Govt. rocked by dissension

Mangala, Anura boycott cabinet

Another damning letter by Mangala 
to MR likely to surface

US residency holding officials 
under attack by Anura

A govt. cannot act as a terrorist group, 
says German Envoy

CBK calls from London and informs 
ministers of sacking

While the human rights noose slowly but surely tightened round President Mahinda Rajapakse's administration last week given the rising incidence of abductions, infighting within the government reached breaking point following the decision to accommodate UNP defectors in cabinet and the subsequent sacking of three ministers.

That the human rights issue was going to take its toll on the government sooner than later unless urgent remedial measures were taken was plain to see and both Ports Minister Mangala Samaraweera in his capacity as Foreign Minister and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe repeatedly brought this issue to the notice of the government with little success.

Business as usual

Frustrated at the government's refusal to see sense on this issue, Minister Samaraweera even appealed to the President at one point directly to ensure all aerial attacks, abductions and media harassment be stopped at least until such time the member states of the European Union (EU) passed legislation in their respective countries to give effect to the ban on the LTTE.

When that too failed, an exasperated Minister wrote a nine-page letter to the President stressing the gravity of the situation with details on abductions, and other human rights violations, hoping at least a written missive would elicit a response, but there was to be none with business as usual in government.

That such a letter if it became public would have serious repercussions to those in government at international level considering the ongoing trials in the Hague too appeared of little consequence.

Finally, the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back came when the President on the advice of brother Basil Rajapakse decided to accommodate 18 UNP defectors in government and compromise the MoU between the SLFP and UNP, which Samaraweera was touting to the international community as the panacea for all of Sri Lanka's ills.

It was in a last ditch attempt to block this politically suicidal deal that Samaraweera on the eve of the cross-over drama wrote yet another letter to the President with copies to Basil Rajapakse, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, Lalith Weeratunga and Dulles Alahapperuma in which he not only highlighted the government's dismal human rights record but also the damage it would do to the SLFP and the MoU with the UNP.

All those attempts of Samaraweera however were to no avail and he paid for his efforts with the Foreign Ministry taken away from him and true to his words, hardly had the ink dried on the cabinet reshuffle, the infighting within the government started in all its intensity. And finally on Friday, Ministers Samaraweera, Bandaranaike and Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi came to be sacked.

Interestingly, even the international community became more vocal on the issue of human rights even as the infighting in government snowballed.

Intl. community stance

In fact, the German Ambassador in Colombo, Jurgen Weerth speaking at the Colombo West Rotary Club on Wednesday, dealt with some of the very issues raised by Minister Samaraweera and said while the LTTE is a terrorist organisation and has been banned as such, a government elected by the people cannot behave like a terrorist organisation and inflict harm on civilians. Germany also happens to hold the EU presidency currently.

If that was bad enough, 38 congressmen of the United States too made public a letter written to President George Bush calling for the appointment of a special envoy for Sri Lanka due to the worsening ground situation in the country.

In the letter to President Bush, dated January 31, and initiated by the Democratic Representative from New Jersey, Rush Holt, it is stated inter alia, "The renewed violence and rising death toll in Sri Lanka have overtaken the fragile peace process and threaten a return to open civil war. Further, we are troubled by the large increase in kidnappings across Sri Lanka, most of which remain unresolved."

The 38 Congressmen comprise 32 Democrats and six Republicans.

Given the bipartisan approach of the US Congress, it could well spell danger for the security cum military cooperation Sri Lanka receives from the US, a relationship former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe cultivated with difficulty sans publicity.

Thus, areas such as arms supply and information sharing on LTTE global activity in addition to military aid could all come under the US Congress microscope, which is now under the control of the Democrats, unless the government gets its act together on the human rights front which those Presidential advisors appear not to comprehend, dismissing Western concerns as of no great concern.

Human rights issues

However, both Ministers Samaraweera and Samarasinghe had earlier laid the groundwork to soften international pressure on the human rights front painstakingly but were now fighting with their backs to the wall in the face of a 'don't care attitude' at the higher echelons in government.

This fact was underscored from the briefing given by the Foreign Ministry to Solicitor General C.R. De Silva  and Deputy Solicitor General Yasantha Kodagoda who were despatched to the UN to meet the charges against the government in the Allan Rock report which was scheduled to be taken up on Friday, February 9.

The brief the two law officers of the state carried was to defend charges against the government's security forces of aiding and abetting the recruitment of child soldiers by the Karuna group, rather than take the fight to the LTTE.

The decision not to take the fight to the LTTE on child recruitment as also contained in the Rock report was based on the thinking that such a move would necessarily compel the government to move for action against the Karuna group as well. The government strategy no doubt was not lost on the UN.

And with the EU sponsored human rights resolution also due in March in Geneva, the government is going to have its plate full in the coming weeks based on which will also depend how much of the funding the government will get for its development goals as articulated at the Galle Development Forum.

To top all that of course is the call by Indian Premier Manmohan Singh for the government to submit its peace proposals by end February, which it now has to deliver without the cooperation of the UNP.

UNP stance

As articulated by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in parliament on Tuesday, while the UNP has not wavered in its commitment to the peaceful resolution of the north east conflict, the job of reaching a negotiated settlement was left to President Rajapakse given his abrogation of the MoU.

"Since the government proclaims that it can carry on the negotiations by itself, we will allow the government to do so. The UNP will give its support in parliament to any final negotiated settlement which is within the framework of the paper submitted by Party Representative K.N. Choksy to the APRC," the UNP Leader said.

Thus, no longer will the UNP engage in bipartisan discussions with the government on the issue in terms of the MoU and develop a southern consensus but leave it to the President to submit his proposals, which if it falls in line with the UNP's views will receive the party's support. Wickremesinghe has also informed the party hierarchy he will not accept any invitation to meet with the President.

Therefore, how the government is going to develop a consensus within itself considering the presence of federalists like G.L. Peiris, Milinda Moragoda, Karu Jayasuriya and Rajitha Senaratne on the one hand, militarists such as Champika Ranawaka on the other, and those who stand for a unitary state like Dinesh Gunawardena and Nimal Siripala De Silva, is mind boggling.

All these developments of course lead to the irresistible conclusion that President Rajapakse will be compelled to go for a snap general election before June to overcome the gridlock in government, more so considering the SLFP infighting as reflected by National Heritage Minister Anura Bandaranaike in parliament on Thursday.

The damning words of Bandaranaike where those close to the powers that be holding US residency visas came to be criticised was only the tip of the iceberg, reflecting the deep-seated anger among senior SLFPs at the government being hijacked by a few Presidential advisors.

It is this blistering attack that had the President flustered on Thursday and he himself came all cylinders firing with references to acting like a 'Medamulane Mahinda,' which was meant to be a veiled threat on the SLFP dissidents.

And sending a signal the SLFP dissidents were not intimidated by threats to strip them of their ministries was Mangala Samaraweera who sat next to Bandaranaike throughout his speech. That Fisheries Minister Felix Perera chose to criticise Bandaranaike as did Nation Building Minister S.B. Chandrasena criticised Samaraweera when he assumed ministerial duties also went to prove the battle was on in the SLFP.

Of course the full impact of the crisis within the government as well as how unwelcome the UNP defectors were, manifested in parliament on Tuesday, when the new seating arrangements were finalised.

Seating arrangements

It was Urban Development Minister and MEP Leader Dinesh Gunawardena who first showed signs of agitation in parliament on Tuesday due to changes in the seating arrangements following the cross-over of the 18 UNP defectors which saw Public Administration Minister Karu Jayasuriya catapulted to the first row.

The stage for this confusion was set by the UNP defectors themselves who, having got the plum ministerial posts of the SLFPers, in writing wanted to be accommodated in the government benches in parliament.

This they did by writing to Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara on Friday, February 2 wherein it was stated, "We shall be grateful if you would kindly make appropriate arrangements to enable us all to sit together on the government side as members of the United National Party." The letter was signed by all 18 defectors.

Given this request, parliament had in consultation with Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva made provision for the UNP defectors to sit in the government benches, where Karu Jayasuriya was given a front row seat as a party leader, relegating Dinesh Gunawardena to the second row.

Thus, when the members walked into the second floor lobby on Tuesday, the new seating arrangements were put up on a notice board and it is on seeing this arrangement that the MEP Leader flipped.

And even as Minister Gunawardena who was surrounded by fellow MPs was heard to comment that he had been relegated to the second row, other ministers commented on the fate awaiting them if seniors like the MEP Leader were treated in this fashion to accommodate the UNP defectors.

It was this highly agitated Gunawardena who was about to enter the chamber that spotted House Leader, Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva walking in and the MEP Leader let fly.

Shouted the normally unassuming Urban Development Minister at De Silva, "They have fu.... with the seating arrangements."

Taken aback at the language used, Minister De Silva muttered words to the effect, "What is it?" only to see Gunawardena retort, "Don't you know? Go and see what they have done to the seating arrangement." With that said Gunawardena stormed into the chamber and was to show his displeasure on the floor of the House.

Likewise, Minister Samaraweera too seeing the seating arrangements showed his displeasure by asking, "Who is this Banda that has been put next to me? From where have these jokers come?"

The main issue for the UPFA ministers was Karu Jayasuriya being given a front row seat when he was a relative junior in parliament and simply an opposition MP who had crossed over, a point Anura Bandaranaike was to make in parliament on Thursday.

These developments saw the Speaker having to adjourn parliament and call for a party leaders meeting to resolve the dispute, but Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle did not budge from his seat.

Sensing something was amiss, several government members walked upto Minister Fernandopulle and inquired why he was not attending the Speaker's meeting only to be told he did not want to be a party to the mess created in government.

Said Fernandopulle - "I am not going. I was given a call by the parliament office and asked about the seating arrangement. I told them not to ask me because I had nothing to do with taking the elephants. It was done by the President, his advisors and Lalith Weeratunga. They divided the ministries so I told the officers to ask them about dividing the seats in parliament as well."

Pushed into the jungle

By this time, word was out that Minister de Silva had okayed the seating arrangements in consultation with Temple Trees but not wanting to face the flak, no sooner the Speaker convened the party leader's meeting, the Health Minister asked Lokubandara to do what he thinks best with regard to the seating.

While this drama was being enacted in the Speaker's room, JHU Kandy District MP, Ven. Uduwe Nanda Thero was holding forth in the lobby with several JVP MPs, including Anura Kumara Dissanayake, when in walked SLFP dissident, Minister Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi.

Said Sooriyaarachchi mischievously to the MP monk, "So you have also been pushed to the jungle (keleyta thallu karala) under the new seating arrangement."

Replied the JHU MP - "It is a big thing to be even in the jungle. Now the whole country is ruined. We can't even go to our villages and face the people with what has happened."

No doubt, sensing the discomfiture of the MP monk, JVP's Anura Kumara Dissanayake said he too should have asked for a ministry and taken a front seat, a comment which saw the split in the JHU too manifesting itself.

Said Uduwe Nanda Thero - "What nonsense? It was okay for monks to contest and win and go to parliament, but they say to be a minister, you have to be a layman. Can you understand the logic of it?"

Chipped in Minister Sooriyaarachchi helpfully, "That should not be a problem. Just like all 18 UNP MPs joined by asking for ministries, why don't all nine JHU members too ask for ministries?"

Replied the monk MP - "Even if we don't get ministries it is okay, provided we can go to our villages, but even that is not possible."

And even as the monk spoke, in walked Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to their midst grinning from ear to ear. Said Wickremesinghe jovially - "I have sent you a team from our side with chikungunya. Make the best of it."

Shot back Anura Kumara Dissanayake - "If they came with chikungunya, it's okay. They seem to have come with a permanent disease."

Added Wickremesinghe, "All the members who were theoreticians have left. The only practical man in that group is Gamini Lokuge. They all used to come with theories. I also used to act on their theories on the peace process, international relations and the economy. Now they have left with their theory books and come to your side. I can now adopt a practical approach and decide what is best suited for the country, which you too will have no problems with."

This comment saw Minister Sooriyaarachchi telling Anura Kumara Dissanayake that Wickremesinghe's comment appeared a "long term talk," with the JVP member nodding his assent.

Practical approach

Going a step further was a JVP MP from the Anuradhapura District who said it would be a positive development if the UNP Leader adopts such a practical approach to the nation's issues.

It is in this overall backdrop of discussion that National Heritage Minister Anura Bandaranaike too made a statement to the Ministerial Security Division (MSD) of a death threat received by him on Tuesday which has also been brought to the notice of the international community.

Given the seriousness of the issue, Bandaranaike also decided to make a statement in parliament on Thursday and getting wind of it, the President threatened to sack the Minister if he did so.

That move once again showed the dictatorial tendency in government where a President, rather than rise to the defence of his Minister who is faced with a death threat, threatens the Minister with sacking if a statement is made on the issue in parliament.

This warning the President gave after the cabinet meeting on Wednesday where he told Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake to inform Minister Samaraweera to communicate with Bandaranaike that he would be sacked if any statement is made in parliament.

This the Prime Minister communicated to Samaraweera who in turn passed it on to Bandaranaike. But in a show of defiance Bandaranaike proceeded to make the statement in parliament with Samaraweera seated by his side cheering lustily.

This tendency of not tolerating any dissent the UNP defectors too got a taste of when they attended the first ever cabinet meeting after the reshuffle on Wednesday.

To the surprise of the UNP defectors, the President went through over 40 cabinet papers in as many minutes with not so much as a murmur from the ministers.

It was only Construction Minister Rajitha Senaratne who attempted to make some contribution when the cabinet paper on the Bushmaster weapons deal came up but was silenced before long.

Thus, when the cabinet paper on the purchase of Bushmaster weapons was taken up, Senaratne praised the deal and said it was a positive development considering under the previous UNP regime a dubious contract was entered into with the Israelis.

The President however cut Senaratne short, stating he was not interested in Bushmaster or any master but only in equipment that can get the job done in the north and east.

That comment saw the Prime Minister asking Senaratne whether he was in agreement with the cabinet paper or not and the Minister responded in the affirmative.

President's pep talk

At the outset of the meeting of course the President gave a pep talk to the ministers stating there was criticism at the size of the cabinet and that the only way to dispel it was by performing effectively.

Concerned that several ministers had not attended parliament to vote on the emergency, including Samaraweera, Bandaranaike and Sooriyaarachchi, the President also said he expects all members to attend parliament or face the consequences.

It was Minister Dinesh Gunawardena who attempted to bring the plight of the ministers to the notice of the President at this stage by adverting to the lack of rooms in parliament following the expansion of the cabinet, only to see Rajapakse pooh-poohing the issue.

"Rooms can be found. Just get on with the job," he said, prompting one UNP defector to say on the way out that they are witnessing "Premadasa plus plus" in action.

Be that as it may, in a further show of rising dissension in government, both Ministers Samaraweera and Bandaranaike boycotted Wednesday's cabinet meeting as well. Thus, the message to the President was loud and clear that the SLFP dissidents were working to a plan and were not about to wilt under pressure.

That the President for all his public bravado was concerned at this development became evident when the government parliamentary group met Monday evening at the Presidential Secretariat for which both Bandaranaike and Samaraweera travelled together, sat together and left together.

And seeing the duo leaving together after the group meeting, the President asked the Ports Minister to stay back for a chat but Samaraweera proceeded to the exit with Bandaranaike only to see the President's security officers running behind them and requesting they stay back for a meal.

Responded Bandaranaike - "There is food in our homes too," before walking out with Samaraweera.

Backlash

No doubt concerned, the President thereafter proceeded to President's House for the night and telephoned Samaraweera no less than six times but the Minister was not available to take the call.

Faced with this backlash, the President made a bad situation worse by once again turning to UNP crossers-over for help to project the government's image as he undertook the first overseas visit following the reshuffle.

That two day visit to Male gets underway today and among those accompanying the President will be Ministers G.L. Peiris, Milinda Moragoda, Rohitha Bogollagama, Sarath Amunugama and Felix Perera.

In a further development, the President also summoned the SLFP Executive Committee for yesterday in a bid to stem the tide of rising dissension and warn the dissidents of dire consequences.

It is thereafter that he proceeded to sack the three ministers in the belief it will silence his other critics.

But the President may well have misjudged the situation on the assumption Samaraweera and Bandaranaike were not working to a plan.

In fact Friday morning when news of the impending sacking leaked Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi telephoned Samaraweera who was in Singapore and asked what steps needed to be taken. Samaraweera told him not to do anything to block the move and to allow the sacking to go ahead.

Interestingly, once the President signed the three letters sacking the ministers it was former President Chandrika Kumaratunga who is in London who got to know first through her sources and it was she who telephoned her brother Anura and informed him a letter removing him was on its way.

Kumaratunga who also spoke to Samaraweera said he could now give expression to the course of action he had in place.

Therefore the President's decision to sack the ministers may well be too little too late to stop a major split in government which could well force him to go in for an election as a minority government.

The public no doubt will know the reality in the coming weeks if not days.