TNA should use its Tamil national mandate: Bishop of Mannaar

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 January 2012, 15:32 GMT]
The aim of the Tamil civil groups’ memorandum dated 13 December 2011 and addressed to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was in fact to strengthen the Tamil national polity and its democratically mandated representatives. It was not meant to weaken the TNA. There is a mandate given by the people to the TNA about continuing talks with the SL government and that the TNA in its course of action should stick to its mandate is the thrust of the memorandum, clarified the Bishop of Mannaar, Most Reverend Rayappu Joseph, in a press release issued on last Monday on behalf of the civil society signatories of the memorandum.

Mannaar Bishop Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph

Welcoming the discourse evoked by the memorandum and thanking the comments pro and against, the Bishop expressed his deep regrets at those who politicise and personally attack the signatories of the civil society memorandum.

“On several occasions, and from time to time, most of us discussed the issues with the TNA parliamentarians and we have come out with the public memorandum after deep contemplation,” the press release said.

• Statement by Mannaar Bishop (Tamil)

In what way reminding the TNA parliamentarians about the mandate of the people could harm unity, asked the press release, adding that empty rhetoric on unity is useless, unless the envisaged unity of Tamil political parties have a bearing at strengthening the Tamil national polity, the press release reminded.

“Genuine and people’s polity could come only through a continued political discourse with the concerned people. The aim of the civil society memorandum is to create a space for it.”

The signatories of the memorandum don’t have intentions of electoral politics, as it was not a manifesto for any election. The memorandum did not favour the TNA directly participating the Provincial Council elections, but it was clear on the point of not allowing anti-Tamil national elements capturing the Council, the press release further said.

According to the press release there was communication between the TNA and the civil society representatives and there is positive expectation about a meeting between the parties soon.

The Bishop of Mannaar was the leading signatory of the civil society memorandum.

The Bishop made a historic contribution in internationally putting on record with evidence, the figure of 146, 679 people who went unaccounted in the Vanni war alone.

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