Retired Sri Lankan Supreme Court Judge C V Vigneswaran, the Chief Ministerial candidate of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in the elections to the Northern Provincial Council (NPC), has said that the devolution of power over police and land is a must for the security and livelihood of the people of the Tamil-speaking province. “It will be suicidal to takeaway powers over land and police from the Provincial List,” Vigneswaran said.
“ln any system of devolution, powers over local law and order are given to the provinces, But in North Lanka, law and order are in the hands of police and army personnel who are outsiders and who do not speak Tamil. There are 15 battalions of army in the Northern Province, though the government touts a smaller figure. Such a huge army presence is putting tremendous pressure on the people,” he said.
Asked to comment on Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s remark that an autonomous provincial police force could develop into a ‘militia’ paralleling the Lankan army as the “Tamil National Army” did at the time of North Eastern Province Chief Minister A Varadarajaperumal, Vigneswaran said that such fears stemmed from a lack of trust in Tamils. “Such things are repeated so often that they have become concretised. It is difficult to get out of such notions. The only way out is to build trust and understanding”, he said.
On the need for devolution of power over land, he said, “Over 6000 acres of fertile land have been taken away from the people to build army buildings and cantonments. In the rest of the province also, resettlement is hampered by the armed forces occupying peoples’ lands. Development is there, but the roads and buildings are for the army primarily?
Vigneswaran held the “powers-that-be” responsible for the “cultural degradation” in the North since the end of the war in 2009. “Certain forces the powers-that-be are not unaware of, are getting the youth hooked to drugs, with the idea of de-politicising them. War widows are forced into prostitution. This has been a tremendous problem in the past few years,” he charged.
On the theory touted by Sinhalese politicians that a Northern Province defined by Tamil ethnicity would endanger the position of Tamils living in the South, Vigneswaran said he was not against Sinhalese settling in the North in the normal way, but warned that any bid to oust Tamils from the South would alienate Lanka from the world, and that any repetition of the 1983 pogrom, could invite another external intervention. Justice C.V. Wigneswaran said that there is some doubt although the government had promised to hold the NPC election.
He said on July 19 to ‘Derana’ TV channel that a petition has been presented to the courts against election. He pointed out that the whole power of the North is with the government and therefore, the government is not willing to reduce it by holding an election. He said that as Commonwealth summit is going to be held here, there are more discussions on the election issues. He pointed out that land and police powers should be given to the provincial council, otherwise people’s rights would not be protected.
According to the 13th amendment of the constitution, there should be governor’s approval and the Provincial council cannot take decisions all alone. He requested people in North to believe in him and he requested to get together. Then only all can go ahead.
Since Tamil Coalition , Tamil National Alliance (TNA) , announced its Chief Minister candidate for Northern Provincial council as former Tamil Chief judge C V Vigneswaran , Rajapakasa brothers and Sinhala nationalists (an alibi for bigots) claim they now see a serious threat to Sinhalisation of Sri Lanka. An high profile intellectual behind the Tamil Coalition will be recognised by world countries immediately which will destroy the plan of Rajapaksa brothers who postponed as abolition of Police and Land powers to council after CHOGM in Colombo.
Former judge has already begun to speak, urging Rajapaksa government to remove the military governor Maj. Chandrasiri from the power of governor of Northern Provincial council and appoint a civil leader as a first step to release the military claws on Tamil areas. Also he has urged to replace military with police in Northern province.
Vigneswaran not only brought Rajapaksa brothers into trouble , but also the right wing racists Sinhala leaders minister Chambika Ranawakke claimed that Vigneswaran’s arrival has brought new dimension in TNA’s long term plan to establish Tamil Eelam , the country of Tamils under Sri Lankan occupation. Chambika claimed that it is learnt that this had been done with two intentions. One is to get proper legal opinion and to go forwards in establishing another Ealam. Secondly the Minister quipped that with the knowledge of the retired Supreme Court judge they have intentions of proceeding of the Ealam matter to the US Human Rights commission.
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) expressed its doubts about having a free and fair election in September, to the visiting five-member British Parliamentary delegation in Kilinochchi, on July 23.
TNA’s Jaffna District Parliamentarian and ITAK’s General Secretary, Mavai Senathirajah, along with two other TNA MPs, S. Sritharan and E. Saravanabavan, met the visiting British Parliamentarians from the Labour and Conservative Parties, at the TNA office in Kilinochchi.
Mavi Senathirajah expressing his views to the British MPs said the TNA expects a fully-fledged federal system as a political solution to the Tamils in the country. He also elaborated on the alleged land acquisition by the Security Forces in the North.
Commenting on the TNA’s preparations for the forthcoming NPC polls, Senathirajah complained of the manner the government is manipulating the election process, particularly by engaging the Security Forces in polls related activities, the TNA doubted whether there would be a free and fair NPC polls. Prior to the meeting with the TNA MPs, the British Parliamentarians also visited Mullaitivu.
Meanwhile, the TNA has successfully allocated seats for all five constituent parties in the Alliance in all five districts in the Northern Province. Several former Jaffna and Vanni District Parliamentarians such as V. Anandasangaree and D. Sidharthan will also be fielded in the NPC polls on behalf of the TNA. Former Kilinochchi parliamentarian and TULF General Secretary, Anandasangaree, and former parliamentarian from the Vavuniya District and the PLOTE leader, Dharmalingam Sidharthan, will contest from the Vavuniya District.
The allocation of seats by the TNA for its five constituent parties is as follows:
Jaffna District: ITAK – seven seats, EPRLF – four seats, TELO – three seats, PLOTE – two seats, TULF – two seats.
Kilinochchi District: ITAK – three seats, EPRLF – one seat, TELO – one seat, TULF – two seats.
Mullaitivu District: ITAK – two seats, EPRLF – two seats, TELO – two seats, PLOTE – one seat, TULF – one seat.
Vavuniya District: ITAK – two seats, EPRLF – two seats, TELO – two seats, PLOTE – two seats, TULF – one seat.
Mannar District: ITAK – two seats, TELO – three seats, EPRLF – two seats, PLOTE – one seat.
The names of the candidates of the TNA from all five electoral districts in the Northern Province are expected to be announced on July 25.
Also another right wing leader Gunadasa Amarasekara of National Patriotic Movement claimed that Sri Lanka is facing a serious threat now from a recognised Tamil intellectual with TNA. He urged Mahinda to ‘buy’ him by offering a post in government even a minister post. In the past Luxman Kathirkamar , a Tamil intellectual , was a foreign minister of Sri Lanka which claimed a great diplomatic achievement in the history of Sri Lanka with western countries. Luxman has a benefit to convince world leaders since he himself a Tamil, who was main key in proscribing Tamil Tiger rebels around the world. Now Gunadasa believes that Vigneswaran should be brought into Government and being with TNA means Tamils are moving towards freedom.
C V Vigneswaran’s nomination has now seems to be tactical diplomatic move by TNA at the right time , where control of Northern Province by legal professional might take the military off the streets as local Tamils are dreaming of such a day to live a normal life without fear of military. The game is on and next move from Rajapaksas is expected to be tough decision.
The wariness of Sinhala bigots over elections in Northern province and implementation of 13th Constitutional amendment in Sri Lanka has been spelt out by M.D.P.Dissanayake, a Professor of University of Colombo in his post under the headline “Invoke Emergency to suspend land and police powers etc.,” which read as:
“There are early indications that the Tamil National Alliance has already completed the ground work to create a direct conflict with the Central Government assuming that the TNA will capture power in the Northern Province following the upcoming Elections. The Government of Sri Lanka has taken a cautious approach to the proposed amendments intended to negate some of the powers vested in the 13 A by referring the matters to the Parliamentary Select Committee in compliance with the democratic governance, but in the meantime the TNA and Big Brother India have marched forward to dictate terms to the Government of Sri Lanka.
The Chief Ministerial nominee former Supreme Court Judge Mr.C.V.Vigneswaran has made it clear that he will demand powers well beyond the 13 Amendment if he becomes the Chief Minister. There is no doubt that he spoke on behalf of LTTE and the Indian Government.
The Parliamentary Select Committee process and its deliberations including calling for views of the general public will drag on for quite some time. This delay will provide ample opportunity and much needed time for the LTTE puppets of TNA and the Indian Government to create maximum publicity in the lead up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Such an adverse publicity will be counter-productive for the Government’s desire to “show case” Sri Lanka with its massive success stories throughout the country.
The Government has done sufficient “talking” on the issue and it is now time to act. Pending the outcome of the PSC, the government should invoke the Emergency Regulations and under which suspend the provisions of the 13 Amendment which have been referred to the PSC.
Following the invocation of the Emergency, it could be debated in the Parliament which will expose the weak hands of the UNP on this vital national issue. Malwatte Maha Sanga has already given its blessings, Inter-alia, for the removal of 13A in its entirety. The Catholic Church will continue to play its role of an “Egyptian Mummy”.
Holding the Elections in the North without any safeguard mechanism will directly play into the hands of the TNA. The new North Provincial Council will have every constitutional and legal right to demand the Land and Police Powers etc. if the election is held under the existing provisions of the Constitution.
If some of the provisions of the 13A are suspended under the Emergency Regulations, there will be strong opposition from the LTTE supporters, their Puppets. The TNA itself may boycott the Elections as a result. What a wonderful outcome will that be?
Our President has achieved a lot in the past, this should be a walk in the Park. Such a bold step will undoubtedly bring positive outcome to the Country as a whole”.
It is in this context that the ‘Tamils’ Massive Demonstration’ announced by the TESO on August 8 acquires significance to ensure total implementation of the 13th amendment, although it is no panacea for Eelam Tamils issue, nevertheless will serve as an immediate relief for them. Conduct of free and fair elections in the Northern province is pre-condition for it and India is morally and according to the pact between the two nations, obliged to ensure it.
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