Interview

"Budget is deceptive and misleading"

Hemakumara Nanayakkara

A vibrant politician and a vociferous critic of the government, UNP MP, Hemakumara Nanayakkara feels that parliamentarians protesting in parliament when justice is not meted out was expected from any parliament. In an interview with The Sunday Leader, Nanayakkara observed that the UNP is now aiming at the presidential election and is confident of victory. "We are aiming at the next presidential election and are fully geared to face it successfully. The sentence on S. B. Dissanayake has provided us with extra ammunition. People know what sort of a party the UPFA is," he said. Following are excerpts:  By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema  Q: How do you explain the behaviour of fellow UNP MPs in parliament last week? A: Yes, protests of this nature can be seen in any kind of parliament. In similar parliamentary systems, when justice is not meted out as is expected, the august assembly has to protest and voice its disapproval.

In the event such protests are blocked or unreasonably checked, incidents such as those witnessed last week would be inevitable.

Q: How do you explain the behaviour of UNPers when they ran away with the mace, given the fact that the UNP was earlier highly critical of the government when some of its MPs ran away with the mace?

A: Taking the mace is a kind of protest inside parliament when sessions do not move as expected. It happens, but it is not the best form of protest. Members carrying away the mace has happened since 1948 and will continue to happen as long as parliament exists.

Q: UNP MP T. Maheswaran's conduct in parliament, especially going against the party whip's orders and voting against several budgetary allocations with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), has raised concern. What do you have to say?

A: I would rather not comment on the matter. The party leadership and the Political Affairs Committee will look into the matter and make a decision based on that.

Q: There have been allegations that MP Maheswaran is trying to tow the line of the TNA. Is there any truth in these allegations?

A: Anything of that sort has not surfaced. As an individual he has his own way of thinking. However, my personal opinion as a UNPer is that anyone representing the UNP, should come under the party whip.

Q: What sort of action does the UNP plan to take with regard to S. B. Dissanayake's political future?

A: S. B. Dissanayake has been sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment and I am not going to talk of the Supreme Court or the legal process, but as far as I can see, the judgment has resulted in a big uprising in parliament.

S.B. as a popular grassroot politician has given leadership to rank and file and has provided the highest strength to the party leadership and therefore some warped government politicos are happy about this decision.

In general, I believe the judiciary should be totally independent. If a villager robs a bunch of bananas and if a court or tribunal sentences him to capital punishment, people will say it is unreasonable.

We must now talk to the people and it is the masses who have to speak of the punishment given to S.B. People have already started to express their opinion about this.

I have a strong feeling that S. B. will be back in the political limelight soon. I don't know how, but I hope he will return soon to serve his country.

Q: There are allegations that the UNP or its leadership never made a public statement that S. B.'s comments on the judiciary was not his personal opinion but that of the party when the Supreme Court decided to press charges against him. How would you respond?

A: From the moment the UNP came to know that the Supreme Court was going to take action, the party leadership along with the hierarchy has been giving him the right advice at the right time. Other party members stood by S. B. Dissanayake.

Unfortunately, he was subject to this severe punishment, about which again the leadership is looking into intensely to see what steps could be taken to relieve him of his agony.

Q: How does the UNP plan to continue with its political journey in the future?

A: We are aiming at the next presidential election and are fully geared to face it successfully. The sentence on S. B. Dissanayake has provided us with extra ammunition. People know what sort of a party the UPFA is. The country is faced with many problems as the country's economy, political scenario and democracy are at stake due to the poor performance of the government. People have no faith in the government.

The present government is for several rulers who want to get the maximum benefits. Under the guise of working for the common man, the government is actually working for selected business tycoons. Some ministers and top politicos are making money by robbing the nation and its poor masses. People are now aware of it.

We are very confident of victory and we will fight for democracy and the people are rushing into our camp to pull this government down in a democratic way. Some rulers are only interested in making money and going against principles of good governance.

Q: Public perception is that the UNP as the main opposition is quite weak and not as active as it should be. What do you say?

A: UNP is not quiet and we are airing our views in parliament and outside. The party convention was a roaring success. The mass protest rallies and the protests organised in every district too have been successful. Also the demonstration on the rising cost of living has been successful.

The government media, paid by the people's money, is engaged in a mud slinging campaign against the UNP. The only purpose of the state media is to build the image of the government and of a few MPs.

The UNP has a style of its own. It works with the masses and is a common man's party. It is impossible for the government to stop the UNP as it keeps gathering fantastic momentum day by day.

Party Leader, Ranil Wickreme-singhe is a man with a lot of courage, a vision and a solid plan. He knows the art of developing the country through good governance within a short period of time.

Q: What is the UNP's position with regard to the peace process?

A: There is currently a stalemate on the peace front and we are requesting the government to start the peace process immediately. However, I don't know how the government plans to begin the peace process.

The UNP never approved of the ISGA and will never approve it. The UNP sent its proposals when in power and the ISGA was the counter proposal forwarded by the LTTE.

As a democratic political party, the UNP believes that a solution should only be reached by way of negotiations.

The UNP would support the government on the peace process, provided they are genuine in their efforts. The National Advisory Council for Peace and Reconciliation, inaugurated by the President is now in the dustbin. If they were genuine they would have continued with it and most of all before going ahead with such a plan, should have consulted the main opposition UNP and laid out its modus operandi.

The UNP did not participate for good reason, and the government is on a mud-slinging campaign against the UNP for this. They started the NACPR without many stakeholders and it has now come to nothing.