It is reported
that a member of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) has taken oaths before a
medical doctor in Mullavaikkal. It is not known whether this particular member
went to the Mullativ District to take his oaths in order to pay his respects to
the terrorists and their leader Prabhakran who were recognized by the west as
an invincible outfit and a world class expert in guerilla warfare respectively.
The west was and is involved in a psychological war game against the Sinhalas,
especially the Sinhala Buddhists through their “war experts” “political
scientists” “human rights specialists” etc., in the NGOs, universities both
here and abroad, but the Sinhala villagers could not be fooled by these
experts, though the western educated pundits believed their masters in the
west. Some members of the NPC belonging to EPRLF, TELO and TULF earlier
threatened to go to Mullavaikkal to take oaths but it appears that they have
now settled to take oaths before the Chief Minister of the Northern Province.
However, it is
clear that there are two factions in the TNA, one broadly following the Indian
line and the other following the dispersed Tamils living in the western
countries. These dispersed Tamils are working on the instructions of the
western countries, and Canada deciding to boycott the CHOGM, and both England
and Canada withdrawing funds to the Commonwealth are only parts of this “war
game” against Sinhala people without a formal war. If the commonwealth dies out
of lack of funds it would be for the good of the non white countries in the
commonwealth, and we would welcome more and more cuts on funds by the white
countries. If one were to take stocks it would be found that it is the white
countries that have benefitted from the commonwealth and not the non white
countries. I know that most of the pundits would not agree with me, but the
Sinhala Villagers know by intuition, though not through so called analysis, what
is happening and the latter are only interested in seeing Mahinda Mahattaya
presiding over the “suddas” in the next two years. The white countries would
most probably fund the commonwealth again after two years as they get more
benefits out of it than what they lose by way of funding. They do not want to
see the commonwealth die a natural death due to lack of funds though the
Sinhala villagers would not want the commonwealth after Mahinda Mahattaya hands
over the Chairmanship. The pundits of course would want the commonwealth to
continue as they could pick up a scholarship, fellowship or a foreign trip through the auspicious of this
“august” body.
The faction of
the TNA sponsored by the west through the dispersed Tamils in their countries
is pro LTTE and Prabhakaran and would have been happy to see Wigneswaran taking
oaths before Sampanthan or some other Tamil leader in the presence of western
diplomats either in Jaffna or Vaikkal,
but saner counsel has prevailed probably at the insistence of India that
does not want to see another Prabhakaran emerging. The TNA faction led by the
Troika (Thrimurthi) of Sampanthan, Wigneswaran and Sumanthiran that takes the
political line from India seems to be more popular than the Premachandran
faction at present, but they should realize that the latter is finally a threat
not only to their political lives but personal lives as well. Though it may
sound ironical the presence of the Armed forces in the Northern Province could
one day be prove to be for the security of the TNA faction led by the
Thrimurthi. Sampanthan more than anybody else knows who killed people such as
Duraiappa, Thiruchelvam and Amirthalingam.
The
Premachandran faction wanted to take the advantage provided by the constitution
that in the Provincial Councils nothing is stated about the procedure that has
to be adopted in taking oaths by the members of the Provincial Council. Besides
it is the ordinary oath prescribed in the fourth schedule that has to be taken
by members of a provincial council whereas the Members of Parliament have to
take the oath prescribed in the seventh schedule before the Speaker. The
respective oaths are given below.
The oath
prescribed in the fourth schedule: “I
............................................................. do solemnly
declare and affirm / swear that I will faithfully perform the duties and
discharge the functions of the office of
........................................ in accordance with the Constitution of
the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the law, and that I will be
faithful to the Republic of Sri Lanka and that I will to the best of my ability
uphold and defend the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri
Lanka."
The oath
prescribed in the seventh schedule: “I
..................................................... do solemnly declare and
affirm / swear that I will uphold and defend the Constitution of the Democratic
Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and that I will not, directly or indirectly, in
or outside Sri Lanka, support, espouse, promote, finance, encourage or
advocate the establishment of a separate State within the territory of Sri
Lanka.”
There are
glaring differences between the two oaths and the government should bring
legislation so that at least in the future all members representing the people
not only in the Parliament but also in the Provincial Councils, Municipal
Councils, Urban Councils, Pradeshiya Sabhas, should take the oath prescribed in
the seventh schedule before authorities specified in each case. For example the
Chief Ministers of Provincial Councils, as has been the tradition, should take
the oath before the President of the country in the presence of the relevant
governor, and the other members should be required to take the oath before the
Governor/Chief Minister of the Provincial council. The ministers of the
Provinces should be appointed from among the members who have taken the oath
and no minister should be appointed before taking the oath.
The chairpersons
of the Municipal Councils, Urban councils should take the oath before the
Governor/Chief Minister of the Province and the members of the respective
bodies should be required to take the oath before the relevant chairperson,
with the members allowed to meet without taking the oath only for the purpose
of electing the Chairperson.
As it is, as the member of the NPC has shown any
elected member could take the oath prescribed in the fourth schedule that does
not prevent the member from engaging in activities to “support, espouse,
promote, finance, encourage or advocate the establishment of a separate State
within the territory of Sri Lanka” before anybody, and in fact even before a
terrorist. They could in fact take the
oath before any Justice of Peace not necessary for the whole island who himself
may be involved terrorist activities. Sampanthan and Sumanthiran who as Members
of the Parliament have taken the oath prescribed in the seventh schedule should
not object any legislation to extend the oath to the members of the bodies
elected by the people by universal franchise. India should and could not object
to such legislation as it is purely an internal matter of the country and no
other country should interfere with legislation by the Parliament.
Nalin De Silva
16-10-2013