http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/02/09/news03.asp


Northern people need development, not devolution’
Nadira GUNATILLEKE
People in the North and East need development and not devolution of power,
said Technology and Research Deputy Minister Faiszer Musthapha yesterday.
“The people in the North and East need better housing,
schools and healthcare facilities. They need a decent life. Once they get these
facilities, they will think rationally about everything including devolution of
power,” he told the Daily News .
“People are today talking about refugees. What about the people chased away
from their homes by the LTTE? A large number of IDPs were chased away by the
LTTE from their original homes in the North and East and are now living in other
parts of the country. A large number of IDPs have been living outside the North
and East for decades due to the LTTE’s ethnic cleansing process. The Tamil
National Alliance (TNA) should talk about these people’s rights. This is a much
bigger issue, because the number of IDPs is high and they have been living as
IDPs for decades,” he said.
Mustapha said some political parties talk about the devolution of power to
the people in the North and East. “But these people have not seen a school, a
hospital, a water tap or an electric bulb for 30 years.
They live much below the poverty line. They can understand democracy and
devolution of power only when they are above the poverty line.
But politicians thrive on people living in poverty and they use poverty as a
tool to gain political advantage,” he said.
“The TNA should think about this situation. The LTTE totally destroyed
everything including political leadership and infrastructure
facilities. The TNA in the past acted only as the proxy of the LTTE. The TNA
today is free to speak and be involved in politics. The TNA should get together
with the government and build the North and East. People are waiting for a
decent life with shelter, healthcare and educational facilities.
It is only then that they can think and talk about the devolution of power
and other concepts,” Deputy Minister Mustapha added.