By Uditha KumarasingheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Courtesy The Sunday Observer

Despite his Marxist convictions which fostered his political life, at a nationally important moment he took a decisive step to support the UPFA Government to free the country from the clutches of terrorism. Minister Wimal Weerawansa is a born orator who could hold his audience spellbound for hours on end.

As Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister, today he has faced the challenge of providing shelter to the homeless in the country.

The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer said whatever dramas are enacted in Tamil Nadu or whatever international pressure is exerted on Sri Lanka, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the UPFA Government will not act according to the whims and fancies of any outside force. The Government will not pursue any action which would go against the peopleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s mandate.

The Minister said pressure is exerted on the country as the President does not gives in to foreign interference. Today people live freely without any semblance of terrorism.

A very peaceful atmosphere has been created in the country today compared to the past. Foreign elements are well aware that they would never achieve their ulterior motives as long as this Government is in power. That is why they attempt to exert undue pressure on this Government and blow every minor incident out of proportion to pave the way for them to set up a puppet administration.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: Housing is a challenging task. What made you to accept this challenge? How many housing schemes have been launched since you assumed office? What is your target?

A: Actually this is a challenge accepted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself. In the Mahinda Chinthana vision for the future, he pledged to provide each family its own shelter. The recent population census has revealed that the total number of those who donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t have a shelter of their own or live in uninhabitable houses is around 700,000.

Therefore, attention is focused on the need to provide housing facilities to these 700,000 families. On a directive by the President, my Ministry in collaboration with several other Ministries has already implemented a joint program. My Ministry will implement housing schemes for rural communities and also renovate the condominiums in a dilapidated condition in the Colombo city.

The President has also instructed the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to launch housing schemes for over 60,000 families in slums in Colombo Municipal Council area. The UDA has already begun to construct housing projects for nearly 20,000 such families. Our Ministry has also launched two housing projects in Moratuwa Municipal Council area for the low income families.

In addition, state lands outside Colombo district will be distributed among the homeless so that they could construct their own houses with credit facilities by the authorities. We have already completed over 100 such housing projects.

The Resettlement Ministry will also construct houses for those who have been resettled in the North. Therefore, we have already launched a number of housing projects to provide shelter to the 700,000 families. We will achieve this target within the next seven or eight years.

Q: What makes you always suspect that conspiracies are being hatched against the country? Could you substantiate this with a few examples?

A: Four years ago, our country was on the brink of split. If President Mahinda Rajapaksa had been defeated in 2005, this country would have been divided today.

However, the situation changed in 2005 due to the mandate given to President Rajapaksa and the commitment on the part of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, our war heroes and the entire society to defend the territorial integrity of the country. Since LTTE terrorism was defeated, our country has moved forward rapidly. However, Western imperialist countries and others donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t like this transformation in Sri Lanka.

US imperialism also wants to destabilise this region and take Sri Lanka under their control to realise their future military and economic goals. To realise their goal, they want to divide Sri Lanka.

After the Northern Provincial Council Elections are held, they may attempt to merge the Northern and the Eastern Provincial Councils through a resolution and create the necessary environment conducive to UN intervention in Sri Lanka. That is why Karunanidhi proposed to the Indian authorities to use the term, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”ethnic annihilationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ instead of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-War crimesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. The second attempt is to bring the North and the East under the control of the UN.

Anti-Sri Lankan international forces are anxiously waiting to liaise with the future Northern and Eastern Provincial Council. This is the most serious challenge before us today. The pressure is exerted on the President as he does not give in to foreign interference. Today people live freely without any semblance of terrorism.

A very favourable atmosphere has been created in the country today compared to the past. Some foreign elements are well aware that they would never be able to realize their ulterior motives as long as this Government is in power. That is why they attempt to exert undue pressure on this Government and blow every minor incident out of proportion to pave the way to set up a puppet administration. They have launched a massive operation to realise this goal in the teeth of Government moves to counter it.

Q: There seem to be no explanation as to why Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil with their socialist Governments in power voted against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC sessions recently. Angola and Kenya who fought against imperialists abstained from voting. How do you explain this complex situation?

A: Although these countries are progressive, most of those working in their Foreign Ministries are backed by MI5 and CIA. Similarly most of the Foreign Ministries in third world developing countries including Sri Lanka been caught up in this trap. Even in our country, it would not be difficult to find those who work for MI 5, or USAid and have dealing with the US Embassy.

Actually they behave like typical foreigners and donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t seem to be interested in their own country. We have an embassy in Brazil. The Brazilian authorities do not support US imperialism. If we made a good impression on Brazil, we would have got their vote. Venezuela voted for us. Brazil also maintains close bilateral relations with Venezuela and Cuba. But I donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t say they are anti-imperialist to the extent Cuba does.

I donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t think that we had launched a high profile diplomatic mission to get the support of other countries you had mentioned. Even if we secured more votes, the resolution would have been passed at the UNHRC even by one majority vote. Some Western powers would attempt to launch a massive operation against Sri Lanka on the strength of the US-sponsored resolution. Are we ready to face this challenge?

This is the problem that should be addressed. We should maintain a close friendship and goodwill with foreign countries and seek their support. But the most important issue is whether we have a strategic plan to face these challenges?

Q: What Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi are doing today is nothing new but reviving the spectre of LTTE terrorism against neighbouring Sri Lanka. How long can they continue this struggle and what are its implications for the Asian region?

A: Today India is telling us to devolve power and even to go beyond the 13th amendment. Indian authorities which devolved power to Tamil Nadu have not been able to control Karunanidhi. It is obvious that these anti Sri Lanka campaigns are launched in India with the funds from pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora and US Embassy in India.

If Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi had any sympathy towards the Tamil community, they would have used all their tactics during the final phase of the war against the LTTE terrorists. What Karunanidhi did those days was that he slept on the floor during the whole day by using two air conditioners. That was the only protest he made.

The Tamil Nadu politicians were displaying the photograph of one Sinhala father carrying his child killed by an LTTEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s bomb attack at Kebithigollewa. The pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora provides funds to Jayalalitha, Karunanidhi and Tamil Nadu university students.

The US embassy in India also helps them. This is how they rouse racial feelings among the people in Tamil Nadu. South Indian actors and actresses who stand for Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka would clamour for a Tamil Eelam in India in the future. If a separate country is to be carved out for the Tamils South India is ideal for it.

South India is the origin of the Tamil civilisation, Tamil literature and arts. South Indian politicians exert pressure on Sri Lanka as they donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t have the strength to create a Tamil Eelam in South India. Whatever pressure is exerted on Sri Lanka, President Rajapaksa or the UPFA Government will not act according to the whims and fancies of any outside force. The Government will not pursue any action to undo the peopleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s mandate.

Q: Most of the countries which criticised Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s human rights record are guilty of brutal killings and inflicting torture on terrorist suspects in their custody and of regime change in third world countries. Could you elaborate on this?

A: Even today there is a US torture chamber in Guanthanamo bay. Several instances where the prisoners were tortured came to light. Torture chambers were conducted in Sri Lanka by the then UNP Government during 1987-1989. Some Western powers including the USA are making baseless allegations against Sri Lanka which launched a military operation to defeat LTTE terrorists by setting an example to the entire world.

The aim of these Western powers is to take the President, Defence Secretary and our war heroes before the International Criminal Court (ICC). To realise this goal, they hatch various conspiracies to topple the Government. That is also why they attempt to create religious disharmony between the Sinhalese and the Muslims. The ulterior motive of this sinister campaign is to involve the Sinhala Buddhists in an anti-Muslim campaign and reduce the Muslim vote base of the Government at the next election.

The conspirators also attempt to mislead the Muslim community claiming that the Government is also behind this anti-Muslim campaign. Then the Muslims in the East may attempt to form their own Provincial Council in the East. The SLMC and the TNA may perhaps attempt to consolidate power in the Eastern Provincial Council due to these irresponsible acts by certain racist elements. Meanwhile, the TNA will make every effort to capture power of the Northern Provincial Council.

When the Northern and the Eastern Provincial Councils are merged, it will help imperialists realise their goal. At least four or five Arab countries supported Sri Lanka at Geneva.

Some elements tried to deprive Sri Lanka of the support given by these Muslim countries. Attempts will be made at the next Presidential Election to grab Sinhala votes alleging that this Government didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t take any action to protect the interests of the Sinhala Buddhists from Muslim fundamentalism.

Q: Sri Lanka is one of the pioneers of the Non-Alignment Movement and the SAARC. How do you explain their inaction and aloofness at this critical juncture when there is an ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-undeclared warƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ against Sri Lanka by interested parties?

A: At present the validity of these organisations is in question. There is a need for a new world body such as the Non-Aligned Movement to reassert its authority. I donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t know whether the Non-Aligned Movement has the same strength today.

Q: When LTTE terrorists were on rampage in killing and maiming civilians and destroying billions worth property, the so-called democrats and human rights defenders said that they were fighting for a cause. What would have been Sri Lanka today had not the LTTE been defeated?

A: By now the North and the East would have been carved out for the Tamil Eelam. The UN too would have been present. Both sides would have fired at each other while the ICRC rushed to both sides. Erik Solheim would have continued to visit Sri Lanka regularly. If we could not win the war against terrorists, the country would have faced a severe catastrophe with people herded into refugee camps.

Q: National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara is considering to introduce legislation to prohibit hate speech and espousal of communal hatred which cause disharmony among various communities. Your comments?

A: Its difficult to prohibit such speeches and activities. The word, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”racismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ has to be interpreted correctly. When a particular community speaks on a religious issue it cannot be interpreted as racism.

A system has to be devised to investigate the grievances of each community which at times end up in religious and ethnic disharmony. This would help provide a just solution to their problems. For example, a fear has been instilled in the minds of Sinhala Buddhists that Sri Lanka too would suffer the same destiny as Indonesia, Bangladesh and South Korea. The Sinhala population has not dropped but increased by three or four points compared to the previous census. If there is an imminent danger to the Sinhala Buddhists as they claim, necessary recommendations should be made to the Government to remedy the situation. We should investigate the allegations about religious conversions as well.

Q: Despite JayalalithaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s protest Sri Lankan cricketers play for IPL tournament on the understanding that the Indian Central Government will provide security. How do you view this scenario?

A: Two cricketers have not gone for this IPL tournament while others had. We respect those two cricketers who didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t go to India to play for the tournament. Others have gone due to greed for money and other personnel gains. They donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t bother about their motherland. They have forgotten everything but their financial gains. If there is any disrespect to the dignity of their country, they should take their independent decisions. When undue pressure is exerted and our bhikkhus are assaulted in South India, no cricketer should have gone to play for the IPL merely to draw a few dollars.

Q: You started your political career as a revolutionary Marxist and now you have formed your own liberal party. Does this mean that you have shed your original political convictions?

A: Above all one has to be nationalistic, if one desires to be an internationalist. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was a socialist and at the same time a hard-core nationalist. Being a Catholic the Cross was placed at the head of Hugo ChavezƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s body though he was a hard-core socialist. In Sri Lanka no doctrinaire Marxist-Leninist would have liked the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Dharma ChakraƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ placed at the head of his body.

They would say it is against Marxism. Venezuela does not have such fundamentalist leftists. Most of the leftists we have here are fundamentalist leftists. I would not say that I belong to that group of fundamentalist leftists. I am only a nationalist and a socialist. I have been engaged in the struggle to bring social justice to this country. At the same time, I am in the midst of the anti-imperialist struggle. Anybody could describe me as a socialist, communist or leftist, but my only concern is my political ideals.