Interview with The Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe

By Frederica Jansz

Q: The Presidential system of governance introduced by J.R. Jayewardene has seen the ruling party staying in power for a long period of time. The UNP was there for 17 years and now it’s the SLFP led alliance. Do you feel that the current system gives the ruling party such a big advantage in elections that it is unhealthy for democracy?

A: As far as the Executive Presidency is concerned the big debate at the time was that some of us wanted very specific details relating to a position of the president. President J.R. Jayewardene who was a supporter of the Westminster system said that whatever we needed could be done through conventions which was the practice at that time. However, the conventions relating to the constitution are not applied at all today. Under the present scenario, the President is not appointing the Constitutional Council and the independent commissions. What we want to ensure is that the executive head is accountable to parliament. We have to change the present Executive Presidency. The model to replace the existing system is what we are discussing.

Q: People complain that as the main opposition party the UNP has not played its role in a democracy allowing the government a free hand to undermine democracy. How do you respond to this criticism?

A: The UNP has been playing its role. There is public opinion that has to be moulded through the media. The opposition has a say and the government has a say. We have raised many issues. The government has undermined the whole democratic process. There is no free media and the media is suppressed.

In January this year the MTV/Sirasa station was burnt. This was followed two days later by the killing of The Sunday Leader Editor in Chief, Lasantha Wickrematunge. Two weeks later, Upali Tennekoon was assaulted. Then Poddala Jayantha was attacked. However, the media has not taken up the cause strongly enough or sufficiently.

I don’t blame them, as they are afraid. I remember an incident that took place during President Premadasa’s time — a policeman pushed a journalist and he had fallen. The Free Media Movement at the time held a protest and the media walked out of the cabinet briefing. That was how the media reacted then.

A person in a village told me that earlier the media used to walk out if something small like a fly touched their bodies, but now they are silent even when harassed, attacked and killed. There needs to be an assessment among the media as well. I recall the time back in 1973 when Mrs. Bandaranaike took over Lake House and sealed the Davasa newspaper. At that time the media took a very strong stance. Likewise now too, the media needs to take a stand. It is also up to the people to take a stand too. After all the people need to protect the media as it is the media that speaks for them as well.

Q: What do you mean when you say up to the people? What can they do in this climate of intimidation and harassment?

A: We have to take the issues to the people. We need to discuss this issue with them and we have to start by holding meetings at a grass root level.

Q: Does that mean it will be on a political platform?

A: No it will be through word of mouth (kata maadya), which is the best form of communication. This is something that President Jayewardene believed in. He said if 10 million people are willing to speak the matter has been taken up. In the next three to four months we will take these issues to the people. We are planning on holding discussions island-wide.

I have already met with some media people and they have thanked me for taking up issues of media threats on their behalf. I also want to meet with publishers since everyone must come together and take up these issues. One media institution cannot fight it alone. Everyone has to meet each other at least half way.

Q: One of the key reasons for the weakness of your party is the internal squabbles that are going on. You are the party leader and you have not been able to unite the party.

A: Actually, at a stage when the war has been concluded by the government, there are many views expressed on what our policy should be. Once we take a decision then you either stand with the party policies or leave. We are in the process of deciding the party policies and it will be finalised by next month.

Q: The main reason for the internal squabbling is that a section of the party feels that you are a liability and only a new leader could reinvigorate the party? After losing two presidential elections and numerous other elections isn’t it time to call it a day?

A: The party can decide who the leader is. So far, a few people are shouting and the media is giving it publicity. How many are calling for a change? It is only a few. The party has now decided on its future course and they need to tow the party line. The party’s Political Affairs Committee has given two papers on the formation of an alliance which are being discussed. Once the party finalises this policy, then all issues are sorted.

Q: If that is the case what concrete steps are you planning to take to strengthen the party and win the confidence of the people considering that a presidential election is expected by early next year to be followed by a general election?

A: We are looking first at a parliamentary election and getting the party organised for it. If there is no party organisation then we can’t face any election. We are strengthening the party organisation and are currently in the process of identifying the people as organisers. We are having youth organisation meetings as well. Organising the party is one aspect in preparing for an election. The other is communication strategy. However, a good communication strategy could not be there if the party did not have a proper organisation. We also feel that several civil society organisations would also join in with the formation of the Alliance.

Q: When the government declared all out war against the LTTE you ridiculed the government. Wasn’t that bad judgment and hasn’t that decision come back to haunt you?

A: I never ridiculed the war. What I said was that while you fight the LTTE, you have to put forward a political solution as well. If the solution was in place, the government could have easily solved other issues that came after the war. There are resettlement and IDP issues. There is confusion if there will be a political solution. Meanwhile, Channel 4 in UK has shown Tamil youths being executed. If the main issues were addressed none of this would have happened. If a political solution were put forward then the LTTE and Prabhakaran would have had a problem.

If the government came out with the political solution, then the Tamil community would have backed it forcing the LTTE to stop fighting and enter into negotiations. My stance has always been that we needed to place a political solution on the table first. Thereafter if so required a military thrust could have also been pursued. If the political solution was put forward, The LTTE would not have been able to sustain a military campaign for long and such big losses in lives would not have happened.

Q: Whatever you say it is very clear that your party has not been able to find any traction with the people. Your detractors say that by you hanging on to the party at any cost you have made the UNP a shadow of what it was?

A: The UNP is not a shadow of what it was. If the LTTE and Rajapakse did not get together, the UNP would have been the winner. If the government was so sure the UNP was not going to win, why go through all that trouble and if I’m not a threat, then why attack me? The government is using this to cover up all other issues.

Q: If the UNP loses the Southern Provincial Council elections badly would that convince you to rethink the entire strategy?

A: We are looking at a national strategy. However, the UNP is contesting the provincial election. The alliance would contest all elections at national level. The alliance would come out with a national strategy, which would look at key issues.

Q: In politics things can change quickly and dramatically. But as it is aren’t the odds stacked against the UNP winning the presidential and general elections next year?

A: In my view the UNP has a good chance of winning. Mrs. Bandaranaike formed a coalition in April 1964. Then she brought bills to establish the Press Council and to nationalise Lake House. Everyone told my father that all was over, but the UNP and the media took the challenge. Between September and December everything changed and the government was defeated in parliament.

Q: People fear that if the UNP continue to go down the current path this country will end up as a one party democracy. Don’t you think that if that happens, history will hold you responsible for it?

A: The UNP is coming out with a new strategy with the alliance. I understand the people are frustrated. We have taken up issues which are not being carried in the media. We are fighting. On the other hand, what is the OPA (Organization of Professionals Association) and the business community doing?

In the ‘70s also people were frightened, but they came out. If influential sections of society want to be dependent on the government, then they cannot enjoy individual rights and freedom. The media also needs to decide. If the media is not willing to face reality, where can it go? I feel the media has to come out. You had three issues – the arson attack on MTV, Lasantha Wickrematunge’s assassination and Upali Tennekoon’s attack all within a few weeks. What has the media done?Either take your battle on and then criticise the UNP or the JVP if they do not act accordingly. The media is now being forced to prop up the government.

Q: The UNP led by you traversed the negotiation path to settle the ethnic problem but success has been with the prosecution of war. How do you feel in hindsight?

A: There has been a history of violence related to the ethnic problem. In the case of Ireland the demand for Home Rule came in 1840. Terrorism started during World War I. Then the UK allowed part of it to become Ireland. However, terrorism and violence started in Northern Ireland, which ended only in 2007, 10 years after the Belfast Agreement. These are not issues that could be resolved soon.

My way was to go for negotiations. A number of Tamils said let’s go for negotiations. As a result of negotiations, over 4,000 LTTE cadres, who played a key role in gaining ground in the north and east from 1999 to 2001 left the organisation and entered into civilian lifestyles. They got married and began to live normal lives.

Differences then arose between the eastern and northern cadres. The negotiations were backed by the Tamil community. Once you have the support of the Tamils, the LTTE would have had to come for negotiations and renounce war. My strategy was to at all times minimise the loss of life and property. The more we lose the more bitterness arises. My strategy was to go for negotiations first but also be prepared for military action if it became necessary. We have lived through a lifetime of this issue and we must see that the next generation does not go through the same.

Q: What are the chances of the UNP wresting power to govern in the short term or if not in the long term?

A: We are looking at shorter term.

Q: In June this year the United National Party called for a parliamentary select committee to examine police investigations into the abduction and killing of hundreds of people, including journalists and politicians, over the past three years by death squads associated with the military. What has happened since?

A: The government is not agreeable to it. We have raised the issue from time to time in parliament.

Q: The presidential form of government is yet the law of the land. It is speculated that presidential elections will be called by early next year. Who will be the candidate from the UNP or the common opposition as it is being called?

A: As I said the UNP has decided. When it is time to decide for a presidential election the party will make the announcement.

Q: Will it look as if you will not run as President Rajapakse has such popularity after the war? Will it be someone else leaving you to run when it’s more advantageous later?

A: We have to decide when the time is opportune. The government has not said anything specific. All this means you are taking publicity from all other issues that need to be focused for something that may not be there.

Q: After plunging the country back to war in 2006, President Mahinda Rajapakse and his government pressured and intimidated the media, but did not revive the Press Council. Do you see his decision to do so now as a sign of political weakness, or strength?

A: More and more people are getting together to fight the reactivation of this law. The government is still finding it difficult to find media people to implement it.

Q: When will the infighting within your parliamentary group stop?

A: Many policies have been decided. We have to agree on the alliance and the party strategy. There will be a clear path. You must either go along with the party and its policies or leave the party.

Q: Where do you see yourself politically or otherwise in five years?

A: I have never thought of it. I have been in politics long enough to know that one week in politics is a long time.

Q: Where do you see Sri Lanka in five years?

A: Sri Lanka in five years could be in serious difficulty or be in a very good position. It is true that the LTTE has been defeated. But you can’t suppress the people of Sri Lanka for too long. You can’t have family rule for too long. The question is whether we are going to change.

In the 1960s when changes were happening in the world, we missed it and we changed only in 1977. It is now a New World and what we have done so far is no longer sufficient. Look at our foreign earnings. We are dependent on a few exports like apparels, tea and other commodities and foreign remittances from those employed overseas. A lot of the remittances came in from Sri Lankans employed in the Middle East. Even in the Middle East economies have collapsed. The era of the Middle East being a source of income is changing.

There are new emerging markets and Sri Lanka has to change its export strategy. Where the apparel industry is concerned, the living standards in the US and European Union won’t improve soon. People won’t be purchasing new clothing items for some time and there are many other countries that have also entered the market. It is going to be very competitive.

After 1997 there is no other new sector that has started in Sri Lanka. In order to have a new source of income there have to be new sectors of economy. Sri Lanka has to tackle this problem soon. Only a UNP government is capable of doing so.