EPDP Devananda’s 10 point program insinuates support to Gen.Fonseka

By Dr.Levins T C Rajaratnam
(The views expressed are his own)

(December 15, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) It is not surprising that the EPDP maestro “Douglas” Devananda alias Kathiravelu Devananda or whatever his real name is - has put forward a 10 point program. On the one hand Douglas Devananda has informed his confidantes and the Government that unless he gives publicity to this request, he may not get sufficient votes in Jaffna at a General election, whilst on the other hand he has brilliantly stood by the claims made by Gen.Fonseka and his promise to the Tamils. Thus going parallel to Gen.Fonseka whilst being trying to show his support to President Rajapaksa.

How well his party faired at the recent Municipal Council elections is known to far too many. The reputation of EPDP and its Leader and cadres are more known.

Douglas Devananda is a very clever politician and he has been able to get the assistance of successive Governments by his brilliant strategies. It’s a pity no intellectual educated Tamil has served him for long.

The EPDP’s Ten Point Program is analyzed as follows:

“1. Starting with the implementation of the 13th amendment to the constitution as the initial step towards the solution to the problem of the political rights of the Tamil speaking people, to progress towards more and more power sharing in stages marching towards the political target of unified government in the centre with Regional Autonomy the Provincial Councils.”

One may wonder that he has probably not read the Constitution of Sri Lanka but on the contrary he is a well read politician –the only reason being to put forward a two line support to both Gen Fonseka and President Rajapaksa. Its Devananda’s struggle for survival.

“2. Ensuring the desire of the Tamil People to be Sri Lankans as well as Tamils at the same time”. This too supports the claims of Gen.Fonseka

3. Fostering the concept and consciousness of the ‘Sri Lankan Identity’ of all the people of our country, plus appreciation and respect for the concept and reality of ‘ethnicity’ and ‘ethnicity cultures’, ‘equality ’among the ethnic groups in our country. This too supports the claims of Gen.Fonseka

4. Speedy re-settlement of our displaced people in the Vanni and others who were displaced due to the setting up of High Security Zones, in their own areas. Speedy implementations of action-plans designed to ensure their rights to livelihood. This too supports the claims of Gen.Fonseka

5. Steps to be taken to withdraw the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Emergency Regulations that have been in force for the past 30 years, plus the upholding of the democratic rights of the people in a violence-free society. Douglas Devananda’s reputation as a peace loving politician is not a popular notion.How can any sensible citizen of this country make such a condition. This too supports the claims of Gen.Fonseka

6. General Amnesty and Rehabilitation to all who have been arrested and detained for political reasons and those who have surrendered. Steps to be taken to locate, and to find the truth about, persons repotted missing. Rehabilitation is on.He must search his conscience and find the missing persons. This too supports the claims of Gen.Fonseka. Can he say that he is not responsible for the missing persons. He tries to insinuate that the Government is responsible for the missing persons.

7. Affected by the war, Tamil Regions have been lacking in economic development for a long time. Hence, such regions to be developed on a priority basis.Does Douglas not know that there is development and economic progress in the North. This too supports the claims of Gen.Fonseka

8. Ensuring free travel in Tamil Areas (including A9 Road) just as it is found in other parts of Sri Lanka. This too supports the claims of Gen.Fonseka

9. Planning & Implementation of the plans to ensure that Tamil gains equality of status with Sinhala as the language of administration. This will remove the treatment of Tamils as ‘aliens’ by the state administrative apparatus, and will create the climate where Tamil speaking people are embraced as equal partners in the development of our country. And as a corollary, more Tamil speaking persons to be recruited to the police and the armed forces on the basis of ethnic percentage. It is already under implementation. He must understand that undeservingly he has been a Minister inspite of his track record. This too supports the claims of Gen.Fonseka

10. Steps to be taken to ensure that the traditional homelands of the Tamils speaking people do belong to them while they live under a united, unified Sri Lanka. Violation of the Constitution. This too supports the claims of Gen.Fonseka
Infact, the 10 point program indirectly supports Gen Fonseka and corroborates the claims made by Gen.Fonseka.

Douglas Devananda needs an advisor before he utters rubbish. The Tamil people will not listen to him. He cannot influence the Tamil people. Is he the alternative for Pirabaharan ? How can he be when there is no difference in their ideologies manifested by the 10 point plan .

Mr.Devananda, must learn a few lessons of patriotism and pack up his eelam tags and bury them.

Threats and Killings must stop. Democracy must prevail. Ten Point jokes have died with Pirabaharan we must not permit militant urchins to represent or be an alternative to the LTTE.

(The writer is a Senior Member of the SLFP and UPFA)

-Sri Lanka Guardian