By Prasad Gunewardene

The United National Party has decided to take issues before the people after the annual convention tomorrow in Kandy. Party sources disclosed that leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will unfold plans tomorrow to the membership on how the party should take issues before the people. It is learnt that the first of the series would be launched in Kandy after the convention to protest against the rising cost of living. Mr. Wickremesinghe will be meeting the party hierarchy today to finalise plans regarding actions against the PA government before he leaves for Kandy.

The UNP has decided to question the government on the stand taken with regard to the ethnic problem as many peacemakers have visited the country and made observations to which the PA has failed to tell the country its position. ‘Peacemakers say one thing and Prabhakaran says another while the government in power looks non-committal to that process’, noted a senior UNP parliamentarian. He said the peacemakers from Norway visited Wanni with the blessings of the government and the government should tell the people as to what its position is regarding peace talks. "The President and the Prime Minister have taken contradictory positions regarding peace and war and the people do not know what is actually happening", he lamented.

A government minister commenting on Prabhakaran’s Heroes’ Day speech was of the view that the LTTE was adamant to drive back the government troops to the barracks. He explained that the LTTE’s stand that ‘alien forces’ were on their soil clearly indicated that they still held the view of a separate state and a homeland while stressing they were for a negotiated settlement within a unitary frame work. Opposition political parties say the government should make a statement in Parliament when the House meets next to tell the people the manner in which it intended to approach the problem. Opposition parties say the LTTE which claims to be for peace has intensified its attacks on troops and civilians over the past few days. Nine civilians died in a landmine explosion in Anuradhapura while fourteen soldiers died in another attack in the North on Wednesday. These brutal actions were launched within days of discussing peace plans with the Norwegians in Wanni.

Meanwhile, the re-appointment of Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte as deputy defence minister has caused confusion within the ranks of the PA as many were opposed to Ratwatte handling defence matters after the recent violence in the Kandy district during polls in October. Among those who took Ratwatte to task over alleged election rigging and violence were Ministers D. M. Jayaratne and Rauff Hakeem. The SLMC minister appears to be on the war path with the PA again by demanding that the Independent Police Commission should also be set up with the other three independent commissions. The PA Ex-Co which met last week in the absence of the President decided to treat the establishment of the police commission as a separate issue to be followed up later. Hakeem has sought a meeting with the President to discuss that decision. Hakeem was one person who battled to prevent Ratwatte being given deputy defence and was on record saying that if it happened it would be impossible for him to sit in cabinet.

Now Ratwatte after a six week interval has got back his favourite subject of defence. The President has acceded to almost all the demands made by Rauff Hakeem. His latest demand to get back the Export Development Board shifted to the Industrial Development Ministry too was met. Opposition political parties are now waiting to see what action Hakeem might take over the re-appointment of Ratwatte as deputy defence minister. UNP’s A. H. M. Azwer has already prepared himself to question Hakeem when the House meets next whether Hakeem was prepared to resign from the cabinet in keeping with his pledge not to sit with Ratwatte if the latter got the deputy defence subject again.