(February 14, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) “We can liberate the North and will as soon as possible like in the East”, according to Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Minister of highways and road development also newly appointed Chief Government Whip of parliament. He has shared his opinions on the current political and military situation with Sri Lanka Guardian at his residence in Colombo. He spoke to us with a positive mind on the current regime as he promised that the Government would wipe out terrorism and find a sustainable solution to country’s problems.Here is the full text of the interview,
by Nilantha Ilangamuwa with Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle
How do you explain the current political and military developments in Sri Lanka?
Actually the situation is going well with our successful counter terrorism attack. Meanwhile we can accomplish political stability in the South better than the past governments that have ruled the country.
Do you mean political stability with the other parties or within the Government?
Some opposition parties are against us because of their selfishness. But as you know numerous political parties have joined with us and support us in implementing the Mahinda Chanthanaya.
Of course a few political parties have joined the Government, but the problem is that they are irrelevant parties don’t have as much political power as the UNP and JVP?
You know, a few members of UNP joined with us. Also the JVP never supported the UNP under Wickremasinghe. Also the JVP’s policy is alike government policy and that is why they are supporting us while we are facing importance matters.
Such as Budget 2008?
Yes of course.
Well, HE The President has appointed you as the acting Foreign Minister while Minister Bogollagam was on an official visit in Pakistan. It is reliably learnt that Mr. Basil Rajapakse will be appointed as a Foreign Minister as soon as possible. Do you think there is any truth behind this unofficial information?
Actually I don’t know. May be this story is false and simply gossip. It was the same when some media published that my cabinet post will removed by the President. But it turned out to be a lie.
What do you think of our Foreign service?
Our President and Minister have been planning and working for good relations with other countries and their leaders. I think we have built the best relations with other countries compared to previous governments.
You say you have the best of relations with other countries. But a few European countries and the United States have been issuing travel warnings to their people not to visit Sri Lanka.
It’s the right of those countries and their leaders. We can’t influence that. But any one here knows the situation here does not pose too much danger. We have good security alerts. I don’t think we have had any tourists facing problems.
Yes, of course here we have good security alerts, but you can’t reject the dangers faced when we have had many bomb blasts in civilian areas.
We are facing a war against the most dangerous terrorist group in the world. They naturally target civilians because they want to stop our present successful operations against them. Please let me point to what is happening in Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as Iraq. So many bomb explosions! But the West is only concerned with us not them. Why? Because there are involved in that war. But we are fighting to win for our people’s good, not for any third party or its agenda. We are not fighting to create thrills in the mind and heart of any third party. We are fighting to make liberation for our people. I think criticism from others is natural.
Are you attacking the West here?
Of course I would like to say they should understand Sri Lanka in terms of our terrorism problem. Why can’t they look at this case like an al-Qeida problem? Any one knows the LTTE poses a much bigger danger than al-Qeida. Also a few terrorist groups have been making copycat attacks based on LTTE tricks. But some western countries continue to say that the LTTE is a liberation movement.
But US, the EU and India have definitively labeled the LTTE as a terrorist organization. Also they have banned the LTTE according to their laws. But in Sri Lanka the LTTE has been a legal political and military movement since Sri Lanka removed the ban on the LTTE in 2001. Please let me ask why you are blaming the West before blaming your own Government?
We removed the ban on the LTTE because we accepted seeking a political solution to the problem. We would like to discuss with any friends or enemies and make the best solution without violence when we have a problem because we are a proud Nation.
But what is happening in the West? Are they discussing with al-Qeida? Never! But they advise us: “You should negotiate with your enemies. There is no military solution. The only option is a political solution.” Although they banned the LTTE, large numbers of LTTE hardcore cadres are living in countries without any serious action against terrorism. Meanwhile the LTTE is continuing its fundraising and propaganda in those countries. Who has given permission to organize Kittu’s death anniversary in London a few weeks ago?
However, the US, some countries in the EU including the UK and France, and Canada and even India have arrested many low level LTTE cadres and supporters. How do you say they have double standards in this case?
Of course we should promote their counter terrorism activities. I say they should be looking at this problem on peoples’ ankles and their need to be rid of terrorists.
Well, you had been saying the LTTE is ready for a Unilateral Declaration of Independence ( UDI) on Thai Ponlgal day. But it has not happened?
I said it based on my reliable sources. But I think LTTE was silenced after being exposed worldwide of their UDI plan.
Do you think they have the right to make a declaration of their independence? How will it be accepted by the international community?
Actually the situation is going well with our successful counter terrorism attack. Meanwhile we can accomplish political stability in the South better than the past governments that have ruled the country.
Do you mean political stability with the other parties or within the Government?
Some opposition parties are against us because of their selfishness. But as you know numerous political parties have joined with us and support us in implementing the Mahinda Chanthanaya.
Of course a few political parties have joined the Government, but the problem is that they are irrelevant parties don’t have as much political power as the UNP and JVP?
You know, a few members of UNP joined with us. Also the JVP never supported the UNP under Wickremasinghe. Also the JVP’s policy is alike government policy and that is why they are supporting us while we are facing importance matters.
Such as Budget 2008?
Yes of course.
Well, HE The President has appointed you as the acting Foreign Minister while Minister Bogollagam was on an official visit in Pakistan. It is reliably learnt that Mr. Basil Rajapakse will be appointed as a Foreign Minister as soon as possible. Do you think there is any truth behind this unofficial information?
Actually I don’t know. May be this story is false and simply gossip. It was the same when some media published that my cabinet post will removed by the President. But it turned out to be a lie.
What do you think of our Foreign service?
Our President and Minister have been planning and working for good relations with other countries and their leaders. I think we have built the best relations with other countries compared to previous governments.
You say you have the best of relations with other countries. But a few European countries and the United States have been issuing travel warnings to their people not to visit Sri Lanka.
It’s the right of those countries and their leaders. We can’t influence that. But any one here knows the situation here does not pose too much danger. We have good security alerts. I don’t think we have had any tourists facing problems.
Yes, of course here we have good security alerts, but you can’t reject the dangers faced when we have had many bomb blasts in civilian areas.
We are facing a war against the most dangerous terrorist group in the world. They naturally target civilians because they want to stop our present successful operations against them. Please let me point to what is happening in Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as Iraq. So many bomb explosions! But the West is only concerned with us not them. Why? Because there are involved in that war. But we are fighting to win for our people’s good, not for any third party or its agenda. We are not fighting to create thrills in the mind and heart of any third party. We are fighting to make liberation for our people. I think criticism from others is natural.
Are you attacking the West here?
Of course I would like to say they should understand Sri Lanka in terms of our terrorism problem. Why can’t they look at this case like an al-Qeida problem? Any one knows the LTTE poses a much bigger danger than al-Qeida. Also a few terrorist groups have been making copycat attacks based on LTTE tricks. But some western countries continue to say that the LTTE is a liberation movement.
But US, the EU and India have definitively labeled the LTTE as a terrorist organization. Also they have banned the LTTE according to their laws. But in Sri Lanka the LTTE has been a legal political and military movement since Sri Lanka removed the ban on the LTTE in 2001. Please let me ask why you are blaming the West before blaming your own Government?
We removed the ban on the LTTE because we accepted seeking a political solution to the problem. We would like to discuss with any friends or enemies and make the best solution without violence when we have a problem because we are a proud Nation.
But what is happening in the West? Are they discussing with al-Qeida? Never! But they advise us: “You should negotiate with your enemies. There is no military solution. The only option is a political solution.” Although they banned the LTTE, large numbers of LTTE hardcore cadres are living in countries without any serious action against terrorism. Meanwhile the LTTE is continuing its fundraising and propaganda in those countries. Who has given permission to organize Kittu’s death anniversary in London a few weeks ago?
However, the US, some countries in the EU including the UK and France, and Canada and even India have arrested many low level LTTE cadres and supporters. How do you say they have double standards in this case?
Of course we should promote their counter terrorism activities. I say they should be looking at this problem on peoples’ ankles and their need to be rid of terrorists.
Well, you had been saying the LTTE is ready for a Unilateral Declaration of Independence ( UDI) on Thai Ponlgal day. But it has not happened?
I said it based on my reliable sources. But I think LTTE was silenced after being exposed worldwide of their UDI plan.
Do you think they have the right to make a declaration of their independence? How will it be accepted by the international community?
They can do it with their small illegal territory. Some countries who are pro-LTTE in their policy may accept their position. But the current situation is different. It will be never good for the LTTE. Now Prabhakaran is seeking how he and his children can escape. Now, Prabakaran’s problem is his own security, not how to declare UDI.
Is the Government optimistic on all of the political and military developments?
Yes of course.
But the problem is that the people are facing serious problems because of the high cost of living.
We are alive to and concerned about the problem. But people know that the Government is waging war against the LTTE without any hidden agenda. They never protest against the hardships of war as in the past because they know this government never plays with human lives and wants to archive a good solution to the problem.
How is the present situation in Batticaloa? Are the people there ready for fresh elections?
It is going very well. Also we think it will be a turning point for the people there.
Can we hope it will be a free and fair election?
Is the Government optimistic on all of the political and military developments?
Yes of course.
But the problem is that the people are facing serious problems because of the high cost of living.
We are alive to and concerned about the problem. But people know that the Government is waging war against the LTTE without any hidden agenda. They never protest against the hardships of war as in the past because they know this government never plays with human lives and wants to archive a good solution to the problem.
How is the present situation in Batticaloa? Are the people there ready for fresh elections?
It is going very well. Also we think it will be a turning point for the people there.
Can we hope it will be a free and fair election?
We can’t now make a full assessment of the election and the situation. It all depends on time. But the current situation in the area is very much peaceful and we are hopeful.
Is it only a turning point for the people and not for the Government?
Actually the people’s well-being is the most important to the Government. And their stability also.
Is it the reason for the signing of the MoU between the TMVP and the Government?
I don’t know if the Government has signed any MoU with them. It’s not wrong if it was happened.
But Mr. Minister, the TMVP has not yet handed over their weapons to the government. It means the Government signed an effective MoU coming to an understanding with an illegal militant group, is it not?Now they are a democratic political party. They have plans to join the political mainstream. I think the government should encourage them and their political goals.
Do you accept as right the giving of weapons to the TMVP?
We can’t see why not. They have become the LTTE’s victims. They have done great work in eliminating the LTTE from the East.
But in the past Government officials have totally rejected the claim that Sri Lankan Forces are involved with the TMVP (better known as the Karuna Faction). Any way, the leader of the TMVP, Mr. Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, alias Col. Karuna, is now in the UK as a prisoner. Col. Karuna has exposed the support given to him by GoSL in providing him with a VIP passport with a visa to visit the UK. Is the Government involved as alleged by him?
Actually I don’t know.
Your Government have won in the East because of Karuna and his cadres. Also Sri Lankan security personnel won ground in the East and easily moved inside because of anti-LTTE Tamil movements. Does the Government have any proper programme to win the North like it did the East?
Our forces’ strength will bring about the liberation of the North soon. They never target any civilians. They only target our enemies.
Do you hope for a military solution?
No. But first we should destroy the military capabilities of the LTTE. After that we can look to a political solution. We must present a proper political solution to the people.
Will the APRC recommendations be supported by the Government for achieving a proper solution?
Yes of course. It will lead to a sustainable solution.
But it is on an old model that failed. Some say it’s like trying to put fresh wine in an old bottle?
Yes. If fresh wine is better than old wine we should drink fresh wine now.
But you and HE the President totally rejected in the past the implementation of the 13th Amendment by the UNP. How has it suddenly become a good solution after more than 10 years?
It was decided by the immediate situation. Our political decision depends on the situation of the people at a given time and not on any personal agenda.
If Prabhakaran is captured alive he will be handed over to India according to HE the President. Do you agree with him?
He is our leader and the executive President of Sri Lanka. His politics is quit correct.
But Prabhakaran and his cadres have destroyed Sri Lanka much more than anything they have done to India. Why not prosecute him here?
I think HE the President’s opinion your question is predicated on is as reported by media persons. I don’t know what his real position is in this case of Prabhakaran’s being caught alive.
May be HE The President is trying to keep India in a happy state of mind. Do you agree with me?
Our foreign policy is based on non-alignment. We won’t become any one’s puppet in the world. We are seeking to build up our foreign policy with dignity.
Please comment on media freedom in Sri Lanka?
You can find out how much freedom the media enjoy in Sri Lanka if you read all our weekend newspapers. We never attack or abuse the media.
Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse has said in a recent interview that we should adopt media control in Sri Lanka. Do you accept his opinion?
We are facing a brutal war against the LTTE. Actually we need the media to be controlled. It has happed in some countries, including the US, when they faced the War against Terrorism.
May be HE The President is trying to keep India in a happy state of mind. Do you agree with me?
Our foreign policy is based on non-alignment. We won’t become any one’s puppet in the world. We are seeking to build up our foreign policy with dignity.
Please comment on media freedom in Sri Lanka?
You can find out how much freedom the media enjoy in Sri Lanka if you read all our weekend newspapers. We never attack or abuse the media.
Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse has said in a recent interview that we should adopt media control in Sri Lanka. Do you accept his opinion?
We are facing a brutal war against the LTTE. Actually we need the media to be controlled. It has happed in some countries, including the US, when they faced the War against Terrorism.
Thank you very much Mr. Minister for sharing your opinions with Sri Lanka Guardian.
 “We can liberate the North and will as soon as possible like in the East”, according to Jeyaraj ...){kind=link}
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