Lanka Citizen

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga interviewed by Sunday Observer Editor Jayatilleke de Silva dwells on the performance of her regime during 1994 - 2005 barring the period of the UNF Government from December 2001 to April 2004. Ending the fear psychosis that had gripped the entire people, she considers, the single biggest achievement of her reign.

Q: Madam President, what in your opinion is the most significant achievement of your tenure of office?

A: I assumed the office of President at a time when the Seventeen-year old UNP regime had brought the country to the verge of anarchy. Law and order had broken down. “Black Cats”, “Green Tigers” and all types of armed groups were sowing terror. Human rights continued to be violated on a big scale. The entire people were in the grip of a fear psychosis. Dissent was not tolerated. Democracy was virtually non-existent.

With my election victory I ensured that there would not be any post-election violence. Law and order was restored. Democratic norms governance were re-established. There were no more midnight knocks on the door. Mothers and wives could have a sigh of relief that their sons and husbands would return home safe after work or study. Human rights were respected once again.

Besides I appointed three Presidential Commissions of Inquiry to investigate the involuntary disappearance of persons during the previous regime. These Commissions submitted their reports and follow up action was taken to pay compensation to the victims and take legal action against the culprits.

In short, we were able to install a system of caring, humane and democratic governance.

Q: Could you elaborate on the legal and institutional mechanisms that were introduced to realise the concept of caring humane democratic governance?

A: Conscious of the practice of torture that had taken place during the previous regime an Act cited as the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was brought to Parliament in November 1994 and approved. Under this Act torture was made a punishable offence. Further awareness programs on human rights and international humanitarian law were conducted for law enforcement officers, including the security forces.

Q: In what sense could you say democracy was advanced during your regime?

A: As I mentioned earlier I have eliminated state terrorism that reigned during the previous regimes. Freedom of expression, freedom of association and other individual freedoms were restored. Above everything else I restored the right to life, a right that was not guaranteed by J. R. Jayewardene’s 1978 Constitution.

You would have noted that the media was free even to run libellous material against the Head of State. The number of electronic and print media establishments proliferated during my regime.

This was in stark contrast to the situation that prevailed earlier. Trade Unions could agitate and win their demands in contrast to what happened in 1980 when they were dismissed en masse for striking. Provincial and Local Government bodies could function without hindrances unlike in the Period of Terror when a note sent by a brat could bring the whole country to a virtual standstill.

As you would remember I brought in a new draft Constitution that devolved power to the periphery in a substantial degree guaranteeing the rights of all communities. Unfortunately the UNP sabotaged it in Parliament.

Extracts from The Sunday Observer, 23 October 2005