DAYA MASTER SPEAKS OUT

THE NATIONAL QUESTION MUST BE SOLVED AND 13 A IS A STARTING POINT

Velayutham Dayanithi more commonly known as Daya Master said the 13th Amendment could be an ideal starting point for the devolution of power.

Q: Are you going to be the UPFA’s Chief Ministerial candidate at NPC elections?

I haven’t received any confirmation from the party yet.

Q: On what basis are you contesting the upcoming election in the North?

I’m mainly concerned about the welfare of the people in the North. I’ve already mentioned this to the media.

Q: What would you do if you were not nominated as Chief Ministerial candidate?

I’m not concerned about the chief minister candidacy. The reason I am contesting the election is to assist the war victims in the North and not to promote myself as Chief Minister of the Northern Province.

Q: What’s your view about the 13th Amendment and the Provincial Council system?

I don’t want to comment on the 13th Amendment as the government has announced that the polls would be conducted according to the 13th Amendment, as it stands now.

Q: Do you t hink t he Provincial Council system that has come about through the 13th Amendment is a right measure for devolution? What do you think about the ongoing debate on police and land powers incorporated in the 13A?

I don’t want to comment on this as the election is to be conducted according to the 13th Amendment. But, if the government is to bring about a motion for the dilution of the 13th Amendment after the election, then these concerns can be discussed. We can have this debate after the election if these powers are going to be curtailed. Not right now. I believe the 13th Amendment can be considered as a starting point in providing a political solution to the ethnic question of the Tamil people.

Q: Since you believe the 13th Amendment will be an initial step to attain a political solution, do you also believe that the Centre should go beyond the 13th amendment?

My concern is that national question has to be solved through any means possible, not necessarily through the 13th Amendment, anything beyond it or from another framework altogether is acceptable as long as it serves the purpose of solving the national question. I believe in the equality of the ethnicities without any discrimination. For example, I don’t believe in confer ring more power to the Sinhalese and less power to Tamils, or the other way around.

Q: Does it mean you think that now there’s no equality among the ethnicities?

There are issues between ethnicities created by the politicians. Tamils believe that discrimination exists at different levels. Therefore all these issues have to be considered and addressed so that everyone can live in equality.

Q: There has always been an allegation against the government regarding the military presence in the North and that lands belonging to the public are taken over by the army. What are your views on this issue?

I don’t agree with these allegations. In reality the military presence has been reduced and the properties and lands taken over by the Army during the war are gradually being given back to the original owners, but nevertheless, people are worrying that their lands would be taken over.

However, we must also understand that development and security are also needs of the people, and to this effect the government is taking over some land which I believe is a necessity. The announced 6,000 acres which are to be taken over comprise both state and private land. My concern is that the amount of private land that is to be acquired has to be reduced. I think that the authorities should address this issue. I affirm that if I am elected, I will address these issues and I will also give alternative lands to the affected people.

6,000 acres cover a big area in Jaffna, and due to this, people feel that required land would be taken over from them under the pretext of development and security. The people have been living in the camps with the hope that they will be resettled properly. It has to be done in a way acceptable to them. At the same time, state lands have to be used for the expansion of the harbour, Palaly Airport and military camps to develop infrastructure while ensuring security.

On the other hand, the government is releasing state land to people in several other areas apart from land acquisition for above purposes. We are studying how to release state land to the people for their benefit. I will ensure that this happens smoothly if I am elected.

I got the opportunity to talk to the people who were in the camps and they told me their grievances. I have requested the authorities to look into these problem. But, if I am elected, I will make sure that these lands would be given to the people who were displaced.

Q: The TNA alleges that military intervention into the civil administration has increased in the North. Do you believe that the Army is intervening in civil administration in the North due to its presence there?

The military presence in the North can be tolerated in a sense as there’s a great threat posed to the North and to the entire country as well, by some politicians in South India and the Diaspora Tamils.

So, these unwanted security threats demand military presence in the North.

During an interview with the Daily Mirror, he spoke of the upcoming election, his manifesto and the development work carried out by the government.

TNA never talks about the good things done by the government such as releasing the state land to the public. But they keep on repeating that there’s an increased military presence in the North and they fail to acknowledge the positive work of the government. Although, government circles affirmed that only 15, 000 soldiers are present in the North, the TNA keeps on alleging that there are more than 150,000 soldiers in the North which is not true. Not that I know the exact figure of military personnel there, but you see the contradictions in the repeated assertions of the TNA

Q: Do you believe that the conduct of the state is right in terms of governance?

I can’t comment as a whole on the overall governance. But the national question can be resolved in many ways although it has been blown out of proportion by the politicians in the South as well as in the North.

Q: Do you believe that sufficient development is been carried out in North?

I don’t think that the development that has been carried out is sufficient and I insist that more development has to be carried out. Also, I think development has to be carried out in all aspects and in all fields in the North which has been the core victim of the war. Especially, infrastructure development in the resettlement areas such as Valikamam North has to be carried out. In order to do this more funds must be allocated by the government.

Q: It has been stressed by the TNA candidate that police and land powers have to be conferred to the NPC with no dilution. What’s your view about this?

As I said before, I don’t want to comment on this. The fact remains that it hasn’t been diluted and the polls are to be held in accordance with clauses of the 13th Amendment. I will comment on it after the elections if these powers are going to be curtailed in actuality.

Q: What do you think about the proposed Parliament Select Committee?

I believe that the PSC is the right forum to discuss about political issues surrounding the national question. I think the TNA has to take part in the discussions of the PSC as they are currently perceived as the representatives of the Tamils. The 13th Amendment has been formulated in order to solve the national question. It’s also believed among the majority community that 13th Amendment has been forced on Sri Lankan government by India. All of these issues could be discussed at the Parliament Select Committee.

Q: You said that the TNA has to participate in the PSC so that it can help resolve the national question. What about the issues raised by other minority groups which won’t be participating in the PSC, like the SLMC?

It’s up to the government to decide about the inclusion of members in the PSC. Even, a senior minister like Tissa

He also spoke of allegations of military presence and land take over among others during this interview.

Vitharana has been excluded. I don’t know about the reasons for such exclusions.

It doesn’t matter whether the Tamil ethnic question could be resolved or not through the PSC process. But the TNA has to take part in the PSC deliberations, and express its opinions because it is the best place to do so.

The TNA has kept on saying that they haven’t got any response from the state regarding the proposal for a solution presented to the government. They use it as an excuse to stay away from the PSC. I would like to question, on what basis did Sampanthan meet the President? Why didn’t he make an excuse to avoid meeting the President at that occasion?

The TNA has to consult the President and all other stake holders in order to devise a solution to the national question and if the TNA is genuinely concerned about the problems of the Tamil people, then the best forum to highlight these concerns is the PSC. Therefore, the outcome of the PSC process is my secondary concern whereas the participation of the Tamil National Alliance in it is my foremost concern.

Q: People who have supported the LTTE including Diaspora Tamils as well as local Tamils and the TNA to a certain extent consider you as a traitor. What is your take on this?

What else can these people do but call me such things? the TNA has the wealth and money received from LTTE and LTTE supporting Diaspora, therefore, what else are they to do except call me a traitor and other such terms? The TNA has never used the money from the Diaspora to the affected people instead they use those funds for their personal benefits.

Q: There are also allegations that former LTTE leaders who have been brought into the mainstream politics are under the government clutches, just like the TNA were under the LTTE’s clutches earlier. They say this in order to point out that you have no option but to take the side of the government. Is this true?

It’s just an opinion of certain factions and I don’t care what they say. I know that I’m competing on my own volition with the full freedom of choice to do, and act as I wish. However, on the other hand I do have a lot of evidence to elaborate about every politician in the TNA, and I know to what clutches they cling on to. When the time is right, I won’t hesitate to reveal these things.

I don’t believe on compromising politics with the government as other Tamil ministers do. Instead, I believe in resolving the Tamils’ problems and making the government to agree upon what I say and on what I’m willing to work towards. I won’t listen and comply with whatever the government says. But, I will point out the pros and cons in the governance and will speak for the rights of the Tamils.

Q: What do you think about the release of political prisoners?

I was the one who presented this issue to the LLRC commission in 2011. All political prisoners have to be released. Their release is my primary target. If I win the NPC polls, I will focus on confidence building, reconciliation and development.

I have made myself very clear about my stand in the NPC elections. People in the post war scenario need to be helped. Any initiatives with regard to 3R policy as rehabilitation, rebuilding and re-conservation will be carried out. Development is prioritised in my mandate. People need to be given confidence. Confidence building will be my other priority. My objectives are very clear. Neither the TNA nor the EPDP has looked into and helped the former LTTE cadres.

Q: As a former leader of the LTTE, do you feel that you lost a chance to help your people as a result of the armed struggle?

These are two different struggles. When Chelvanayagam and other Tamil political leaders couldn’t find any solution through non-violent means, an armed struggle was brought about. But finally, now we are back into the fold of a democratic struggle. I want to compete in the election for the development of the North which has been severely affected by the war.

Q: Do you believe that this government can resolve the issues of the Tamils?

I believe that the government will try to solve the Tamils’ issues, but if they fail to do so and if I win in the NPC elections, I will make sure that the Tamil problems are well addressed and the development is carried out as expected.

I firmly believe that the government will fulfill my demands regarding the political solution for the Tamils if I win the polls, and I’ve said this time and again.

The Government has proposed a political solution and the TNA has to support it. TNA is hesitating to participate in the PSC due to elections, and it would be useless for them to join the PSC following the elections once the decisions have been finalised. As the PSC is assigned to take the final decisions, the TNA can present their suggestions and concerns. TNA bears the responsibility to take part in the PSC so that a political solution can be found. It’s pointless to hesitate to participate in the PSC as they can present their opinions although they don’t have the power to final decision making. The TNA is not going to lose anything through their participation. I think TNA is not willing to participate because of its preconceived notion that the government won’t give a political solution to the Tamils.

Q: Do you think the international monitoring is necessary for the polls and the military has to be limited?

The election has to be conducted honestly, and if it is conducted without any violations of election laws, no international monitoring would be needed. The Police could oversee the elections, therefore, the military need not interfere. I think we’ll have a peaceful election.

Q: Do you believe that you will win this election?

I would like to answer logically that everyone competes in the election with an aspiration to win. I believe that we’ll win and will be able to claim half of the seats allocated.