Another split in the UNP?

By Jayantha Sri Nissanka [Lakbimanews]

UNP Secretary General Tissa Attanayake - who recently flew to India after being excluded from a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa - in an interview with LAKBIMAnEWS fails to deny that a group within the party is trying to oust him. Excerpts:

Ln: Is another split brewing in the UNP?
TA: There is no split in the party. We are discussing various issues openly. So such differences cannot be considered as splits. That is how we arrive at decisions. Though we argue on issues, everyone finally accepts the final decision.

Ln: We learn that there’s a group in the party that is striving to oust you. They are close friends of your leader. How do you deny it?
TA: Those are manoeuvres that are common in any party. Such moves cannot be considered as splits. But my task is to work for the victory of the leader and the party in coming elections.

Ln: If there are no splits, why did your leader exclude you - the UNP general secretary - from his meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss implementation of the 13th Amendment? Didn’t he go with his friends?
TA: Our leader got approval from the political committee for the invitation of the President. Then he went to see the President with party Chairman Rukman Senanayake and senior lawyer K.N.Choksy. Our leader might have decided that this was the best group to discuss the implementation of the 13 Amendment. My task is not to participate in such discussions. I have to work for the victory of the party. Many groups can work on different issues separately. It is not mandatory that I should be in all those groups.

Ln: Do you say that the UNP secretary general is irrelevant at such an important meeting?
TA: The party leader has to decide that. If it is not a problem to me, why are others worrying about it? My duty is to ensure a victory in the upcoming elections.

Ln: Many splits in the party are a result of your leader making exclusive decisions with his Royal College friends. Why does the party still allow him to do so?
TA: Such accusations cannot be levelled against our party now. That is why we created Political and Management Committees. All our decisions are taken after they are discussed at those Committees now.

Ln: According to the information I received from your party, you left for India without even participating at a workshop in Kalutara. You left a message for the leader without informing him in the usual fashion. Why?
TA: I reject such allegations. I went to India on a private matter for two days with the permission of the leader. That is why I could not attend the workshop. But many rumours circulated about my absence.

Ln: The next parliamentary and presidential elections are crucial for your leader’s survival in the party since he has lost 14 elections including two presidential elections. If the UNP loses again, will you keep your leader?
TA: We are strategically working to win future elections. We are sure we can send the Rajapaksa government home as they are unpopular in the country today.

Ln: Why did you undermine the Eastern Province election by staging a picketing?
TA: We didn’t undermine it. There was no civil administration in the east for people to cast their votes independently. The election was held under military rule. The government handed the eastern province back to a breakaway faction of the LTTE although the east was rescued from the clutches of the LTTE.

Ln: Your party is no stranger to election violence. Late President R. Premadasa got elected in such a situation. Did you really boycott the election to avoid another election defeat?
TA: We were not scared of any election defeat. If we had contested, of course, we could have easily won as we are strong in Batticaoloa. Actually, we avoided a bloodbath.
Ln: Douglas Devananda gave up arms and embraced democracy. Why are you pessimistic about Pillayan who defected from the LTTE?
TA: We appreciate Devananda for embracing democracy. But he has not totally given up arms. What we are saying is that Pillayan should not have been armed during elections. He threatened other candidates to stop contesting. He should have given up arms if he has embraced democracy.

Ln: How can Pillayan give up arms when the LTTE has tried 11 times to assassinate Douglas Devananda?
TA: Pillayan’s security should be looked after by the government. He should not be given permission to hold weapons and frighten people.

Ln: Will you boycott the upcoming Provincial Council election in the east?
TA: We request the government to bring normalcy to the Eastern Province and provide security to people. We are studying the security situation in the east because we cannot risk the lives of our candidates. We will take the final decision after assessing all the risk factors. If we contest, of course, we can record a clear win in Trincomalee, Ampara and Batticaloa districts. We had a 90,000 vote lead at the last presidential election in Batticaloa. So, we can get a clear win if the government ensures a free and fair election.

LN: Will you disarm arms groups like Pillayan under a UNP government?
TA: Yes, we will disarm the Pillayan group. Pillayan should realise that the government used Karuna to attack the LTTE. Thereafter, the government promoted Pillayan against Karuna and the LTTE. He should know that another person will be promoted against him. Therefore, we are ready to talk with armed groups including the LTTE about devolution of power. We should get these groups to lay down arms and enter democracy. The government promised the international community to disarm para military groups at the peace talks in Geneva in 2006.