Interview

"The JVP is immature" - DM

D. M. Jayaratne

Posts and Telecommunication Minister and People's Alliance General Secretary, D.M. Jayaratne says those who violate the buffer zone policy should be dealt with severely according to the law of the land. Criticising the JVP for defying the buffer zone policy, the Minister - who has been in politics for 53 long years - says they must be punished. "Government laws are applied to everybody. Even if SLFPers violate this law, they must be punished," he said. Referring to the JVP's attempt to take a different stand on certain government policies, the seasoned politician told The Sunday Leader this was a result of immaturity. "The JVP needs more experience in national politics. Marxists are never practical. They preach, but are not practical. We have to understand them and try to teach them how to be pragmatic in today's politics," he said.

Following are excerpts;

By Wilson Gnanadass 

Q: The JVP has categorically said it would not support peace talks based on the ISGA. How do you view the JVP's stand which goes against the government policy on peace?

A: It is indeed a matter of concern. The JVP has been going against the government policy and they have gone public condemning some of our policies. But I don't think we, as a responsible government, should get upset over this. We are still in the process of talking to the JVP to make them understand some of the visions of the UPFA. But the positive thing is, the JVP is not against peace. So we are now starting from here to convince the JVP.

We must tell the JVP that though we may sit down to talk with the LTTE, we may not be giving everything the LTTE asks for. We may not even agree to fulfill the ISGA the way the LTTE wants. On the other hand, we might even give something more than what the ISGA talks about. So you see, everything depends on discussions.

I mentioned this in parliament this morning - that first of all we need to sit down and discuss. If we don't have discussions, then we will not be able to identify our problems. I think the very term ISGA is causing trouble. What if we remove this term ISGA and replace it with something else? I am sure the JVP will then support it. We are not giving up our aim to achieve peace. And the JVP will also be included in this exercise and I am sure we could convince them at some point.

Q: Does this mean if the JVP is not convinced, there would not be peace talks with the LTTE?

A: No. The government is keen on holding direct talks with the LTTE. The government has also informed the Norwegian facilitators of its willingness to hold talks. We want to know how the LTTE is going to convince us that the ISGA is going to fulfill the aspirations of the Tamil speaking people in the north east. We want to know what type of federal system could be suitable to solve the ethnic crisis and above all satisfy the Tamil speaking people who have been suffering for decades.

No two countries have the same federal system. We need to find out what type of federal system is ideal for the people in the north east. To learn this the government and the LTTE must sit together to discuss. Without discussion we would not know what the LTTE wants and what the ISGA contains. I am sure the JVP will understand what the government is trying to do.

Q: The LTTE has also stated in no uncertain terms it would not sit down to talk if the talks are not going to be based on the ISGA proposals. How do you then intend bringing these two parties - the LTTE and the JVP - with diverse opinions together to achieve peace?

A: It is a difficult task but we will do it. Nothing is impossible if there is a will. The LTTE too should not be too rigid. There must be a give and take policy on both sides. The LTTE should not only think of its own prestige but the suffering of the people. It is easy for parties and groups to dictate terms. But do they do so keeping in mind the untold suffering faced by the people? I think both the LTTE and the JVP lack understanding of the suffering of the people. After all we must learn to live in harmony and like Sri Lankans in this little island.

Q: Considering the continuous verbal attacks on President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the government by the JVP, the President who lost her cool last week indirectly asked the JVP to leave if they wished to do so. Do you also think the JVP must leave the party?

A: We are not sure whether the President directed her comments at the JVP. But obviously the President must have got angry because the JVP kept attacking her. This is why I keep telling all my party members that we must hold a meaningful dialogue with the JVP and bring them closer to our fold. We can't afford to push them out at this juncture. We have to wait and see.

Q: In addition to condemning the government policy on peace the JVP also has decided to defy the government's 100 meter buffer zone policy. What does this mean to you?

A: The JVP is no better than the main opposition, which also protests against the buffer zone policy. As I told you earlier, it is indeed a matter to be worried about. But what can we do? If the main opposition were doing this for its own political mileage, I would say the JVP is also doing it for a similar reason. The JVP is immature and needs more experience in political life. Like any other party the JVP too is trying to become more popular and this may perhaps be to grab power. I think it is wrong to think of doing this when the party is aligned with another long standing party like the SLFP.

Q: What is the course of action that would be taken against those who violate the 100 meter buffer zone policy in general and the JVP in particular as it is part of the government?

A: The law will take its own course irrespective of who the violator is. The law applies to everybody whether they are part of the government or not. The government is determined to go ahead with this buffer zone policy and it must be mentioned that this policy is adopted for the benefit of the people. And every citizen and in particular political parties are expected to extend their fullest support to legislation that is beneficial to the masses. If anybody or any party goes against this policy, they have to be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Q: The SLFP organisers at the grassroot level had wanted Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse to be nominated as the presidential candidate. Will the party do so?

A: We have really not thought of nominating anybody for this post right now. I think it is too premature even to talk about it. It is not the people or members who should decide about this but the central committee of the party. The central committee has still not thought of nominating anybody at present.

Q: Should not the party nominate someone now so that the potential candidate would have at least one year to project him or herself as the leader capable of heading the state?

A: Not necessary. When was President Kumaratunga nominated for this post? Just before nomination day. We never gave her a period of one year to project herself as the potential leader. I don't think this is necessary provided the candidate is strong. Take for instance President Kumaratunga. We nominated her just a few weeks before the nomination and I suppose she has been one of the most successful leaders in the history of this country.

Q: The confusion about the holding of the presidential poll still lingers. When is the presidential election going to be held actually?

A: In 2007.

Q: Not in 2006 as Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera says?

A: No. The term of office of President Kumaratunga ends only in December 2006. And the election will obviously be held in 2007 after three months.

Q: There is also a controversy about the unequal distribution of relief aid to the tsunami affected areas. What is the government's position?

A: The government is doing as much as possible. True enough the government and the members of parliament could not be the first to help the victims and we are thankful to the private sector and the NGOs for spearheading the relief operation immediately after the December 26 disaster. However the members of parliament and including ministers are involved in relief operations now.

The state media is not giving publicity to the work done by the ministers. The state media only shows the work done by certain selected ministers and MPs. This is unfair. I myself took 26 lorry loads of foodstuff to Trincomalee where I even held talks with the local LTTE representative there and took another 23 lorry loads of stuff to the south, but the state media does not talk about it.