“Development is the need of the hour, not devolution”: Musthafa
Q: 13 Plus has become the most discussed topic in the political scene. What do you think about 13 Plus?
A: Before looking at the 13th Amendment or the 13 Plus, first let us give a chance to the present mechanism. I strongly believe the present mechanism can address the majority of our issues. The mechanism presently in place is capable of giving economic prosperity to the people in the north and east. Once they are economically empowered, people in those areas will be able to understand what devolution is. Then so-called politicians will not be able to use devolution as their sole platform.
Q: What are your views about devolution of power?
A: We had 30 years of conflict in the east. The highest unemployment is in the north and east. Basic requirements such as education and sanitation are at minimal level. It is sad to say that there are children who have never seen a light bulb. They don’t know what a television is. Every single day is a struggle for these people. As Sri Lankans we should all take the blame for the poor standard of living of these people.
They have never had the opportunity to taste the good life and therefore there is rage and anger. On the other hand, these people are taught that Sinhalese people are murderers. They are brainwashed that the hard and difficult life they spend is because of the Sinhalese.
Politicians use devolution as a platform. But giving police powers to the provincial councils will not change the life of the people in north and east. Will giving land powers to the people in the north and east improve their health, education or economic empowerment?
Do you think people in north and east even understand what devolution of power means? It is not the common man in north and east who speaks about devolution; it is the politicians who are using it as a platform. Are you saying that by giving land powers and police powers, we will be able to give a tangible benefit to the people?
I don’t think the concept of devolution is understood by people below the poverty level. I believe that we should give these people some sort of economic stability and then talk about other issues.
Politicians are there to empower constancy of the people they represent. At times you may not be able to give them tangible benefits. I am firmly against parties based on ethnicity and race. I always believe in a secular platform.
Minister Basil Rajapaksa echoed the same sentiments recently. He said that economic empowerment should be given priority. But this can only be achieved through a collective effort, because you are talking to people whose mindsets have seen nothing but destruction for almost three decades.
The TNA is talking about devolution of land and police powers. But they demand these things for a political agenda. They are not concerned about the people’s welfare. Maybe there are issues that need to be addressed, but at the moment development should be the need of the hour and not devolution.
Racism and terrorism has been bred in people who have suffered with poverty. If people have their basic needs fulfilled, then it is difficult for parties like the TNA to brainwash people with unnecessary demands like this. Will a person who has a decent job with a good income join an extreme organisation?
Q: As you mentioned, economic empowerment can resolve the majority of these issues. But isn’t it the responsibility of the Government to achieve that?
A: Are you saying the Government has not done that? The Government is putting more resources into these areas than any other place in the country. After Independence, it was only Colombo and Gampaha Districts that experienced economic development. Did Monaragala, Hambantota or Jaffna know what development meant before Mahinda Rajapaksa came into power?
Q: Do you believe it is possible to empower them economically without giving land power and police power?
A: That is what the Central Government is there for. Has anybody established that the Central Government has deprived anybody from obtaining land? Don’t forget that it is only been two years since we finished the war. There are certain things that cannot happen overnight. There was zero administration in these areas. Now we have to strengthen the administration that is there.
The TNA says the Chief Minister is helpless and has no powers. During 1987 the Chief Minister was hiding in a bunker. It was during that time that the Chief Minister was helpless without any power, not now.
Has anybody established the present mechanism as a failure? This mechanism has only been there for two years. There may be certain issues and the Government is willing to look into such issues. There are bigger issues that need to be solved before talking about devolution of police and land powers.
Q: What are those ‘bigger’ issues?
A: The Government is making a serious effort on improving education and housing in north and east. There is lot of pressure on the Government regarding the refugees. Why is the TNA silent about the 100,000 Muslims from the north? If the TNA is the true representative of north, it needs to raise a voice about these matters.
My feeling is that they don’t even represent the Tamils. The TNA should think differently. What about the Sinhalese and Muslims who lost their land? Why do they only talk about the Tamils who have lost land? In Puttalam there are Muslim refugees who have been there long before the final phase of the war. Why are we compartmentalising like this? We are all Sri Lankans so why can’t we think as Sri Lankans?
Q: But in order to set up businesses and to start livelihood, you need regional powers. This is where the devolution of power plays an important role.
A: We already have provincial councils, we have municipal councils. There is devolution of power at the smallest level. Let me reiterate that giving land and police powers will not economically empower the people in north and east. Earlier there was no money circulation in north and east. Today hotels and factories are being set up in the east.
Q: Given the present economic situation, is it possible to achieve such economic empowerment?
A: With all the Western economies which are going bankrupt, there is stability in the country. There is no minus growth. Today we are enjoying the dividends of peace. Peace alone can push us to a certain extent.
Depreciation of the rupee and various economic factors will have some impact, but basic elementary economics says that peace has shown dividends and will show dividends. Today the income level in north and east has vastly improved. People in those areas are no longer scared to put up houses. Land in the north and east didn’t have a value, but today the situation has changed. This is what I call tangible economic benefits.
Today there is a cultural exchange between the north and the east. During the 30 years of war, there was hatred between different ethnic communities in this country. But today there is interaction between Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims and we are all starting to think as Sri Lankans.
Unless the minority communities in this country think in a secular manner, there will never be peace in this country. To achieve that, there should be mutual trust and respect between all communities.
Q: There are many political parties to represent the Sinhalese, but the TNA is the only party that talks about Tamil issues. Why are you blaming the TNA for doing that?
A: They should represent the Tamils. But the TNA has got it all wrong. When I contested to enter Parliament, nobody thought I could win. But after 54 years, a Muslim was elected from the UPFA. I can never claim I only got Muslim votes. I came on a Sri Lankan mandate.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has continuously said there are minorities in this country. As much as there are no minorities in the south, there should be no minorities in the north and east. When the President says there should be no minorities in this country, how can the TNA talk about minorities?
Almost all the politicians have a good life, good income and good houses and the majority of politicians have their roots in Colombo as well, but they echo different sentiments to the people in those areas. They are not suffering from poverty or living a hard life like those innocent people do. All they are trying to do is gain political mileage at the expense of those innocent people.
The TNA was a one-time proxy of the LTTE. I have been in Parliament since 2004 and I very well know how the TNA echoed the sentiments of the LTTE. The LTTE had the chance of misguiding the Tamils and the TNA today has the chance of being open-minded, but the question is whether they are doing it.
Q: Do you agree that this Government has failed to win the confidence of Tamils in this country although you had enough time to do that since winning the war?
A: After a 30-year war, how can you expect the Government to change the mindsets of certain people within just two years? When for almost 30 years you are taught that the Sinhalese community is out there waiting to kill you, how can you change such mindsets?
After decades, there is some interaction between the north and the south. Look at the statistics! This Government has done more development of the north and east than any other government in this country. Putting up infrastructure is important. When there is infrastructure, people will go and set up businesses. Then people in those areas will get jobs.
We have fought the most brutal terrorist organisation in the world. We need more time to achieve certain goals. No country in this world has been able to solve all their problems within one or two years.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has achieved more for the Tamil community than any other community. They now have the freedom to democratically elect their leaders. Those days they did not allow a Tamil leadership which believed in the democratic setup to develop. Amirthalingam was killed; Neelan Thiruchelvam was killed. But today even parties like the TNA have the opportunity to voice their opinions without fear.
Q: What do you think about Muslims asking for separate land and police powers in the Eastern Province?
A: If police powers and land powers are given overnight based on demands of one group, other minority communities will become insecure and they too will ask for their share.
Q: Why is the Government so afraid to hand over police powers?
A: Why should the Government give separate police powers? Police is there to administer law and order. Our police force is very much capable of doing their job. What difference will it make if we give police powers to the provincial councils? Can someone prove that giving police powers to the provincial council will make things more effective?
This present mechanism is not a failure. We need to educate our police to understand issues in those areas. Police need to learn Tamil in order to communicate with those people. we need to solve the language issue.
