http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/02/10/fea01.asp


People should not fall prey to conspirators’

Do not use youths as political tools to achieve political
expectations. By doing so the lives of youths will be destroyed forever. The
people should not get caught to conspirators who are now trying to use the
youths of this country as political tools to capture power, said Technology and
Research Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha during an interview with the Daily
News.
Following are extracts of the interview:
Q: Comment on President Mahinda Rajapaksa's second term of office and
Mahinda Chinthana - Vision for the Future.
Deputy Minister Faizer
Mustapha
People living in the North and East need
development not devolution of power. Politicians use racial hatred as their
political platform. The TNA should think about this situation. The LTTE
destroyed everything including political leadership, infrastructure facilities
etc. The TNAshould get together with the government and build the North and
East
A: We had a 30-year-long war and we have a President who eradicated
terrorism and realizes the aspirations of the people. He is always with the
people.
He is the most popular President Sri Lanka has ever had. This is because Sri
Lanka is free of fear now. In the past a father and mother did not travel in the
same vehicle because they did not want their children to lose both parents at
once. When the mother went by bus, the father used the train to avoid bombs and
death. The whole world believed that the LTTE cannot be defeated. The TIME
magazine rated the LTTE as the most ruthless terrorist outfit. But President
Rajapaksa believed in himself and his people.
He handed over to his brother the task of ending terrorism after providing
the LTTE an opportunity to hold peace talks with the government. The LTTE killed
world leaders such as Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, local leaders, Tamil
politicians such as Lakshman Kadiragamar and scholars such as Dr. Neelan
Thiruchelvam who believed in democracy and peace. The LTTE preached to the Tamil
community that the Sinhala community should be destroyed by war because the
Sinhalese are enemies of Tamils. But today it has ended. Today, we are a nation
where a mammoth development process is taking place. President Rajapaksa
achieved more than any leader achieved during the last 30 years.
He brought development to the village. Earlier, development took place only
in urbanized areas. He brought economic prosperity to the people living in rural
areas. Today, Hambantota, Moneragala and all rural districts, especially the
North and East are developing. The paradigm shift introduced by President
Rajapaksa brought tangible benefits to the people of this country.
Q: Comment on the LLRC report, implementation of the 13th amendment
etc.
A: The LLRC report is very comprehensive. The President gave a mandate
to the LLRC and they presented the report. The report will address most of the
issues faced by the Tamil community.
It is not biased and fabricated as the Darusman report. Today, some parties
are talking about the devolution of power in the North and East.
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 the devolution of power. Politicians
thrive on people living in poverty and they use poverty as a tool to gain
political advantages.
The politicians say if there is devolution of power poverty will disappear.
But the people living in the North and East need development not devolution of
power. Politicians use racial hatred as their political platform. The TNA should
think about this situation. The LTTE destroyed everything including political
leadership, infrastructure facilities etc.
The TNA should get together with the government and build the North and East.
The USA produced a black President. But in US nobody talks about a person's
colour, religion or ethnicity. That is because they have a decent life with all
facilities. But in Africa the situation is different. They suffer from extreme
poverty and there are conflict because of colour, religion, ethnicity, tribe
etc. This is because politicians use these as their political platform to
further destroy their lives.
The only way forward is economically empowering the people of North and East
enabling them to think rationally.
A person with an empty stomach cannot think about devolution of power or
anything else. The TNA was the proxy of the LTTE and they only echo the voice of
the LTTE. But now they can speak freely and express their views. I humbly
request the TNA to think as Sri Lankans and not as Tamils. President Rajapaksa
said there are no minorities and majorities in this country. He is focused on
economically empowering the people and making their lives prosperous. 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 out of the North and East for decades
due to the LTTE's ethnic cleansing process. The 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.
Q: What will be the impact of the JVP split and UNP internal conflict?
A: The JVP destroyed the youths of Sri Lanka in 1971 and 1988. Youths
are the biggest asset of our country. It is very easy to mislead youths because
they are very emotional. The political leaders of Sri Lanka should not use the
youths of the country as political tools to grab power. Today some politicians
are trying to arouse the emotions of youths to capture power.
I believe that the youths of this country are wise and they will not fall
prey. Since the present young generation is wiser than the past, they cannot be
misled easily. The UNP is the second largest single party in the country.
For the sake of democracy, the UNP should shed differences and unite. They
have to stay together. A stable and strong Opposition is required for the
betterment of the country.
Q: Is there a move to destabilize the country and destroy peace?
A: There is a large scale conspiracy at international level and local
level. We are a government of 161 seats. Therefore, the present government led
by President Rajapaksa cannot be defeated through the democratic process.
Therefore, the only way of destroying the government is through destabilizing
the country. Certain elements are now trying to do it by misleading youths.
This is a political conspiracy. This is not democratic. But this government
is strong and capable. It has already done a significant service to the country
and its people. From 2001 to 2004, the UNP did not give a single job to youths.
But this government has given employment to youths than any other previous
regime.
I ask the politicians of this country not to use youths as political tools to
achieve their political expectations. By doing so the lives of youths will be
destroyed forever.
All political parties should be patriotic towards the country and involve
only in constructive criticism. But this is not happening today.
Sri Lanka has received a golden opportunity after suffering for 30 years. We
have to strengthen the hands of President Rajapaksa and achieve economic
prosperity. President Rajapaksa cannot be dictated by any foreign force.
Q: Do you have any message to the public?
A: The people should not get caught to these conspirators who are now
trying to use the youths of this country as political tools to capture power. I
have a message to the TNA. TNA did not have a voice in the past under the LTTE.
It was only the echo of the LTTE voice. Please join with the government to
alleviate the poverty of the people living in the North and East.