Kabir Hashim on UNP, unity and way forward

Sarath Fonseka, who still does not have civic rights, cannot throw challenge to anybody, says Parliamentarian Kabir Hashim, stressing that the United National Party (UNP) leadership is not threatened by Fonseka. Following are excerpts of an interview:

Q: From the time UNP lost power, the party has been in a leadership crisis. When will this matter be solved?

A: Usually, when a party is in opposition for an extended period, internal rumblings, discontent, frustration, and impatience tend to take place. This results in various issues. The UNP has unfortunately taken power in this long stretch of 18 years and had to give it away in between. In the 2005 Presidential election, the win was almost in our bag, but unfortunately the UNP lost due to the LTTE stand.

On the other hand, one of the main issues that created this problem has been the allowance to take UNP members across the floor to the other side to sit in Government. This has actually eroded the party strength and discipline. Furthermore, members always challenge the party rules simply because they know they can always cross the floor. Meanwhile, the continuous defeats are also putting pressure on the leadership.

However, despite the many excuses we can make and give reasons for the leadership discontent within the party, I think the leadership has to also take most part of the blame and admit that the UNP should revamp, repackage, rebrand, and come up to being what it was – the most powerful political party in the country, the party that built this country, the party that contributed to most of the development of this country, and especially contributed immensely to the democratic structure of this country. This is in the hands of all senior and responsible members in the party; we cannot leave this party in the hands of one person.

On the other hand, the Government is exploiting the situation within the party and trying to make the split deeper by setting up certain things. But with all that pressure, the party united during the provincial elections. The different factions came together and worked for the common good of the party. Last week when an issue came up on whether or not the party should attend the meeting organised by the Bhikku Front, there was decision made at the Working Committee. The leaders in the Working Committee were unanimous in their decision – there was sense of unity saying the party would not be attending this particular rally.

Q: But some members participated in this rally irrespective of party order?

A: That happens in any party. There are instances when a few members break the rules. But that does not mean the party is having any serious crisis. The greatest thing is, despite the impression given by the Government and certain sections of the media that the UNP is having continuous bickering and strife, we saw how Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premedasa came together and stood together for a party decision.

General Fonseka has a force which is also fighting against the excessive use of power by this Government. People see General Fonseka as a useful element in our fight against the Government. Some of our members have close links with General Fonseka on a personal basis. It could probably be that they were influenced by his personality. Some members said they had to attend because they were against the presidential system. Their reasons may be justifiable from their points of view, but when you represent a party, you are bound by the rules of that party. You cannot do things as you please, because the votes that you received are also for that party. Therefore, members are bound by party rules and regulations.

Q: What is the UNP’s stand on abolishing the Executive Presidency?

A: We have discussed this on a number of occasions. We believe that the powers have to be either amended or if it is to be abolished, then it is up for debate in our party. What we believe is that there should be checks and balances; it’s not about merely trying to abolish the Executive Presidency. If you abolish it, there will be still a prime minister holding powers such as stipulated in the 18th Amendment. But most of us believe that the Executive Presidential system is now outdated for this country. It may have been useful to Sri Lanka at one time, but not anymore.

Q: If there is an ongoing debate in the party on the presidential system, why would you ban members from attending a rally that was organised in support of abolishing the Executive Presidency?

A: Political rallies are organised by so many people. Various political parties believe in different ideals and similar ideals. But that does not mean that one political party can go and sit on the platform of another political party just because we believe in the same ideals. Each party has its own identity. We are answerable to our voters. If you belong to a party, you stay within the rules of that party, or you can no longer stay in that party. That’s very clear.

Q: Has the UNP leadership seen an emerging threat in Sarath Fonseka?

A: Who says the UNP leadership is threatened by Sarath Fonseka? This is what the Government likes people to believe. General Sarath Fonseka still does not have his civic rights. There is no threat to anybody from him. He cannot pose a challenge to anybody on that account.

Q: Fonseka not having his civic rights is just a technical matter...

A: It is not a technical matter. To be the Leader of the UNP, one has to contest, be in Parliament, and many other things. However, right now there is a very good understanding between General Sarath Fonseka’s party and the UNP. There are many common issues that we believe in. There are discussions going on. I think General Sarath Fonseka himself says that the UNP and a wider section of parties coming together will be for the good of the country. We are aware of the mischief makers who are trying to create a rift among our parties. Most of us don’t want to let that happen; we want to make sure there is a common alliance of likeminded people and likeminded forces.

Q: The UNP is to take disciplinary action against the five members who attended the Hyde Park rally. But from the beginning they knew it would happen. And the so-called inquiries were the least of their concerns. Don’t you think this shows the ineffectiveness of the party rules and regulations?

A: My personal opinion is that we should have been able to have a dialogue with these members at a closer level. We should have convinced them not to participate. I don’t know whether we did enough on that account. These are our colleagues. There was a clear decision taken at the Working Committee. Even I might have liked to go and sit at that meeting, but the Working Committee made a decision and all the members are bound by that decision.

Q: As a senior member of the party, you have a responsibility to find a solution to end these ongoing internal disputes in the party. Do you agree?

A: I don’t take my responsibilities based on my seniority or the amount of power or the position I hold. I do it out of my attachment to my party. I belong to the UNP and my duty is to serve it and to protect it. In the past few years I have seen how the pressure of being in the Opposition eroded our party members’ confidence and the party’s own confidence. A few of us have been struggling to bring that fighting spirit back into the UNP. It is the responsibility of each and every member to keep everybody together. We have been successful. We have managed to do something, though not enough of course.

We have been pushing for unity within the party. We have been saying that as much as we push this disciplinary matter, we should try to forgive and forget and bring everybody into the party. Those who have made mistakes along the way should be given another opportunity to be back with the party. The problem is that lot of members have become indifferent because this issue has been going on for so long. They think the matter cannot be resolved. Now it’s a matter of everybody getting interested.

After a long time, the UNP cadre has begun to believe that we can come back into power. There are some members who are getting actively engaged in this process of uniting everybody. It is a good sign. During the recent provincial council elections the UNP still got in some electorates as much as 42% of the total votes, which is generally 35%. This shows that in a general or a presidential election, if the UNP is united, then a government change is certain. This feeling of optimism that we can do it is bringing everyone together once again.

Q: Are you saying the UNP is now gearing to topple this Government and come into power?

A: Of course. The bottom line of a political party is not to remain in Opposition but to come into power. We believe in certain policies. We believe that Sri Lanka can move forward. And in order to do that, we need to come into power. We can see the erosion of democratic values of this country. We see how law and order is breaking down. Women and children get raped in daylight. We see racism at its worst. We are worried for this country.

Q: What is the UNP’s stand on the recent attack on the Judiciary?

A: We completely condemn the attack on the Judiciary. It is unforgivable. It is clear that an independent Judiciary is a necessity for a country. We are extending our fullest support to the legal fraternity in protecting the independence of the Judiciary.

Q: Do you believe the UNP made its best attempt to raise a voice during this incident?

A: We could have made a big political noise to make the UNP more politically popular both among the members of the Judiciary and the people. We know the limitations through which we can act in Parliament. We believe that rather than having a ‘blow hot-blow cold’ approach where we scream at one point and then drop the whole matter, the more important thing is to have a sustained battle to protect the Judiciary and that’s what the UNP is really getting geared up to do.

The UNP believed in the FUTA struggle, we helped them by joining them. Then the Government said it was a political struggle. The same thing would have happened in this instance too. If we pushed more, the Government would have said the entire Judiciary struggle was politicised. Civil society also has a role to play. They have to take up their fights.

Q: What are your predictions about the upcoming Budget?

A: With every Budget this Government creates a myth about granting concessions to the people. Every year they say they will increase Samurdhi, they will bring down the prices, and so on. It is all hogwash. They lie through their teeth in the Budget and outside the Budget. Before the Budget they have increased almost everything that needs to be increased. They increased the water bills by 3% soon after the three provincial council elections were over. Why do we need a Budget for? The Budget has become a joke. When they introduce the Budget, they never achieve revenue targets. There is a huge black market economy in this country. This is a pathetic situation.