The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I will call for a Division and vote against extending the Emergency.

¶ 02 The Government’s justification is oxymoronic. All day, Government Members said they need Emergency due to “Ditwah” and the Middle East war. Yet they boast of how brilliantly they managed everything — the Hon. Prime Minister even cited over-90 percent achievements. That is precisely an argument for not needing Emergency. Helping people is your job; that is administration, not Emergency.

¶ 03 The Hon. Minister of Justice tried a legal argument: “In case the Middle East worsens, we need Emergency.” Pre-emptive Emergency for six months without a present grave situation is not justified. You fear people may rise up again, as they did before — and you benefited then. You want Emergency to keep people and administrators in check and to hide your shortcomings. A competent government should be the last to seek Emergency six months on. When “Ditwah” struck and Emergency was not declared, we in the Opposition said, “Declare it.” That was the time. Not now.

¶ 04 We oppose Emergency because during the war it was the worst tool. The military and police mindset has not changed; you have done no security sector reform. Declaring Emergency tells those in the North and East they can act with impunity — and that is the problem we face.

¶ 05 Consider author Theepachelvan Piratheepan: about 350 copies of two non-fiction books — “Eluttal nan Yuttam Ceykiren” and “Ippothum Inge Irandu Thesangalthaan” — have been practically banned by Sri Lanka Customs, citing recommendations from the Arts Council, the State Panel of Literature under the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, and the Ministry of Defence. I table the letter. Legally, neither the Arts Council nor the State Panel has the mandate to ban books. Customs has not even sought their advice. The Defence Ministry has intervened — that is the truth. The author has not been given any report or told what passages are problematic; the books are suspended under Penal Code Section 120 on sedition. Can these bodies opine on such legal questions? These are political appointees; Theepachelvan and Shobasakthi are political victims.

¶ 06 If you are serious about reconciliation, why fear what people say? How can we reconcile without knowing each other’s truths? Banning books by authorities acting above the law is ridiculous and no different from past racist regimes. If Defence or related authorities have erred, the Government must rectify it.

¶ 07 Next, Myliddy land protests: In 2013, 6,000 acres in Valikamam North, including Myliddy, were gazetted for acquisition. In 2017, under Maithripala–Ranil, about 3,000 acres were released and people returned, but 3,000 remain under military control, and the acquisition gazette has not been withdrawn. Thus, even returnees face legal uncertainty. You have told the North and East that the military will limit itself to security and people’s lands will be released. Of the 3,000 acres held, about 80 percent are not for defence use; the military cultivates and sells produce at half price, undercutting locals. Release the lands not needed for security.

¶ 08 When action was being taken to release Thelippalai (Thayiddi) lands, a “Minister of Fisheries” accused us — TNPF/TNA — of blocking it. We only asked for written guarantees from the GA and officials that any illegally built viharaya on private land would be addressed and that released land would go to rightful owners. If you truly intend to return the lands, why not give that in writing? People have been deceived many times. Do the right thing transparently and all Tamil MPs from the North and East, myself included, will cooperate.

¶ 09 On Muslim–Tamil relations raised by Members earlier regarding Kalmunai and Sainthamaruthu: I request their intervention in Kinniya. The Kinniya Urban Council, under their control, is dumping garbage near the Chinnathottam Hindu cremation ground, causing major public health issues and drawing elephants, creating safety risks. Please relocate the dump as residents have long requested.

¶ 10 Finally, an incident in Vavuniya: Kandhasamy Kajendran, an auto driver associated with an auto union, was brutally assaulted yesterday around 1.00 p.m. by about ten persons over internal union disputes. When he went to the Vavuniya Police to lodge a complaint, they refused to record it and sent him to the Crime Division, which also refused. He then went to the hospital. This shows selective policing based on political loyalties and friendships. This culture must end.

¶ 11 I oppose the extension of Emergency.