And the similarities of the way. Aljazeera. For some and a war criminal for others for lankas new president to go to by others a pack is sworn in but is he the right man to diffuse ethnic divisions and fix the economy this is inside story. Hello welcome to the Program Obama has new president is positioning himself as a strong man who can fix the nations most challenging problems promises by a good as a boxer to improve security and the struggling economy gain support of the ballot box but from the scene had a buddhist majority but his swearing into Office Highlights the islands ethnic and religious split similar to his brother mahinda during his 2 terms as president many tamil and muslim voters reject. God was defense secretary while his brother was present when the tamil tigers were defeated 10 years ago and the 26 year long civil war both accused of war crimes and muslims have faced hostility following that is there so aside attacks that killed 263 people lets hear what the new president had to say the government should only be a 2nd example to this is i provisionally exam and efficiency should be done quite a strong one of Government Administration many. Think not going to shoot me problem or at all times. Corruption will never be tolerated under my administration. We want to remain neutral in our Foreign Relations and stay out of any conflict amongst the world d powers. Rosa parks supporters believe he is the president that country needs irrespective of. Kind race religion if we Work Together we can compete in a world economy. And that is why i think i would make mr porter beyond supporting and i think its a great time to put all our differences behind and work for the country is the only person who can bring this country back on track. Were so happy and. Who really really comfortable relaxed really said that he has come back and we have been working tirelessly to continue because. All of family and everybody here just issue a were going to do it but many others especially the tamil minority see him as a leader who should be tried for war crimes by its groups have long called for investigations into alleged white abuses the u. N. Says at least 40000 sri lankans were killed by Security Forces during the final stages of the civil war around 10 years ago when go to buy a defense minister his president ial election victories also raising concerns among muslims there fear his popularity among the scenery is would further deepen the divide between the 2 communities when his brother mahinda was president corruption allegations dogged Infrastructure Projects us through lanka borrowed heavily from china. Lets meet our guests on skype from colombo rajiv jensen her independent candidate and former member of parliament in oxford in england rise ish binnacle associate professor the London School of economics hes also the author of nationalism development and ethnic conflict in sri lanka and all skype from singapore russian a cup or Research Analyst at the institute of for south asian studies. Of the National University of singapore or warm welcome to you or a receiver how was was a pax as credential as war time defense chief this size of in winning the president ial election well i think roger clark so obviously was very popular in this election because of his record as defense treaty not least because it seemed that the Security Apparatus that broken down with the appalling attacks that we suffered in. April this year when it seemed that because of the government really ignored the warning supplied by a lot of people including the Indian Government but i think it did more important that as he said if the chief is going to concentrate on efficient feet. And reduce corruption because one of the biggest problems this country has faced for a long time was the failure to develop economically because you know that has been rampant corruption and the last government which came in not the platform of clinton lets actually you know bankrupt the country even more than before because of an appalling bomb scam because the Prime Minister obviously didnt understand doing he was told that he could make some money that the people who stole the money would have gotten much more than they gave it so i think aqaba is approved today between very conciliate treat and indicated a desire to Work Together with other people who is the way forward i think we might soften a little bit thronged you know some nations in the west who have abs please ignore Human Rights Violations in that favorite countries but case of mr cultural good being perhaps the most outrageous example of hypocrisy were trying to attack the roger pot government as they did before and then they went to a low class act even with the Army Commander at the time was very much a part of this last government and he was much more if the new approach but i think we can overcome that because i think along the israel efficiency and trying to see mr raja fit with the good run just what was most important for voters in sri lanka was if the need for someone who would run and if an Efficient Government or someone who would provide them with security. Yes i think theyre going to head out to parks as a sort of persona reflects the fact that hes not a populist politician like his brother and hes very much middle class professional someone from the military in his formative years so it is very much the case that he speaks of fire the need to have Quick SolutionsEfficient Solutions to difficult problems and as his background shows without necessarily having much regard for the consequences that it would have if the russians they rise up boxes are more of a political dynasty in sri lanka is this is something that could further drive the nation into a more d autocracy in the near future. I think its very difficult to see at the moment because if you look at sri lanka election history they have the particle going through time it was the. Dynasty in fact even. Formally run it as well so i think at a moment its very difficult to buy idea is the there. Theyre going to bio hes someone with a proven track record in terms of when he was on when he was the defense secretary and also as a secretary are of development so there was no beyond what i read that you would be able to deliver and. They would be able. To receive or when you look at the pattern during the election you would see that the sin higher Buddhist Community voted for gore to buy because they trust him but of the same time the muslims and the time being is really dont seem to trust him against the backdrop of this ethnic divide isnt this something that could further polarize the nation in the future. Bullet has the potential for doing still but i think you know it is a mistake to keep talking about seeing how the buddhists because the catholic vote it also seems to have gotten very solidly for a good cover of the box of this time which wasnt the case in the 2015 election but i agree but he has to do a lot to actually make sure that the time knows and the muslims you know feel that they are part of a united 3 lanka i think one very good sign if the time isnt the muslims avoid aborting for what you might call the extremists time in and muslim candidates and you know seem to have voted very heavily for assad to premadasa who is in a sense not the sort of pushover that the tamil politicians and the muslim politicians have a hue and i think what is important is that copyright. And perhaps we should Work Together with subjects on this deal with the tamil people and the muslim people and does not allow himself to be held hostage by the time ill and muslim politicians who have shown themselves to be of polling the rent seeking in the last 10 or 15 years in when they jump from one side to be other. And want to be part of. The ruling government the ministers have stopped directly in the same portfolio for the last 10 yet and theyve done nothing for the time in all the muslim people that sort of Economic Development that is essentially in the north should actually what better on the go it his brother was meant to do a lot of Infrastructure Development but it failed to actually consolidate the grassroots and i think one important thing is that good up of rajapaksa will work well with the grassroots i do know that when i was advised on reconciliation he actually to. Need to get out to the divisions of the district and not work in colombo which i much enjoy doing and i learnt a lot from what the people in the villages and they need a lot of Council Attention and support for social services or and for or Economic Development or a local supply that raj is. Seen go to by others a bus or trying to reach out of the muslims and and the term is sitting hes swearing a ceremony do you think that he would be able to build bridges with the 2 minorities. I think its a big ask because i think from the perspective of the 2 minorities he is the worst possible person that they could have wished for to have as president and thats both because of his style and also because of his track record and what he has been saying most recently on the air on the election platforms so there you know he is the person that is most closely associated with some of the most serious allegations of abuses and misconduct during the war he was a at the head of it i mean the buck stops with him so i think that it is not a mistake in the terminal in the muslim parts of sri lanka the vote for good or bad are to parts that was of the order of about 10 percent i mean there was an extraordinary landslide and this reflects the fact that people are deeply fearful of him and of what he holds out for them what were talking about someone who seems to be in desperate need for reinventing himself if he wants to build bridges with the time isnt with muslims because he faces other geishas of corruption and some of the worst. Abuses committed against people over the last few years. Well i agree i mean yeah i think that his house records has. Deftly made him appear to be someone who has a lot of controversy surrounding him and he doesnt know we project himself as a slight communal national this and. Liberal leader so at this point there could be a slight pushback from the minority from the from both the temple and the minority communities for its president so he would have to do quite a work to really. Be invent himself one could be perhaps initiating some social cohesion programs that well done immediately after the war 2 and. Different religious leaders and really going down into the grassroots russia the the president seems to be willing to appoint his brother mahinda as Prime Minister dont you think that this is something that could put him on a collision course with a parliament. No i think what he has to be seen i think he needs to offer the provision to mind the right partner who did a great deal during the Election Campaign where the mind the electorate accept it i really dont know it may make sense for him not to leave the rule of a senior minister at. New did you know having been president because he can be secure in the knowledge that his legacy will not be traduced the way it was by the last government. But having said that i think the important thing is for the target to get a new Prime Minister through to the last Prime Minister to be unitless the ate up by the people in this country including many people in the un beat and bush lied to premadasa who did his best just couldnt get over the you know appalling behavior of. Becoming Prime Minister if i think we need a new Prime Minister and of course we need to make sure that Parliament Support the new Prime Minister and i dont think backed would be a problem. But i think he will need to be moderate in the approach he will need to as the last 2 the other 2 said need to work very hard to get more confidence from the tamils but you know this is a question of perception and what i really find quite all food is that right to the conduct of the wall. You know the journalists. I had a good friend at the economist and they were really very very upset about the behavior and the speeches of sort of from sake of the Army Commander but because farrakhan take up became the darling of the west all his me you know really rather outrageous to it statements none of which go down the unnamed will completely forgotten any became a hero and i think we have to be very very clear that they need to work very hard to get over the adverse propaganda of the west which you know any delicacy youre about because you know perfectly well how they you know allow you straight to get away with murder and then attack on the people and actually engage in regime change and dont care a damn about you know the consequence of the people of it as still see him in syria i saw it as a nuff job but i think youll be able to do it because hes very professionally nice to prove i see your point but then this is going to be a question to russias during the time of behind the journalists were pretty much concerned about about this safety there was a clampdown on freedom of expression and people are saying that go to buy is no slightly to replicate the same legacy which is clamping down on dissent in sri lanka. Yes in fact during the previous government of mine that i depart there was a very difficult environment a suffocating environment of control and surveillance and a. Compression of media freedoms including the disappearances and even the death of the assassination of an Important Media figure and the individual that is most directly connected and that holds the responsibility for that is none other than what our better parks are so if there is anybody in that previous government that has to be held accountable for it and that is to be asked important questions as to what happened and why did it happen its not a pox on who is now the new president rushed me russia is also planning to repeal the 19th amendment of the constitution that introduced greater checks on the president and transfer some of his powers to the parliament is this a serious step forward if he decides to go on that particular. Article in the constitution well they have been trying to do to death like time to repeal the 1000. 00 amendment which would mean that it would no longer be the to shell. It president for or to and if that happens and. Even though he never would be would be able to contest or forthcoming for another president ial elections theyll be held. In russia was a pass a has been promising that once elected president he would provide strong leadership improve the National Security and tackle economy now my question is how can someone like rosa parks tackle an issue of the high debt and the sluggish Economic Growth the has crippled the country for quite some time now well before i answer that question id just like to look at what they do previous speakers said. You know you have to remember that a lot of the attacks on journalists were alleged to have been done by the throat from sake of the British High Commission defense attack who reports have been suppressed by the British Government actually called me into his office when i was there for a workshop and told me that they had been informed that behind the groups that killed us and they would commit the was no im in command authority from sacre he did tell me that apparently the group headed by far of them take a while they want. All the reports that were issued by the International HumanRights Organization the United Nations the war saying basically the or happened under the watch of my handle as a whole is to be hold accountable for those atrocities committed against journalists who were right. Im just reading that what the British High Commission to me at the time was that gautama knew about clerical im sorry cause that scott and certainly both he and my english should being tougher but you have to remember this was in the midst of a war and after the war was won they actually when farrakhan take a try to stop the resettlement of a lot of the time males and that in his Resignation Letter yet he was mind all of ignoring his advice to people tamils longer i think there in the you know they moved him out and then he became the darling of the west so i think you have to look at the situation in 2009 and what the British Defense attache said unique and you have to wonder why the british are not revealing is reports even though it needs to try to get them similarly with the argument about the 19th amendment you know i was one of those who went against mind the rajapaksa because i felt that we needed to use the power of the president and what we wanted and rock and he said was to give more part of the punishment but what brought in the commission it did was try to get executive buying cute little nouns of Prime Minister and it is deliberately meant that must be changed the independent commissions must be truly independent not appointed by. Members of the executive like the Prime Minister who are shooting at a point a lot of friends there believe the president were so i want to make it very clear that while we need reforms the reforms should be inthe towards reducing the power of the executive including the brits going down the Prime Minister and giving more power to parliament including financial control i need to have not been enough and i would be in parliament i try to get cool given statute replant so that it could actually instruct the executive or simply to take an on site and restore event and that for her to run out of time i need to move forward i need to move forward because i have almost 3 minutes left. Raj. With rosa parks and now in power how is it likely that he will be able to bring back relations with china to what the is to be and his brother my in the well i think this 2 things to bear in mind over here which is that the. Administration had previously a close relationship with china now sri lanka is a small strategically important country and has to deal with the fact and has to calibrate that relationship but these 2 large countries in the region india and china and the previous are to parts of asia and was considered to have tilted too close to china and incurred a significant amount of displeasure and concern from new delhi now the interesting thing is that whatever departs has made it very clear that he plans to improve and revamp the Security Sector in the intelligence sector and to cultivate closer ties with Foreign Intelligence Services so i think that that is likely to lead him into a closer relationship with india as opposed to with china exactly so it was quite possible. That that allusion ship will will. Its quite possible that he will be looking to reach out to india and terms of intelligence cooperation while at the same time also maintaining links with china a very briefly russian a less than a minute if you dont mind my hand almost caused a diplomatic crisis with india when hell are chinese submarines to dock is for local twice without informing india should the Indian Government now be pretty much concerned about. In power well the whole submarine issue was there. To india and india was i happy that she likely did not consult new delhi when the decision was taken but i think im very eager to buy a presidency hes going to have a balance and no more new ones or policy. To what my hindu. During his own president see i think hes going to try to balance the really shows like india and china but also with other bigger powers its a small state indian ocean pantry so its going to. I wish we had more time to continue our conversation about the different aspects of the story in sri lanka poor browsers vinocur. We jensen have thank you very much indeed for your presence i thank you too for watching you can see the program again any time by visiting our website alleges he allowed dot com for further discussion go to our Facebook Page thats facebook dot com forward slash a. J. As i saw it you can also join the conversation on twitter our handle is a. J. Inside story from a house and the whole team here by phone now. From lagos to jerusalem to buy em off to go and see my old form for milestones in history and bugger on. 3 short films that show how people take a stand against evictions in the struggling communities the 1st time they arrested me i was 11 years old a. J. Selects on aljazeera. The stories generate thousands of headlines these protests are saying down with the system and down with all of the parts with different angles from different perspectives just because we came to prison days and me write stuff that the gate separate the spin from the facts the western media jumps on stories lead on taking down the misinformation from the journalism its about telling the stories are those human beings i think along with the listening post on aljazeera and investigation into the real powers that control the World Health Organization their obligation to their shareholders completely overwhelms any consideration of Public Health can they be trusted with building a healthier future if their loyalty becomes questionable reason a People Better h one n one is it getting much difficult like you now a w h o s s cast who says dont trust that you trust tool on aljazeera. Weve now declared that settlements are not per se illegal under International Law condemnation from palestine as washington reverses the decades old us policy on israeli settlements. Along daryn jordan this is al jazeera also coming up ill concede a just protesters still barricaded inside a university to leave peacefully as Police Continue to surround the compass. Tight security outside Lebanons Parliament as protesters moved to perth