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Anura Dissanayake asks Lakshman Yapa to read Mahinda Chinthana before making comments |
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2009-08-25 | 3.30 PM |
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JVP parliamentary group leader Anura Dissanayake in a letter to non-cabinet Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena has asked him to read either the agreement signed by the President with the JVP or the Mahinda Chinthana and not to make pathetic statements that demean the office he holds.
The content of the letter sent to the Minister is as follows:
“At a media meeting held on the August 19 you have referred to the views expressed by the JVP on abolishing of the executive presidency. The details you have given in your statement indicate that you have no idea of what we have put forward regarding this matter. Hence, I feel it is necessary to explain to you our views on the abolition of the executive presidency and why we state that Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse has no moral right to hold another presidential election.
The JVP entered into an agreement with Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse before the presidential election in 2005. This agreement was signed in public at Temple Trees and was published in all media. According to this agreement, |
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the JVP had to fulfill only one out of 13 points. That was to bring victory to Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse at the presidential election. We have fulfilled this matter. Mr. Mahinda Raajapakse had to fulfill the other 12 points. According to the seventh clause in the agreement, Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse promised to abolish the executive presidency after the tenure of the sixth presidency that commenced in 2005. Calling a presidential election again is a violation of this agreement.
At this media meeting you had said the JVP sabotaged the agreement first by not joining the government. There was no mention of the JVP joining the government in the agreement signed before the presidential election in 2005. By coming out with wrong arguments indicate that you have no idea about this agreement. Hence, the President who was a signatory to the agreement should provide an explanation regarding the violation of the agreement. It is not only to the JVP that Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse promised to abolish the executive presidency. The mandate he requested for at the presidential election was for the abolishing of the executive presidency. You could get this confirmed by reading page 84 of the Mahinda Chinthanaya. If you had read this election manifesto of Mr. Rajapaske before speaking to the public you would not have come out with such flawed arguments.
In the same media meeting you had mentioned of a two-thirds majority. There is no connection between a two-thirds majority and the presidential election. There is no need to hold a presidential election to amend the Constitution. The present president has two more years to complete his tenure. What is the purpose of holding a presidential election two years earlier breaking the promises given to people? Holding another presidential election, violating the agreement reached with the JVP and disregarding the mandate given to him by the people at the presidential election in 2005 is extremely unethical.
The government that breaks pledges made to the masses and intends going on a path targeting only power has no need to protect ethics. The government has no explanation for this. As such, while Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse as the president prefers to be silent regarding this, ministers in the government, including you, come out with very childish and unfounded arguments.
We call upon the government, if it is left with any morality, to abolish the executive presidency according to the agreement reached with the JVP and the mandate received at the presidential election in 2005. Holding a presidential election against the mandate received and violating all agreements would reveal the immoral nature of the government. The arguments you come up with regarding the JVP violating the agreement and a two-thirds majority are baseless arguments. I would like to remind you not to demean the position you hold by your immature statements and not to insult the intelligence of the people in this country by making false statements without, at least, reading the agreement with the JVP and Mahinda Chinthanaya.”
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