10 point program for Minister Doug

We certainly hope the Minister Deva will consider the thoughtful advice of a school days friend. .
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By Rajasingham Jayadevan

(December 06, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) The controversial paramilitary non-cabinet Minister of President Mahinda Rajapakse government Douglas Devananda (Doug) has presented his ten point program to the President as his demand to support the Present in the forthcoming Presidential election.

His report was given publicity by the government pampered (e-media) Mr. K. T. Rajasigham’s Asian Tribune. The Asian Tribune stated: ‘Addressing the media personal at the Government Information Department, Minister Devananda said that the ten point program drafted by them were presented to the President and as he agreed to implement those….. He said that the ten point program would determine the destiny of the Tamil people.’

The President is still to make his own public statement on the ten point demand of the Minister Doug. Since President Premada’s time Minister Doug is holding junior ministerial portfolios, but has not impressed on the governments to sincerely implement a fair political resolution to the conflict, except for attempting to promote the implementation of the 13th amendment in the north for him to become the Chief Minister with the government backing.

As minister, he failed to promote good governance in the Eastern Provincial Council without the undue interference of the government and is a party to destabilise the provincial administration to promote his vested interests. He neither made any public outcry about the colossal human rights violations against the civilians in the recent military offensive to crush the LTTE.

I thought of adding ten more points to his 10 point program (see Mr. K. T Rajasigham’s Asian Tribune of 4-12-2009) submitted to the President. I humbly present this to my school days friend on behalf of the right thinking Sri Lankans and in particular the Tamil speaking people:

"As minister, he failed to promote good governance in the Eastern Provincial Council without the undue interference of the government and is a party to destabilise the provincial administration to promote his vested interests."
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Additional 10 point proposal for EPDP leader Doug

1. Intention to declare his wealth and assets from 1980 to 2009, with explanations.

2. Intention to disarm his cadres immediately and handover all weapons to the government.

3. Intention to confess all crimes committed by him and the EPDP- murders, abductions, ransom taking etc.

4. Intention to name the business ventures he is and has been involved through his brother.

5. Intention to declare him and his party will not harm any human in the future.

6. His willingness to resign from his position as a minister and work for the people without the unfair and unearned advantage he enjoys as a minister.

7. His willingness to dissolve the EPDP immediately and be part of a new Tamil political party.

8. His willingness not to seek leadership of the new political party for at least five years.

9. His intention to give up pretence and genuinely turn a new page in his life.

10. His plans to eliminate bribery, corruption, high handedness and arbitrary decision making in the north and make the public services responsive to the needs of the people.

If Doug does so, his past record can be forgiven and his many talents utilized for the betterment of the Tamil people. If not, the 10 points he has proposed should be dumped in the garbage, along with him like the President dumping the APRC draft given to him by the APRC Chairman Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharane.

I hope he will consider the thoughtful advice of a school days friend.

( Rajasingham Jayadevan is the chairman of the Alliance for Peace and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka (APRSL) and social activist based in London. He was one time school mate of Douglas Devananada. )

-Sri Lanka Guardian