Much hangs in the balance

Hakeem takes centre stage in post-poll political battle; tough demands placed before UPFA ITAK also woos SLMC as provincial polls underscore the political power of Sinhala nationalism

The results of Last Saturday’s polls for three Provincial Councils were on a predictable note enabling the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) to capture the majority of seats.

Victory was most convincing in the Sinhalamajority Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provinces. The UPFA garnered about 60 per cent of the votes compared to more than 50 in the 2008 PC polls. For the main opposition United National Party (UNP), votes dropped from 38 to 33 per cent and 40 to 30 per cent respectively in these two provinces when compared to the 2008 polls. A silver lining for the crisis-ridden party nevertheless was a rare vote increase in the Polonnaruwa District by more than 6,000 or just four per cent. Compared to the 2010 parliamentary elections, where it gained 26.67 per cent of the votes, it was no doubt an increase to 39.04 per cent. A body representing the farming community, made up of UPFA backers, chose this time to keep away blaming the government for not providing assistance during the devastating drought in the district. They even dissuaded some of their friends and relatives from going to polling booths.

In the multi-ethnic Eastern Province, though the UPFA won 14 seats, the highest, as forecast last week, the outcome is a hung council. The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), the name by which the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), yet to be officially recognised as a political party, fielded candidates, won an impressive 11 seats. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), which came third, also performed impressively winning seven and the UNP four seats. The UNP's vote slide has been from 40 per cent (in 2008 PC polls) to 35 per cent. Thus, the UPFA alone could, with the two bonus seats, form a minority administration but face the prospect of defeat in the 37 member Council. That is if the would be opposition the ITAK, the SLMC and the UNP come togehter. Needless to say behind-the-scene political horse trading has begun with some key UPFA stalwarts offering handsome rewards to those willing to join their ranks. Some approaches have been made even to ITAK councillors to cross over. Adding to the anxiety is the delay by the Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya in gazetting the list of elected members. The reason attributed is that the elected candidates have not submitted their declaration of assets. The UPFA's own legal advisors conceded a delay on those grounds was not legally possible.

In the light of these developments, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader, Rauff Hakeem has become the most sought-after politician since last week's elections. During the polls campaign, though an Alliance partner, Hakeem was the object of strong criticism by his ministerial colleagues. Minister Dullas Allahapperuma said Hakeem would have to decide his future in the UPFA after the polls. Strange are the ways in politics. Now, the UPFA's future in the Eastern Provincial Council, it seems, is resting in Hakeem's hands.

Barely 24 hours after the results were released; ITAK President R. Sampanthan and General Secretary Mavai Senathirajah issued a statement staking a claim to form the Eastern Provincial Council administration, together with the SLMC and the UNP.

The statement said: "We wish to state that the member of the Provincial Council with the best ability to command the support of a majority of the members of the Provincial Council and thereby become Chief Minister should be chosen" by the said three parties.

"The choice of such a member," the statement said, "will be communicated to the Governor shortly. We wish to point out to the Governor that the UPFA and the National Freedom Front (NFF) together do not and cannot command the support of the majority of the members of the Council."

As the sequence of events since last Monday showed, Hakeem has not given a categorical assurance to the ITAK that his party would be a partner in the EPC administration. Similarly, he is yet to give the UPFA leadership an assurance that the SLMC would help the ruling Alliance form an administration in the Eastern Province. A lot will depend on how many of the demands placed before UPFA leaders by Hakeem would be conceded. Hakeem was due to have a late night meeting yesterday with President Mahinda Rajapaksa to resolve the issues.

Another proposal by an Alliance partner, the Communist Party of Sri Lanka to call for a coalition of all parties to run the EPC under an agreed programme has brought forth mixed results. The main backer of the move is Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera. Sections of the senior UPFA leadership do not favour the proposal in view of the ITAK (or more pointedly the TNA) refusing to participate in the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee to evolve a 'political package' to address Tamil grievances. However, ITAK (TNA) leader, Sampanthan told a news conference yesterday, "so far the government has not approached us. If there is an invitation, we will consider the proposal."

Last Sunday, immediately after the results of the provincial polls were announced, Hakeem asked all his elected members to come to Colombo the next day. Also summoned for the meeting, held on Monday at the Galle Face Hotel, were Ulemas (or Muslim theologians) in the Eastern Province. Hakeem said the SLMC had to keep an open mind whilst it engaged in a dialogue with the UPFA leadership. He said it was necessary for those elected as well as those key party supporters in the province to maintain secrecy and not make any comments that would compromise the party. Towards this end, those who took part were called upon to sign a written oath of allegiance to the leadership and make a pledge to maintain secrecy. Participants empowered Hakeem to negotiate with the UPFA on "what is best for the party and the Muslim community." A similar mandate had also been given during meetings of the SLMC high command that followed in the past few days.

Hakeem was at Barefoot Gallery in Bambalapitiya last Sunday afternoon to purchase souvenirs for some foreign friends. They were delegates to the 58th annual sessions of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). His mobile phone rang. It was ITAK parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran. After congratulating him, the National List parliamentarian handed over the phone to his leader, Sampanthan. "We would like to work with you. I will go to any length to accommodate your requests," Sampanthan told Hakeem. The latter said that he would first wish to travel to the East to thank all those who voted for the SLMC. Thereafter, he said, he would meet senior leaders from the party and then get in touch with Sampanthan. Within minutes, Hakeem's mobile phone rang again. It was Sajin de Vass Gunawardena monitoring MP for the Ministry of External Affairs and Co-ordinating Secretary to the President. "Can I come and see you," asked Gunawardena and Hakeem replied "you are most welcome."

The next morning, (Monday) the two were engaged in a conversation at Hakeem's private residence at Alfred House Gardens. The first question Gunawardena raised was "have you called the President?" He then told Hakeem, Minister of Justice in the UPFA government, that he had come with a special message from Rajapaksa. "Do you have any intention not to join the government," Sajin who serves as a member in official External Affairs Ministry delegations for talks with foreign dignitaries, asked. Replied Hakeem, "I will call the President this evening. We are keeping an open mind. I first want to go to the East to thank the voters. Thereafter, I will talk to our senior members in the Congress."

String of personal callers interrupted by periodic phone calls kept Hakeem busy on Monday. On Tuesday morning, after he finalised plans to fly to the East, he telephoned President Rajapaksa. The conversation seemed an exercise in mutual political ego boosting. Hakeem congratulated Rajapaksa for the "magnificent victory" and lauded him for travelling to every "nook and corner" in the districts. "We will have a discussion with you after my return from the East," added Hakeem. The President in turn congratu- lated Hakeem on the SLMC victory in the East. He then asked the SLMC leader whether he would not like to attend the Government Parliamentary Group meeting that morning before departure to the East. Hakeem agreed.

Ruling party parliamentarians had gathered for the group meeting at the conference hall of the Presidential Secretariat overlooking the Galle Face Green. There was loud applause as Rajapaksa entered. He greeted his MPs clasping his hands in an Ayubowan. He thanked all his ministers and parliamentarians who made the UPFA victory possible. "I have won all districts," he noted, then paused for a while, looked at Hakeem and added "not outright." He said "yet, as a coalition we have captured the district." A matter of some concern for Rajapaksa at the meeting was a move by some CPA delegates, at this week's 58th annual sessions in Colombo, to revive an issue that had been rejected at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Perth, Australia in October last year.

It had been proposed by a Group of Eminent Persons. The main backer then was Justice Michael Kirby, a well-known Jurist from Australlia. That was the appointment of a Commonwealth Commissioner for Human Rights. External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris was to add that it was South Africa that had frowned on the move when it came up for discussion in Perth. He described it as a "mischievous exercise" which was "colonial over lording." Rajapaksa wanted all his parliamentarians to be present at the CPA sessions and strongly oppose any such move. The issue did come up. It was to reveal a sorry spectacle -- government ministers locked in acrimonious verbal duels with foreign delegates and Sri Lankan opposition leaders, who supported the move, whilst other CPA members looked on.

Taking the floor to speak to government MPs then was Public Relations Minister, Mervyn Silva. "I am not here just to praise you," declared Silva looking at Rajapaksa. In a speech in Sinhala, however, he did just that. "Sayma kumburukatama behela, govintath katha karaa. Mey jayagrahanaya obathumaage, (You went to every ploughed field and spoke to the cultivators. This victory is yours)," said Silva. That was to draw a light hearted response from President Rajapaksa. He said he was not wearing a collar with a shirt but a tunic with no collar. The remarks meant he would otherwise have raised his collar in humorous appreciation at what Silva said.

Then Mervyn Silva turned serious. He looked at Hakeem and declared, "for whatever reasons you wanted to go it alone. You must not act like a character in the Merchant of Venice who demanded a pound of flesh. We have been able to strengthen the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and we will continue to do so." The remarks were a reference to the fictional character in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice. Shylock who lends money to Bassiano seeks a pound of his flesh as security if the loan is not repaid. Hakeem, was not to speak at the meeting. He told that to his parliamentary colleagues. He was to rise to his feet to answer Silva. He described him as magey kalyana mithraya" (or my close friend) who has accused me of being like Shylock in the Merchant of Venice. Hakeem looked at Rajapaksa and said "I am a member of your cabinet. Throughout the campaign, though I have spoken from different platforms, I have continued to maintain close contact. You are aware I made an attempt to stay in the coalition. There were disagreements. It should not be construed as breaking ranks. I have apprised you throughout my campaign. I have taken an informed decision. I must also respect aspirations of the people who voted for us. There is no cause for unnecessary alarm. I have no intention of breaking ranks. You don't have to make a hue and cry"

At that point, President Rajapaksa was to address Minister Silva. This time, he said "I have another matter to discuss with you personally." UPFA sources said it was over a Police report President Rajapaksa had received about the conduct of Silva's controversial son Malaka. Together with Rehan Wijeratne, the son of one time Kegalle District parliamentarian late Mano Wijeratne and a group of bodyguards, they had assaulted an officer of the Army's Military Intelligence Corps. The officer was in a five star residential hotel. Though Police spokesperson, Ajith Rohana SSP said he would be arrested, both Malaka and Rehan moved freely at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihare where the Kapilavastu relics exposition took place. Making matters worse was when a person described as a driver in Silva's staff turned up at a City police station to return the service issue revolver and the mobile phone of the Army officer. He walked away free after the handover.

The episode drew strong criticism among government ranks with some MPs complaining that it was bad for the government to have "one law for Silva" and another for "all others." There were also concerns at the highest levels of the security establishment and police hierarchy. In an unrelated event on Friday, Police chief, N.K. Illangakoon ordered the immediate transfer of DIG in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Jayantha Kulatilleke and the Director in charge, Mahesh Perera SSP. No reasons were given. Later in the day, more Police transfers were announced in a move officially described as routine. However, it was known in Police circles that the DIG (CID) and the Director did not see eye to eye and power caucuses had built between the two sides. Police officials, however, declined comment on the matter and were unable to confirm whether there were other compelling reasons for the sudden transfer.

Responding to President Rajapaksa's remarks, Minister Silva said both he and President Rajapaksa were true Buddhists. He said one feature among the two were that both have gone to jail. He continued to speak about his role and the