The UNP Re-positions itself on Envisaged Solution For Ethnic Crisis.
by a Special Correspondent
The UNP on Friday September 28th 2007 stated that the party stands for a negotiated political solution based on a credible power sharing formula acceptable to all communities as a means of settling the ethnic conflict.
The UNP statement was aimed at putting to rest charges that the party had dropped its commitment to a federal solution in a bid to woo the JVP.
Reiterating the party’s commitment to the devolution of power, the UNP said the political solution must address the grievances of the Tamils, the fears of Muslims in the north-east regarding ethnic cleansing, and concerns of some sections of Sinhalese that devolution will lead to separation.
The UNP also said there should be talks with the LTTE and the ceasefire agreement amended taking into account the current situation and the experiences of the past few years.
The UNP has in its statement also avoided using terminology to describe the devolution model but has said Sri Lanka should evolve an innovative model in keeping with her own experiences.
The statement also adverts to the party’s commitment to federal principles stating there must be credible power sharing between the centre, region/ province and the local authorities while introducing a system to safeguard the devolved powers.
The UNP further states the final solution will be placed before the people at a referendum for approval.
Following is the full text of the statement:
The United National Party believes that long lasting peace is possible only through a negotiated political solution based on a credible power sharing proposal acceptable to all communities. The Party’s Annual Conventions of 2004 and 2006 reiterated this position. These policies were set out and further developed by Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Leader of the Party and Leader of the Opposition, when he delivered the J. R. Jayewardene commemoration lecture. He made the following observations:
We must oppose separatism
Terrorism requires a military response
The causes leading to separatism require a political solution
There must be contingency plans to deal with any breakdown in negotiations or when there are obstacles to a political solution. This should include both political and security components. We must take steps to obtain the support of all parties and work wholeheartedly to ensure the success of the peace process.
A negotiated political solution must be based on: renunciation of violence; human rights and democracy.
It must also accommodate the legitimate aspirations of all communities. The political solution must address:
The grievances of Tamils;
The fears of Muslims in the north east regarding ethnic cleansing;
The concerns of some sections of the Sinhalese that devolution will lead to separatism;
The political solution must be acceptable to the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers and other small ethnic communities. It must also have the support of the international community.
A political solution must safeguard the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and the sovereignty of the people. It must also protect the rights of the minorities.
We must be innovative and evolve a new constitutional model reflecting our own experiences.
The present system (the 13th Amendment) is based on the provinces. Therefore we have to determine whether provinces will be the unit of devolution for the future. If new units of devolution are being demarcated, it should be based on political, social and economic criteria.
There must be credible power sharing between the national government Regional/Provincial Councils and Local Authorities. The centre must retain the powers needed for the effective functioning of the national government. The other powers must be vested to the other two levels.
People living in the north have expressed fears that powers vested in the Region/Province may be taken away by a future parliament. People in the south have a concern that the party in power at the centre will take away the powers of the Regional/Provincial Councils controlled by opposition parties. Similarly, local authorities are worried that the party in power in the Region/Centre will take away their powers.
Therefore, it is necessary to have a system to safeguard the devolved powers. We have to give our attention not only to legal principles but also to practical problems.
These proposals must make provision for sharing of power at the centre between the national government and the Regional/Provincial administrations.
The Co-Chairs and India must be requested to arrange for cessation of hostilities and resumption of talks. In order to create an appropriate environment for talks it is essential, that all parties agree to uphold human rights. Investigations be carried out into the abductions and disappearances and remove the culture of impunity, immediate resolution of outstanding humanitarian issues, and guarantee all democratic rights.
The Ceasefire Agreement must be amended taking into account the present situation in the north – east and the experiences of the last few years. The environment today is far different from that of 2002 when the CFA was signed.
A Muslim delegation must participate at the peace talks as agreed.
We have to structure the entire peace process: Talks with the LTTE; talks with all other parties and group.
During this period we must also maintain a close relationship with India and the international community.
A political solution must be acceptable to all communities. Thereafter, it must be accepted by the people at a referendum. Once a negotiated political solution is accepted at a referendum, a constitutional amendment incorporating a political solution will be passed by parliament. This constitutional amendment will have to be approved by the people at a second referendum
Dammika Navaratna said,
September 30, 2007 @ 2:50 am
Excellent Hon. Wickremesinghe. Thank you for clarifying yours and parties stance. This is what an honorable Sri Lankan Citizen needs at the end. May be you and the national front having different political gymics, but the final solution should be as you have mentioned.
We shed our sweat in overseases but we need to come one day to our motherland and serve the motherland. JHU or JVP will never understand….even though they undertand they will never show or tell there followers. They wait till some thing wrong slipped out of your tong. It’s time to educate our mass.
Need of the hour is a statement like you…not bunch of rouges. No need to rush…time will there soon.
Peace loving citizen
A.Rajasingam said,
September 30, 2007 @ 9:37 pm
On an examination of the UNP’s new stand, it is necessary to analyze every issue pertaining to the Tamil issue.
(1) Credible power sharing formula acceptable to all communities as a means of settling the ethnic conflict – There can be many terminologies of ‘power sharing formula’ and ‘acceptable to all communities’. These two phrases have been often used by politicians to mislead the people and bargaining for time to enjoy power. One should look at the history of USA, India, Canada, Switzerland, Singapore, etc as to how politicians have settled the aspirations of the people. In what way is Sri Lanka superior to these countries. All what can be said is Sri Lanka has a Guinness Record of taking its begging bowl towards these countries.
(2) In addressing the grievances of the Tamils, the fears of Muslims in the north-east regarding ethnic cleansing, and the concerns of some sections of Sinhalese that devolution will lead to separation are absolutely baseless and without any foundation. Even when the Muslims were driven out of Jaffna there were provided with adequate lands in Puttalam areas land, but it is a pity that not only Muslims in Puttalam were reluctant to accept these Muslim refugees which shows there is no unity among the Muslims but also these Muslims were not willing to go though better road facilities were provided than in Jaffna. Further, can anyone deny that these Muslim refugees were engaged in underworld criminal activities such as drug trafficking, murder and robbery. Police records are there.
(3) The issue of a final solution will be placed before the people at a referendum for approval. This sentence needs clarification. People are tired of hearing such calls from the politicians. What was the final result of having three constitutions with a unitary feature. One has only seen the killings of several thousands of innocent civilians of all communities and driven the country to poverty. Can anybody boast of an achievement? Now these constitutions have become a plaything of the unscrupulous politicians. Now look at the political history of USA and Canada. First they had Confederation and later Federal form of government. What have the political leaders lost in experimenting federalism where all can participate and good governance can be expected. It must be remembered that federalism means binding together. The issues of Tamils and Muslims must not be complicated. The Tamil cause is not based on religion. The fears of the Muslims are something else. They are Tamil-speaking for all purposes. I have given my reasons when Ferial Ashroff gave a general answer. What is the contribution the Muslims have made for the economic development of Sri Lanka? The UNP is only concerned that Muslims should not join the PA and also wants to enjoy the support of Middle-East countries. It will be too late to realize that the Sinhalese leaders are playing in the hands of the Muslims and it won’t be a surprise that Tamils will have to come to the rescue of the Sinhalese.
(4) The UNP’s assertion that a political solution must be acceptable to all communities and must be accepted by the people at a referendum. Thereafter such a negotiated political solution is accepted at a referendum, a constitutional amendment incorporating a political solution will be passed by parliament. This constitutional amendment will have to be approved by the people at a second referendum. My view is the UNP is bringing back the crisis to square one again. The concerns of some sections of the Sinhalese that devolution will lead to separatism is a ploy to dodge the issue or drag on the matter within which period to continue with the massacre of Tamils. There is no problem with the international community. When JR can sign the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord without obtaining the approval of the people at a referendum as well as extending his term of office on the pretext of a referendum, when Ranil can sign the CFA with the approval of the UNP, I do not find any thing wrong in experimenting federalism to test whether it will lead to separation. It is the duty of the Sinhalese political leaders to explain that devolution of power is a feature of federalism. Did the PA passed the 1972 constitution with the approval of the entire section of the Sinhalese or did the UNP passed the 1978 constitution with the approval of the entire section of the Sinhalese and whether both the UNP and PA obtained the approval when making it a uni-cameral constitution. This is where the Sinhalese political parties are deceiving the international community. Even when Provincial Councils were introduced the Central Government was reluctant and, in fact, refused to allocate the required powers and funds to the North-East Province at a time when other Provincial Councils were adequately given.
In the light of the above explanation, the assertion of obtaining the support of all parties and work wholeheartedly to ensure the success of the peace process seems to be a farce. This will never take place because the political leaders are mainly concerned with enjoying power. It is true that terrorism should be defeated because its different level of government is aimed at threatening the basic democratic freedom. Why can’t the UNP think that the counter action of defeating the terrorism is to at least experiment federalism. Are not the Sinhalese enjoying the benefits of federalism in Canada. This is the hour that Ranil take a firm stand and demonstrate himself as a Statesman in the eyes of the international community.
Devinda Fernando said,
October 1, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
Rajasingam, You sir have your head so far up your rear end you can see what you ate for breakfast. Until we de-claw this rabid Tiger running loose in the North there is no point talking about Ethnic issues and Grievances. Save your ink. Go do the crossword puzzle in the paper if you feel you must use your pen for something. All these things you talk about are getting the Cart before the horse. Its all ass-backwards, You can’t address these grievances until the war comes to an end, this will not happen while Prabharkaran continues to fight the SL Armed forces and perpetrate Terrorism on our soil against our people. Only when he is defeated or better yet Killed, then we can go to addressing these issues one at a time.
And when we do start talking about them we should take into account everybody’s issues not just Tamils.
Suresh M said,
October 2, 2007 @ 8:03 pm
Anandasangaree, and other Tamil moderates, this happens when you deviate from your principle goal of separate state, to appease Sinhala politicians. You thought you’re wiser than SJV! ‘Thanthi’ had concluded Sinhala politicians are not trustworthy from his long disappointing experience, and once again, Ranil has proved it.
Suresh M said,
October 2, 2007 @ 8:06 pm
Ref #3
****Prabharkaran continues to fight the SL Armed forces***
SL Army = 100% Sinhala Armed forces. It represents only Sinhales.
Devinda Fernando said,
October 5, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
*** SL Army = 100% Sinhala Armed forces. It represents only Sinhales. ***
Absolutely WRONG! Once again you have no idea do you!
There Are Tamils in the Army – One of the top Colonels (Colonel Mark) is Tamil
There are few tamil Soliders who do infantry or front line work, but many work in intelligence, along with many Muslims. Mind you I have to thank the LTTE for the recent surge in Muslim recruits to the armed forces – after what they did to the Muslims in the East (Muthur and Sampoor) they have been rushing to sign up to fight these Terrorists.
Suresh M said,
October 9, 2007 @ 9:41 pm
Ref # 6
Tamil speaking persons 500
Sinhala 149,500
————–
Total 150,000
========
Tamil speaking persons 0%
Sinhala 100%
Devinda Fernando said,
October 15, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Suresh – why don’t you post a link to these so-called Facts you quote?
We’d be so interested to see where you come up with your (Bogus) numbers,…