TNA MP cautions on PC elections harped on by Geneva resolution
[TamilNet, Friday, 29 March 2013, 15:05 GMT]
“We are a distinct Nation with historic records in this soil, proving
our evolution [as a Nation]. The Sinhala Nation destroyed us. A nation
was destroyed by another nation here. But, the international community
has handed us over to those who destroyed us to investigate the crimes
against us; we have been handed over to those who fired upon us; to
those who fired shells on us; to those who fired phosphorus bombs
against us; to those who fired cluster munitions on us. How can you
expect justice from this country [of the Sinhala Nation],” asked Tamil
National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Sivagnanam Sritharan, in a press
meet in Jaffna on Wednesday. “Therefore, an intervention by the
international community is a must and an urgent one,” failing which the
existence of the Tamil nation in the island would be wiped out from the
maps of the world, he further said.
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian S Sritharan addressing journalists at Jaffna Press Club on Wednesday
Mr Sritharan was addressing media in Jaffna at the Jaffna Press Club on Wednesday. The
TNA parliamentarian also noted that the resolution passed at Geneva was
making reference to conduct Provincial Council elections to the
Northern Province.
“We find ourselves in a situation where we
have to take part in the PC elections. Since we have already taken part
in the PC elections in the East, we can’t denounce the PC elections in
the North. If we don’t take part, it would be viewed as a wrong thing.
Since the recently passed UNHRC resolution, brought out by the USA for
the second time, also mentions the elections to Northern Province,
taking part in the PC elections has become a necessity as well as a
pressure thrust upon us,” he said.
But, the SL government aims
at deploying the All Ceylon Muslim Congress led by SL minister Rishard
Badurdeen, the EPDP led by Douglas Devananda, the SLFP [in North] led by
Geetanjali or Angkayan, the SLMC, various other factions and the
so-called independent groups to contest separately in the Northern PC
elections, Sritharan said.
“The SL government has schemed a plan
to [divide and conquer]. Unlike in Jaffna peninsula, this would have an
impact in Vanni – in Ki’linochchi, Mannaar, Vavuniyaa and
Mullaiththeevu,” Mr Sritharan said.
Citing that there are only 3
seats in Ki’linochchi district, the grassroots oriented parliamentarian
said that even if the TNA polled 40,000 votes, it will only receive one
seat under the proportional representation system as all parties that
manage to poll more than 5% votes would have a claim for a seat. The
exact number of seats from Ki’linochchi is yet to be announced by the SL
Department of Elections.
The SL government is now gifting
motorbikes to those former LTTE members who are now brought under the
so-called Civil Security Division, where they are given monthly wages of
18,000 rupees each. They are held under the grip of the SL government.
Likewise,
there are 67,000 homeless people, 35,000 in Ki’linochchi district and
32,000 in Mullaiththeevu district. Following the resolution passed in
Geneva, the SL government is aiming to use these details to obtain
further funds from foreign countries as if it is going to help these
people and utilize the opportunity to trap the people into its fold till
the elections are over.
“This is purely an exercise aimed at
the PC elections, the Tamil parliamentarian said adding that the EPDP
would also have its arsenal of arms, violence and powers to be deployed
for the manipulation of the voting. I don’t need to tell how Rishard
Badurdeen would behave under elections, as you are all aware,” Mr
Sritharan said. “It is an easy task for these parties to gain 5% voting
through manipulations”.
“They will contest the elections
separately, but after the elections, the SL government would bring an
alliance consisting of them to seize the power of the Provincial
Council,” he said adding that similar tactics was used by the SL
government in the East.
“We are not prepared to fool our people
that this PC system would bring in solutions to our problems. Neither
are we prepared to fool our people that a political solution would come
through this system. Perhaps, the act of taking part in these elections
could set the course for the demise of the TNA. Perhaps, we may get into
a situation where we can’t talk anymore about resolving our national
question,” he said adding that the TNA has been placed at a situation
where it cannot ignore taking part, as those are opposed to the TNA
would be filling the seats of the PC. However, he said: “With the
backing of our people and using the PC elections, we have to again prove
that we are united and remain powerful under the TNA.”
Mr
Sritharan also expressed displeasure on the conduct of Ranil
Wickramasinghe, who has offered to save the SL State by convening an
all-party meeting. Except, Mano Ganeshan, who opposed the proposal, even
those whom we go around boasting as ‘progressive forces’ among the
Sinhalese wearing red shirts were keeping mum with the UNP, he said.
Coming
hard on the SL propaganda being waged by the SL Governor, Major General
(retd.) GA Chandrasiri, that the people under the LTTE had no
development for 30 years, the TNA parliamentarian said the real
development of the people of Vanni was witnessed under the LTTE-run
civil administration. This was much more meaningful than what the SL
government is bragging as ‘development’ it had brought forward,
Sritharan said.
Even, most of the buildings that the SL
government has claimed opened for civilians along the A9 road after the
war, were in fact buildings that were built by the LTTE for the civilian
infrastructure, he said, citing examples and challenging the SL
government to disprove his claim.
