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SLMC, CWC ready to call the shots by Shamindra Ferdinando October 20 Island: UNF constituents, the SLMC and the CWC will take advantage of a disputed government decision to seek a fresh parliamentary mandate, subsequent to the Supreme Court determination on the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, to press the UNP leadership for a non-contiguous unit of devolution covering all predominantly Muslim areas in the north-east and a halt to the Kotmale hydro-power project respectively, party sources said. Speaker Joseph Michael Perera will announce the Supreme Court determination on Tuesday (22). However, it is known that the amendment which seeks to remove President Chandrika Kumaratunga's power to dissolve parliament any time after December 5 and grant cross-over rights for MPs without losing their seats, did not get a Supreme Court nod. Knowing that their support was absolutely essential to obtain a two-thirds majority required to go ahead with constitutional reforms in support of the peace process, the SLMC and the CWC will step up their campaign, the sources said. The two parties are likely to work together as a part of their strategy to pressure the government to yield. A group of rebel SLMC MPs which boycotted parliament two weeks ago over a dispute on party leader Rauff Hakeem's stance on a Muslim-controlled administrative council in the north-east, was of the view their support should depend on a government guarantee. A dissident source said the rebel group's stance has placed both Hakeem and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in a difficult position. The source stressed they have no option but to take advantage of the situation. "Hakeem knows the danger in failing to obtain a government guarantee. His leadership depends on it," another source said. Political sources said it would not be easy to meet their demands without causing further disputes. The CWC and Power Minister and UNP's number two Karu Jayasuriya were on collision course over the stalled foreign-funded Kotmale project. Jayasuriya's son-in-law and Deputy Minister Navin Dissanayake too exchanged words with the CWC leader over the same issue, with both sides justifying their respective positions. The CWC was of the view the project would be detrimental to the people of the region while the government insists it is essential to meet the growing demand for power. Obviously the SLMC's demand for a separate unit could not be met without the LTTE's consent as the Tigers want the entire north and east under an LTTE-dominated interim administration. Government sources said the UNF was ready to face parliamentary elections. Under Article 70 (C) (iv) of the Constitution, the president is required to dissolve parliament if asked to do so by a resolution passed in parliament, the sources said, expressing the belief they would be able to resolve whatever differences among the constituents on a priority basis. SLMC and CWC sources said a dissolution resolution could not be moved without their support. They said the UNP leadership was yet to discuss the issue with them. Political sources said apart from their key demands, the SLMC and CWC will seek other concessions including national list slots. They forced the UNP to accommodate several candidates rejected at the last parliamentary elections in December to be included in the final list of nominees through the national list. (20/10/02 go2lanka.com) |