercise the option to induct nuclear weapons". Yet the delicate balancing act of his coalition government is clearly a brake on what his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party would do if left to its own devices. But how much of a brake remains unclear.

If the government does go ahead, then the world before very long should expect to see a series of nuclear tests and within a year the commissioning of around a 100 aircraft to carry nuclear weapons and a step-up in the pace of an already advanced research program of miniaturising the bomb so that it can fit on the cone of the rockets India has already produced, sophisticated enough to hurl into orbit large satellites.

A formal announcement that such a policy was in train could be the dose of realism that wakes up a lethargic Washington, Moscow, London, Paris and Beijing, the present "official" nuclear powers and thus the guardians of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Is this what it will take to provoke them into a radical re-think of the existing somnolent, self-satisfied, not to say self-serving, nuclear order?

The fact remains, even with this tough, ultra-chauvinistic government, India could be dissuaded from going nuclear, but it would mean the big powers agreeing to a timetable for their own nuclear disarmament and it would mean offering confirmation that India will soon have a permanent, veto-wielding, seat on the Security Council. (And India too would have to agree, as part of this package, to solve the original reason for the nuclear armaments race on the sub-continent, by reversing its refusal to implement a 1950's UN resolution to hold a referendum to determine whether the people of Muslim-majority Kashmir want to remain part of India or join up with Muslim Pakistan.)

Doubters will argue that this is an unrealistic goal and anyway it leaves out of the equation that the real reason for India possessing nuclear weapons is China - to assure that in the 21st century there are two equal superpowers in Asia and that they will balance each other in an old-fashioned Congress of Vienna mode, one that Henry Kissinger would surely approve.

Numbers in this power game do count. Switzerland may have the highest national income per head in the western world but no one seriously suggests it is a major power. Its population is small and Swiss financial power aggregated remains relatively modest. This is how it will be with the U.S., once India and China have another half century of rapid economic growth averaging 7-8% a year. They will not be as rich per head as the U.S. or the European Union but with populations five times as large they will each wield enormous collective financial and economic power and thus possess the wherewithal to outspend their American and European rivals on military procurement. The locus of world power is bound to shift decade by decade in the coming century gradually but surely eastward.

There are no points to be won for observing this happen, only for anticipating it and taking preventive action.

Has America to lose a city to an accidental launch of a Russian missile before it wakes up? Or has it to read the headlines one day that India has decided to come out of the closet?

Washington and Moscow cannot afford to sit on their behinds for any longer. A radical re-think is pressingly necessary, on the lines proposed by Robert McNamara, once a hawkish U.S. Secretary of Defence, to get American and Russian nuclear disarmament rapidly under way, quickly followed by Chinese, British and French.

Mr.Vajpayee's election victory and his nuclear rhetoric has touched a raw nerve. A formal announcement of intent would touch an even rawer one. But it could serve humanity as a whole rather well if it works as an overdue wake-up call.

Return to News/Comments Contents