TNA-Fonseka talks affable

DAILY MIRROR 22nd Decemeber 2009

By Kelum Bandara The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said yesterday that there was an appreciation of its concerns by Opposition Common Candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka at the discussion with him on Sunday night, which the party’s Parliamentary group would take up for consideration today. The TNA has already taken a decision not to boycott the Presidential election or to field a separate candidate for it with the party expected to support one of the candidates contesting the Presidency. It has already disassociated itself from the candidature of its MP M.K. Sivajilingam. Party leader R. Sampanthan told the Daily Mirror that it was just another meeting with Gen. Fonseka as a Presidential candidate of the opposition. “It took place in a cordial atmosphere. We exchanged views. There was an appreciation of our concerns,” he said. However, Mr. Sampanthan did not say the outcome of the meeting was either positive or negative. Asked whether the TNA would meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa, he said that his party would do so if the need arises. TNA MP Suresh Premachandran who also participated in this meeting said that the discussion was centred on his party’s requests such as the removal of certain military camps in the North, the constriction of the High Security Zones, the resettlement of displaced civilians in a proper manner and a programme for the Tamil youths now in custody or in remand prison. Mr. Premachandran said that the meeting lasted from 9.00 p.m to 11.00 p.m. TNA General Secretary Mavai Senathirajah and MP Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam also participated in the meeting. UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya also took part in the meeting which was aimed as securing the support of the TNA for Gen. Fonseka’s bid for the Presidency. Meanwhile, TNA MP N. Sri Kantha who has pledged support to the candidature of his colleague M. K. Sivajilingam, said yesterday that they were of the considered view that the TNA should not support any of the two main candidates since both of them had failed to spell out their stands on the ethnic question except occasional references to the 13th Amendment. He was responding to party leader R. Sampanthan who said the party had decided neither to field a candidate nor boycott the election. Mr. Sri Kantha said there was no decision as such at the end of the meeting held on December 9, and attended by 17 MPs. “If there was any, it was to meet again,” he said. With the TNA leadership along with a few other MPs being out of the country, Mr. Sri Kantha said, they were in a dilemma. He said it is absolutely meaningless to support any of the two main candidates without a firm and public commitment from them on the ethnic question. “That is why we fielded a candidate in the absence of a decision by the party. It is not still too late for the party to make a rational and logical decision though choices are very limited now,” he said. He said the party could either endorse the candidature of Mr. Sivajilingam or boycott the election. “We are ready to discuss in this regard,” he said.

TNA should not support the two main presidential candidates – TELO MP Srikantha

TNA and TELO parliamentarian Srikantha says their party should not support the main presidential candidates as they have still not brought in a proposed solution for the ethnic problem faced in the country. He further added both candidates have pointed out on the implementation of the 13th amendment bill but no clear word on a permanent solution to the problem faced by the minority.Srikantha says Sampathan’s comments on not boycotting the elections or fielding a candidate was not true as stated earlier as a decision taken during the meeting held on the 9th of December. He added no clear decision were made during the meeting and went on to say the TNA should support M.K Sivajilingam or boycott the polls.Meanwhile the TNA leader R. Sampanthan stated they had a very constructive meeting with General Fonseka last Sunday.He said the general gave very positive replies to the requests and points put forward by the party.No detailed comments were made on the outcome of this meeting by both sides.

Tamil National Alliance met again regarding Presidential election, but decision not taken.

[ Wednesday, 23 December 2009, 02:21.10 AM GMT +05:30 ]

Reports states, in regard to the upcoming Presidential election, the Tamil National Alliance met for a decision of whom to support, but final decision was not taken. The meeting was held at the Parliament complex today from 10.00 a.m to 4.00 p.m.

During the discussions the issues discussed with President Mahinda Rajapakse and General Candidate Sarath Fonseka were taken for discussion, and those attended the meeting, gave their individual opinions. On this basis, it was decided to meet again on the forthcoming 4th, until then discussions would be held with the main candidates was according to sources. Meanwhile speculations are that the Tamil National Alliance will most probably take a decision before the postal voting of which candidate to support at the upcoming Presidential election. At today’s meeting Sivanathan Kishore, Sri Skantha did not attend and Selvam Adaikalanthan, Thangeswari and Chandrakanthan were not in Colombo hence they also did not attend the meeting was according to reports. Hence the participants at the meeting were R.Sambanthan, Mawai Senanitharaja, Ariyanenthiran , Suresh Piremachandran, Gajendrakumar, Gajendran, Pathmini Sithambaranathan Sivashakthy Ananthan, Vino Nokarathalingam, Imam, Thurairatna Singam and Cyril

Anti-Fonseka Group within the TNA prevails
Colombo, 23 December

SMS leadership (Left to Right) R. Sampanthan, Mavai S. Senathirajah, and Suresh Premachandran

Attempts made by the Tamil National Alliance’s SMS leadership (R. Sampanthan, Mavai S. Senathirajah, and Suresh Premachandran) – a subtle move to thrust a decision on the rest of the TNA Parliamentary Group MPs to back General (retd.) Sarath Fonseka, the decimator of Tamils’ resistance, has again come to a cropper yesterday, with the majority of the parliamentarians present stiffly resisting the move.

The yesterday's meeting of the TNA Parliamentary group was attended by 12 out of the 22 Members of Parliament, which was presided over by the group leader R. Sampanthan.

It is understood that questions were raised by some concerned MPs for not extending the invitation to attend to three of its MPs, namely – the Presidential candidate M.K.Sivajilingham, his proposer N.Srikantha and also Sivananthn Kisshor – the Vanni electoral district Parliamentarian who has publicly anounced of his support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Asian Tribune learnt that the explanation was given by one of the members of the SMS leadership that the conduct of those three MPs needed to be discussed by the parliamentary group and hence they were not invited.

This abrasive explanation failed to find favor with most of those parliamentarians. Finding that there was opposition in this regard, the SMS leadership shifted the focus to the discussion they had with Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and company.

It became evident that 7 TNA MPs were quiet clear with their stance that TNA should not support either Sarath Fonseka or President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Though the meeting lasted for three and a half to four hours, even skipping the lunch, there was no signs of any positive inclination on the part of the majority of the MPs to accept the proposal of the SMS leadership, that subtly and ingeniously introduced the agenda with vested interest, other than taking the interest of the Tamils in particular, according to a Parliamentarian who attended yesterday’s group meeting.

It is learnt that TNA parliamentarians Gajendrakumar Ponnampalam, Solomon Cyril, Vino Noharathalingham, Packiyaselvam Ariyanethiran, Selvarajah Kajendran, Pathmini Sithamparanathan and Kathirgamathamby Thurairetnasingham showed their opposition to back Sarath Fonseka.

The trio forming the SMS leadership, R. Sampanthan, Mavai Senathirajah, Suresh Premachandran and the other EPRLF MP from Vanni Sivasakthi Anananthan spoke in favor of supporting Sarath Fonseka.

Furthermore, the National list MP from Jaffna Raseen Mohammed Imam was not supportive and remain evasive.

The notable absentees for the parliamentary group meetings were Selvam Adaikalanathan - President of the TELO, Dr. Thomas Thangathurai William, and the other nominated MP from the East Chandra Nehru Chandrakanthan.

It is also learnt that those 3 MPs are also opposed to supporting either of the two main Presidential candidates.

In this scenario with Senathirajah Jeyananthamoorthy has already expressed his opposition to TNA extending its support to any of the two main contenders in the Presidential election, it is now very clear that despite SMS leadership trying their best to outsmart the TNA MPs, a failed ploy similar to those ploys adopted in the earlier days by the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchchi leadership in the sixties and in the beginning of the seventies, the SMS leadership remains isolated and vanquished.

To this report, it is also important to add that M. K. Sivajilingham – the TELO Leader and his proposer N. Srikantha, Jaffna district MP have already defied the hegemony of the SMS leadership, with the former entering the Presidential fray.

Also mentioned should be made about Thangeswary Kathiraman, MP from Batticaloa, who has already expressed her frustration over the manipulation of the SMS leadership.

As it is, it is clear that the SMS leadership remains isolated, the stance of other Batticaloa MP Thanmanpillai Kanagasabai, who is now in India, is yet to be made known. As all the other 3 Batticaloa district TNA parliamentarians going against Fonseka, it is expected that he too would join the rest of the parliamentarians from the district.

The only exception in the whole scenario is Sathasivam Kanagaratnam MP. He is being held at the 4th Floor of the Police Secretariat since 19 May 2009, just after the conclusion of the bloody conflict.

The SMS leadership so far has not taken any concrete measures for his release, except Asian Tribune which continues to highlight his case and plight and urges for his release.

Asian Tribune learnt that only two TNA parliamentarians - Vanni District MP Sivananthan Kisshor and N. Srikantha were the two who have visited him in the 4th floor.

Furthermore, at the conclusion of the group meeting, announcement for the next group meeting was made as it will be held in the first week of January 2010, most probably when the next parliamentary sitting is scheduled on 5th January 2010.

The SMS leadership also anounced that, they might be visting New Delhi. They said that they expect an invitation from New Delhi soon for talks about the political development in Sri Lanka and the position of the Tamils at the present context.

In the meantime Asian Tribune also learnt that Sivajilingham, the Presidential candidate, who is presently in the United Kingdom, is expected to return to Sri Lanka on the eve of Christmas.

- Asian Tribune -

A section of TNA coming forward to support Sarath Fonseka : The rift widens within the outfit

(Asiantribune.com)
Mon, 2009-12-21 18:23

The Tamil National Alliance leadership has summoned the Parliamentary Group meeting tomorrow to finalize on their support to Sarath Fonseka in the forthcoming Presidential Election, it is learnt.

Asian Tribune reliably learnt that yesterday night R. Sampanthan, TNA Parliamentary Group Leader, Mavai Senathirajah Deputy Leader and Suresh Premachanthiran the Parliamentary Group whip were having discussion with Ranil Wickremasinghe, the leader of the United National Party.

Furthermore, Asian Tribune learnt that the SMS leadership of the TNA were to meet later with General Sarath Fonseka too, to finalize their deal.

It was not clear whether they had any discussion with Sarath Fonseka.

When Asian Tribune contacted the deputy leader Mavai Senathirajah, he excused himself as he was with some officials. Sampanthan and Suresh Premachanthiran were not available for clarification.

In the meantime, many TNA parliamentarians have informed that they will not be available for the group meeting tomorrow as it was being arranged on a very short notice.

It is unclear what sort of an understanding TNA leadership has reached with Sarath Fonseka, to come up with a proposal to discuss tomorrow in the Parliamentary group meeting.

If in case the TNA leadership has finalized anything with Sarath Fonseka, will they come up publicly with the written agreement they have entered with Sarath Fonseka?

Also will they be in a position to spell out the terms and conditions agreed upon with someone who takes pride in decimating LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, his family and all the topnotch leadership of the LTTE which was instrumental in organizing the TNA as a proxy political outfit of the LTTE.

In the meantime it is learnt that the boycott lobby spearheaded by TNA parliamentarian Gajendrakumar Ponnabalam backed by another six MPs including himself and Jayananthamurthy who is presently on self-exile in London are reviewing their position regarding their stance despite pressure being excreted by the SMS leadership which intends to support Sarath Fonseka.

It is learnt that some supporters of the TNA who are unhappy with the political stance of the SMS leadership of TNA, and it is learnt that an understanding is emerging slowly between the boycott group and the Sivagilingham supporters.

But Asian Tribune learnt that M.K. Sivajilingham and N. Srikantha are keen on enlisting the support of those who backed the proposal of TNA feeding a candidate at the last Parliamentary group meeting.

The latest TNA’s position, Parliamentarians pulling apart, there is every possibility of a show down between pro-Foneska backers and the rest.

Though the TELO has not made any official pronouncement of supporting Sivajilingham, the leaders of TELO, contesting the election according to some reports the other two TELO parliamentarians Selvam Adaikalnathan and Vino Noha Rathalingham also the other leaders of the TELO would come out openly to support Sivajilingham towards the tail end of the campaign.

Asian Tribune learnt that there is also another four MPs of the TNA, who would endorse the candidature of Sivajilingham at one stage or other.

Interestingly at the weekly Sakthi TV’s minnal program, Srikantha the TNA MP who proposed Sivajilingham has lashed out at both Mahinda Rajapakse and Sarath Foneska for failing to have taken a clear stance on the ethnic question. He has asserted that TNA under no circumstances should support either of them.

“ It is a power struggle that is going on between the Sinhalese leadership and as an oppressed nation, the Tamils have no role in that”, he mentioned.

TNA sharply divided over presidential election

DAILY MIRROR 11th Dec 2009

By Kelum Bandara The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) were sharply divided over the presidential election whether to support any of the two main candidates after its second consecutive parliamentary group meeting held yesterday. The TELO, a constituent party of the TNA, mooted the idea of fielding a candidate for the election on behalf of the party. Four TELO MPs namely M.K. Sivajilingam, N. Sri Kantha, Selvam Adaikkalanathan and Vino Noharathalingam and three other TNA MPs supported this proposal. MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam who represented the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) proposed that the TNA should boycott the election in the Northern and Eastern Provinces while asking the people in the south to vote for New Left Front candidate Wickramabahu Karunaratne whom the party considers as a person espousing Tamil aspirations. Mr. Ponnambalam’s proposal was backed by two other MPs in the party. Five MPs including leader R. Sampanthan were not in favour of fielding a candidate, and instead adopted a ‘wait and watch’ approach. They highlighted that the party should take a decision accordingly depending on the political developments in terms of the election. A TNA MP who wished to remain anonymous told Daily Mirror that there was one member who wanted to support Opposition Common Candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka. However, he declined to reveal his name. Seventeen MPs attended the meeting yesterday, held at the parliamentary complex, and a few MPs remained non-committal on the election. Nevertheless, they agreed to stand by the party’s decision in this respect. There was also an idea mooted by one MP to field a TNA parliamentarian as an independent candidate for the election. The party is expected to meet soon to take a final decision. The TNA is an amalgam of four parties. In addition to the TELO and the ALTC, the EPRLF and TULF are the other two parties.

Srikantha, Kisshor deny plotting crossover to govt.
NATION -22nd Nov 2009
TNA Parliamentarians N. Srikantha and Sivanathan Kisshor vehemently denied reports that they were about to cross over to the government, but vowed to work constructively with the authorities on issues affecting Tamils, especially those in IDP camps.

Srikantha conceded that a few local government politicians from the TNA, including the Chairman of the Trincomalee Urban Council had crossed over to the government ranks in recent days, but he had no such intention, having been fighting for Tamil cause since a teenager.

Both Srikantha and Kisshor, however, hinted that they might see some surprises coming from within the TNA fold, in the event the that opposition alliance decides to field Gen. Sarath Fonseka as their common candidate.
They said that the undue delay in naming their common candidate by the UNF could be the opposition being shown to Fonseka from within the alliance.

They even hinted at fielding a common Tamil candidate as one of the options at their disposal at the forthcoming

முகாம்களில் வைத்து கைது செய்யப்பட்டோர் விவரம் வவுனியா செயலகத்தில் பார்வைக்கு
UTHAYAN 2009-11-18
பஸில் ராஜபக்ஷ நடவடிக்கை
வன்னியில் இருந்து இடம்பெயர்ந்து வவுனியா அகதி முகாம்களில் தங்கியிருந்த வேளை, கைது செய்யப்பட்டு தடுத்து வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளவர்களின் பெயர் மற்றும் விவரங்கள் வவுனியா செயலகத்தில் காட்சிப்படுத்தப்படும். வன்னி சென்று திரும்பிய தமிழ்த்தேசிய கூட்டமைப்பின் நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்கள் குழுவுக்கும் ஜனாதிபதியின் சிரேஷ்ட ஆலோசகரும் வடக்கு மீள்குடியமர்வு மற்றும் அபிவிருத்திக்குமான ஜனாதிபதி செயலணியின் தலைவருமான பஸில் ராஜபக்ஷவுக்கும் இடையில் நேற்று இடம் பெற்ற சந்தப்பில் இதற்கான முடிவு மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டது.நேற்றுமுன்தினம் வவுனியாவில் உள்ள நலன்புரி நிலையங்களுக்குச் சென்ற தமிழ்த் தேசிய கூட்டமைப்பின் நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்கள் எழுவர் கொண்ட குழு, நேற்று பஸில் ராஜபக்ஷவைச் சந்தித்துக் கலந்துரையாடியது.

அகதி முகாம்களில் உள்ள மக்களின் பிரச்சினைகள் தொடர்பாக நேற்றைய சந்திப்பில் தாங்கள் விவரமாக எடுத்து விளக்கியதாக அக்குழுவில் அங்கம் வகித்த என்.சிறிகாந்தா எம்.பி. தெரிவித்தார். நேற்றைய சந்திப்பில் இணக்கம் காணப்பட்ட விடயங்கள் தொடர்பாக அவர் தெரிவித்தவையாவது:

*இந்தச் சந்திப்பில் பஸில் ராஜபக்ஷ வுடன் நீதி அமைச்சர் மிலிந்த மொற கொடவும் பங்குபற்றினார். நலன்புரி நிலையங்களில் தங்கியுள்ள மக்களின் குறைபாடுகள், பிரச்சினைகள் தொடர்பாக விளக்கமளித்தோம். பின்வரும் கோரிக்கை களை அவரிடம் முன்வைத்தோம்.*முகாம்களில் இருந்து விடுவிக்கப் பட்டு மீள்குடியமர்ந்தவர்களைக் கைது செய்யும் செயற்பாடுகள் சாவகச்சேரியில் முன்னெடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. இடம்பெயர்ந்து முகாம்களில் தடுத்து வைக்கப்பட்டு முழு விசாரணைகள் முடிவுற்ற நிலையில் மீள் குடியமர்த்தப்பட்டவர்கள், தொல்லைகள் எதுவும் இன்றி வாழ அனுமதிக்க வேண் டும். இதற்கான நடவடிக்கையை முன்னெ டுக்குமாறு வலியுறுதித்னோம்.* இடம்பெயர்ந்த மக்கள் வாழும் நலன்புரி நிலையங்களில் தங்கியிருப்பவர்களைக் கைது செய்யும் போது, அவர்களது உறவினர்களுக்கு "ரசிது" வழங்க வேண்டும்.* முகாம்களில் உள்ளவர்களுக்கு அரிசி, கோதுமை மா, பருப்பு, சீனி ஆகியவற்றுடன் மேலதிகமாக மரக்கறி வகைகளை வழங்க வேண்டும்.*போதியளவு பால்மா கிடைக்க ஏற்பாடு செய்யவேண்டும்.மீளக்குடியமர்ந்தவர்களுக்குப் போது மான அளவு கொடுப்பனவு வழங்க வேண்டும் என்றும் வலியுறுத்தினோம்.

“TNA Satisfied with IDP Resettlement” – MP Sri Kantha
Lanka sun 17th November 2009
Seven MPs of the TNA went to the displaced camps and to meet the resettled people for the first time. The visit was organized by Government.
After visiting the IDP camps for the first time since they were set up after the end of the war the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), said yesterday there was a sense of commitment by the military and civil officials in this respect. The government appeared to be serious about the resettlement of these displaced persons. TNA members said there was a sense of commitment by the military and civil officials in this respect.
N. Srikantha MP, S. Krishoor MP, S. Adaikalanathan MP, Thomas William, Vino Nogarathelingham MP, P. Ariyanethran MP and R. M. Imam MP are the seven that went to the area to meet the IDPs.
MP Sivanathan Krishoor said “We are really satisfied with the facilities given to those who in relief villages and resettled. We could see the happiness in our peoples’ faces and this is what we wished and we thank the government for the help they do to our people”.
MPs visited Vanni by helicopter and accompanied by the commander of Vanni, Major General Kamal Gunarathne and Minister of Natural Disaster Rizarth Badiudeen. Maj. Gen. Gunarathne explained about the resettlement and rehabilitation process in the meeting held at Vanni Army Head Quarters.
MPs have visited Chettikulam, Ananda Kumaraswamy and Arunachchalam relief villages and had discussions with those in the camps and fond the facilities made to the people are satisfactory though they are not complete. There were enough infant food and health facilities are provided. The IDPs requested the MPs to help them get vegetables for money at least. They had lost all equipments, machinery, vehicles and even their houses.
The visiting team was the view that their lives in camps must not go on forever. They must be resettled. Hence it is necessary to help them get them back.
The MPs were able to witness the speedy de-mining areas in Mallavi, Thunukkai and Mangkulam and were convinced that the officials will be able to finish the task by January 31st and resettle the rest of the people. The TNA MPs said they would contact the Governor of the Province and the commanders of Jaffna and Vanni to help the people further.Thereafter they viewed the Manner Kattukkaraikulam Bridge which is under reconstruction. The Giant Tank at Murungan is now being rehabilitated with Japanese aid and it would definitely help the people of the area they pointed out. They further said their action in any thing is limited and can only interfere to a certain extent.

Names of detained prisoners will be out soon - Minister Moragoda
17th November 2009
The names of those who were arrested from the camps and where they are being kept would be placed for public view at Vavuniya Katchcheri affirmed Melinda Moragoda the minister for justice and judicial reforms to the TNA members of parliament.
The meeting between the MPs of TNA and Basil Rajapaksha senior presidential advisor and leader of working committee for north took place at the parliamentary complex. At the meeting Basil promised TNA that in addition to the Rs. 25, 000/- action to give Rs. 50/ per day to each family is to be undertaken soon to help the resettled families. He pointed out that the vegetables given to the people in the camps are given by the UN and promised them to take steps after discussion to supply more vegetables to the people.
In the meeting when TN pointed out about the sufferings of the relations of the people arrested from the camps not knowing whether their relations arrested in the camps are living or not Minister Melinda promised to display the names of those arrested and where they are kept at Vavuniya secretariat premises to help the families and relations of those arrested.

TNA leaders see IDP camps, express relief, call for more financial aid
Asiantribune 17th Nov 2009

N.Srikantha TNA Parliamentarian Terming their visit to IDP welfare centres at Menik Farm and other places on Nov 16 as a very good opportunity to have a firsthand assessment .
N.Srikantha, Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian who led a six member TNA parliamentary delegation, said overall there is solid ground for satisfaction at the progress in resettling the IDPs. The people are in an upbeat mood, he said and added that there is a strong case to increase the cash relief from Rs. 25000 as the extent of damage varied from house to house and village to village.
In his view, the officials at the camps were very down to earth , very cooperative and (of) understanding nature .
R.N.Imam, P. Ariyenthiran, Selvam Adaikalanathan, Sivanahtan Kishor, S.Vino Noharathalingam, and Dr.Thomas William are the other members of the delegation. An acupuncture specialist, Thomas became an MP from Amparai district in place of Pathmanathan, who died. He is an acupuncture specialist in his early 60s
Srikantha and his colleagues held discussions with the IDPs, officials, and local army authorities to gain an understanding of the situation. Their interaction helped to speed up the dates for the return of some families and for some others the date of return was hastened.
Talking about their visit with Asian Tribune, TNA leader SriKantha stated that at their request the authorities agreed to introduce a system that would allow IDP to leave the camps freely during day time and meet their relatives and friends in other camps around the Menik Farm area. The system should be in place very soon. Then there won t be any restrictions on the IDPs to visit their kith and kin .
Another positive fall-out of the visit, according to TNA MP was the willingness of the authorities to let wives and children meet surrendered suspects who are held in an exclusive camp.
While on IDP camps, the delegation went around schools, and went to Mannar to see the developmental work that is being carried on in Mannar district like at the bund being raised at the Giants Tank.
Here is the text of the Interview:
Asian Tribune: How was your trip to the IDP welfare centers?
N.Srikantha MP: Well, it was O.K. I mean we visited the IDP camps today (on Monday 16 November).
Asian Tribune: Who are the others with you in TNA delegation ?
N.Srikantha MP: They are our parliamentarians R.N.Imam, P. Ariyenthiran, Selvam Adaikalanathan, Sivanahtan Kishor, S.Vino Noharathalingam, , Dr.Thomas William and myself.Asian Tribune: Dr. Thomas William?
N.Srikantha MP: Yes. Thomas. He is a new comer to parliament from Amparai district in place of the late Pathmanathan. He is an acupuncture specialist in his early 60s. First, we went to the IDP camps located in the Menik Farm, Cheddikulam to meet with the people there, and talked with them freely. The Governor of Northern Province Major General Chandrasri and Vanni commander Major General Kamaal Gunaratna accompanied us together with several other officials, both from the military and civil administration.
Asian Tribune: What about the GA?
N.Srikantha MP: Yes, the Vavuniya GA wasn t there, but when we went to Mannar, the Mannar GA was there. We talked to the IDPs and we find that the required basic the amenities are there, but, however, there are few shortcomings here and there. The IDPs did not complain with regard to the basic amenities.
Basically they are yearning to go back to their homes. That is the repeated request made everywhere and they are trying to find out when they will be able to go. Now that little over 100,000 have left the camps and got resettled and these people are also trying to find out when they will also be allowed to leave. Well, that is quiet natural. We were able to give certain section of the IDPs positive indication of the possible dates in which they will be able to leave the camp after we gathered the information from the officials concerned. For some we were able to tell that they will be resettled in their areas commencing on the 1st of December 2009. In regards to some others we were able to say they will be resettled from the 15th of December 2009. Because officials were there, so we were passing on these questions to officials and they were giving us the information.
Another request was to get a pass system, whereby IDPs are able to leave the camps freely during day time, so that they could visit their relatives and friends in other camps around the Menik Farm area. So we passed it on to the officials and they said that very soon they are going to introduce a system whereby all will be able to visit their kith and kin and there won t be any restriction.
At present, they are allowed to visit relatives but in a very restricted manner. Also with regards to the people in the special camps, that mean the detainees, they are the surrendees including those who got conscripted and there were some request from some people that the head of the family is there and the rest of the family is in the IDP camps. The family members would like to meet with the father or the husband of the child. Therefore, they can meet frequently though even currently they are allowed such meetings but only one member from each family can go there. A lady was complaining that how could she leave her children alone and go and meet her husband who is there? That is understandable
Asian Tribune: They are separated?
N.Srikantha MP: Yes, the man is suspected of LTTE connection, surrendered or subsequently arrested, so he is in the camp meant for such people and whereas the wife and the children are in one of these camps meant for the civilians; the wife would like to meet with the husband and children would like to meet with father. We put that question to the officials and they said that they will allow.
Asian Tribune: The officials were very friendly and down to earth?
N.Srikantha MP: Yes, they were very cooperative and of understanding nature. Then we went to Mannar. We were able to see the development work that is being carried on in Mannar district. One is the Giants Tank. The level of the bund is getting raised by another 2 feet and the work is almost over.
The engineers there explained the prospect of irrigation covering wide range of area almost about 50,000 acres. There are also small tanks that are getting renovated. They say that the water from the small tanks will be first utilized. During the February- March period they will use the water from the Giants Tank for irrigation. \ Then we went to Karunkandal village, in Tirukettheeswaram area, we were able to meet with some children who were released from the IDP camps and are attending school for the last 4 or 5 days. The school got reopened very recently about a week ago. We were able to talk to the children and teachers and also some people who returned to their homes.
So the people who are resettled were really in an upbeat mood and they were repairing their houses and roofing it with tin sheets which are provided by the government and Rs. 25,000 in cash. But they need more things as the extent of damage varies from house to house. Most of the houses whether it is in Mannar, Vanni region Mullaiivu and Kilinochchi district and North of the Vavuniya district, you know the damage has been so extensive and I think in these areas more assistance is needed. Any way the people we met in Mannar and subsequently in Thulukai were in a positive mood. Mannar I think was more particularly in need of special help.
Asian Tribune: So you were in Malavi?
N.Srikantha MP: Yes, in the Malavi central college and all that. Yoga Puram Mahavittiyalayam has been reopened. We were told by one of the teachers that the students have started attending, first it was 200, then 500 and now it has jumped up to 800. So that, so many families are being resettled in Thunukkai area the resettlement is almost getting over in a day or two.
The last batch is there and they have been temporarily placed in some buildings or a school. They have been to their houses to check and they will be resettled either tomorrow or day after. So we find from the data provided also from the people met with both in Vavuniya in the Army head quarters and in the Thunukkai Brigade headquarters, there was a video presentation and we were able to get all the relevant details with maps. So there is information and convincing data to show that eventually people are being released on a daily basis. Even today I was told that in the zone number 3 or 4 people were getting released.
Asian Tribune: Things are moving?
N.Srikantha MP: The pace of resettlement is giving us satisfaction. The only problem is the rainy season and we were yet to have rains in full force with full vigour. The questions are what will happen in the event of this low lying area getting flooded. We put that question sometime back to Basil Rajapakse M.P when we met with him, he assured us that arrangement are made to house these people in some concrete buildings, eventually.
In Mannar the GA of Mannar was there and we were able to see the new bridge on the Mannar causeway linking Mannar Island and the mainland. You know the old bridge is getting replaced at a heavy cost and it will be reopened in February or March 2010. For me it is nothing new because I have been to Mannar many times. I was attending some of my cases in the Magistrate court of Mannar. But for the other MPs they were able to see the construction work coming to a completion. Asian Tribune: Give us your final assessment?
N.Srikantha MP: I must say that this was a very good opportunity for us to have a firsthand assessment of the situation prevailing in the IDP camps. And also the progress that is being made in resettling the IDPs, - overall a solid ground of satisfaction.
Asian Tribune: You know sometimes you will be blamed that you are making a positive comment favouring the government.
N.Srikantha MP: I am not bothered. We are viewing it positively. I know what you mean. There may be certain people who might try to twist our comments. As elected representatives of people, we can t be sitting in Colombo and making verbal jabs in regards to the whole question. We wanted to go there and see personally and we had to repeatedly ask the government and today we got the chance and we got the opportunity and the people when they saw us they were happy.
Asian Tribune: Have you made up got an idea as to what you should do for IDPs after seeing them?
N.Srikantha MP: As it is, apart from the assistance given by the government, the external assistance is essential. Our Tamils are everywhere in every part of the globe, so my appeal is that they should start contributing through a well organized channels.
Asian Tribune: What about your party TNA?N.Srikantha MP: That is right, we discussed this issue and now we want to have an organization.
Asian Tribune: Why a separate setup? Why don t you have committee in your party to look into the matter of funds to the IDPs?
N.Srikantha MP: No, Mr. Rajasingham that will lead to various allegations. Since the money had been used for political purposes, elections, we would not want anyone from TNA to be involved, maybe one or two the most. But we want people, social activists, community leaders, religious leaders and other people who are generally concerned to be there. The Rs. 25000 given by the Government is not enough and I have requested the government to raise the amount.
Asian Tribune: It is not even USD250. What can you the do with that?
N.Srikantha MP: Now many people have lost their tractors and other agricultural implements, a family we met in Thunukkai, the wife was worried about their vehicle that has been lost. They have been bravely facing all the hardship right from the day when the military conflict was raging so they gone really through the test of fire. Their only yearning is that they will be able to get back as quickly as possible. But at the same time they are also aware of the practical difficulties, the demining and all that, only thing that they want the matters to be speed up.
Asian Tribune: Have you seen the demining area?
N.Srikantha MP: Yes, yes I am coming to that. Karunkaddal area, we went there, and we were able to see the demining in progress, with the dogs and all.

Asian Tribune: Army people were involved?
N.Srikantha MP: Yes, basically it is done by the army. The main burden is carried by the army because army is well placed with the expertise to deal with the situation. Overall I would say it was a meaningful effort that has been put in by both our side in meeting with IDPs and our trip to Thunukkai. I must also say that both the military and the civilians are very serious about the resettlement. I was able to see that. We all hope that all those now in the IDP camps are resettled soon and everyone in the country is free to move around without any restrictions at all.

தமிழ் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்புக்குள் பிளவு ஏற்படும் நிலை!
- ஆர்.சிவகுருநாதன்- THINAKARAN 18th Nov 2009
ஐக்கிய தேசியக்கட்சி முக்கி முக்கிப் பிரச்சாரம் செய்தும், அதன் ‘ஐக்கிய தேசிய முன்னணி’ கூட்டணியில், ஐக்கிய தேசியக்கட்சி யின் பழைய தோஸ்த்துகளான ரவூப் ஹக்கீம், மங்கள சமரவீர, மனோகணேசன் ஆகியோரைத் தவிர வேறு புதிய முகங்கள் எவரும் இணைந்து கொள்ளவில்லை. சிலவேளைகளில் தமிழ் தேசியக்கூட்டமைப்பு போன்ற கட்சிகள் ‘அண்டர்கிரவுண்டாக’ இணைந்திருக்கின்றனரோ தெரியவில்லை! எதிர்க்கட்சிக் கூட்டணியின் தலைவர்கள் ஆளுக்காள் கைகோர்த்து பேப்பர்களுக்கு ‘போஸ்’ கொடுத்த கையோடு, ஹக்கீமும், மனோகணேசனும் தமிழ் தேசியக்கூட்டமைப்பு சம்பந்தன் கோஷ்டியினரை பாராளுமன்ற கட்டிடத் தொகுதியில் சந்தித்துப் பேசியுள்ளனர். இந்தமுறை இந்தச் சந்திப்பில் ஆனந்தசங்கரி, சித்தார்த்தன், சிறீதரன் ஆகியோர் கலந்து கொள்ளவில்லை. இந்த மூன்று தலைவர்களின் கட்சிகளின் ஆதரவாளர்கள், தமிழ் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பினருடனும், ஐக்கிய தேசியக்கட்சியின் அடிவருடிகளான ஹக்கீம், மனோ கணேசன் ஆகியோருடனும் கூட்டு வைப்பதை அடியோடு எதிர்ப்பதால், அவர்கள் சந்திப்பில் கலந்து கொள்ளாமல் தவிர்த்துக் கொண்டனர் என தலைநகரில் கிசுகிசுக்கப்படுகிறது. ஆனால் சந்திப்பை நிகழ்த்திய மூன்று கட்சியினரும், ஆனந்தசங்கரி தலைமையிலான மூன்று கட்சி அணியினரையும் எப்படியும் வளைத்துப் பிடிக்க வேண்டும் என முடிவு செய்துள்ளனர். ஏனெனில் ஆனந்தசங்கரி தலைமையிலான குழுவினர் டக்ளஸ் தேவானந்தாவின் ஈ.பி.டீ.பி கட்சியினருடன் முரண்டு நிற்பதால், அவர்களை எப்படியும் வளைத்துப்போட்டு, வடக்கு கிழக்கு தமிழ் பேசும் மக்களின் வாக்குகளை மொத்தமாக எதிர்வரும் தேர்தல்களில் ஐக்கிய தேசியக்கட்சிக்கு தாரைவார்ப்பது தான் இதன் திட்டமாகும். இந்தத் திட்டத்தை மற்றவர்கள் ‘மணந்து’ பிடித்து விடுவார்களோ என்ற பயத்தில், ‘எங்கப்பன் குதிருக்குள் இல்லை’ என்ற கணக்காக தமது கூட்டணி, தேர்தலை நோக்கமாகக் கொண்டது அல்ல என அறிக்கை விடுத்து, தமது உண்மையான நோக்கத்தையும் போட்டு உடைத்துள்ளனர். அதன் பின்னர், பாராளுமன்றத்தில் அரசாங்கம் வரவு செலவுத் திட்டத்துக்கு பதிலாக சமர்ப்பித்த இடைக்கால அறிக்கை மீதான வாக்கெடுப்பின் போது, தமிழ் தேசியக்கூட்டமைப்பு எதிர்க்கட்சிகளுடன் இணைந்து அரசாங்கத்துக்கு எதிராக வாக்களித்துள்ளது. இந்த இடைக்கால கணக்கறிக்கையின் நிதி ஒதுக்கீடுகள், வடக்கு கிழக்கில் இடம் பெயர்ந்த மக்களை மீளக்குடியமர்த்துவது, பொருளாதார அபிவிருத்தி செய்வது போன்ற விடயங்களை உள்ளடக்கி இருந்த போதிலும், வழக்கம் போல தமிழ் தேசியக்கூட்டமைப்பு மக்கள் நலனை முன்னிலைப்படுத்தாது, ஐக்கிய தேசியக்கட்சியின் அரசியல் நலன்களுக்காக செயல்பட்டுள்ளது. தமிழ் தேசியக்கூட்டமைப்பின் இந்தப் போக்கு, அது எந்த திசைவழியில் பயணிக்க முற்படுகின்றது என்பதை கோடுகாட்டி நிற்கின்றது. கடந்த 60 ஆண்டுகளாக இதே ஐக்கிய தேசியக்கட்சி ஆதரவு நிலையை தமிழ் தலைமைகள் பின்பற்றியதால் தான், தமிழ் மக்கள் இன்று எல்லாவற்றையும் இழந்து நிற்கின்றனர் என்ற உண்மையை இன்றைய தமிழ்த்தலைமையும் உணரவோ, மாற்றியமைக்கவோ தயாரில்லை என்பதைத்தான் அவர்களின் தற்போதைய போக்கும் தெளிவுற நிரூபித்து நிற்கிறது. ஆனால் தமிழ் தேசியக்கூட்டமைப்பு தலைமையின் ஒருபகுதியினரின் இந்த தேசிய விரோதப்போக்கை, தமிழ் தேசியக்கூட்டமைப்பு பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்களில் பலர் விரும்பவில்லை எனத் தெரியவருகிறது.

யாழ்.மாவட்ட பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் என்.சிறீகாந்தா, வன்னி மாவட்ட பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்கள் சிவநாதன் கிஷோர், சிவசக்தி ஆனந்தன் மற்றும் சில கிழக்கு மாகாண பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்கள் தமது தலைமையின் ஐக்கிய தேசியக்கட்சிக்கு ஆதரவான போக்கையும், தேசிய விரோதப் போக்கையும் விரும்பவில்லை எனக் கூறப்படுகிறது. அவர்களைப் பொறுத்த வரையில் இன்றைய அரசாங்கத்துடன் ஒத்துழைத்து, இடம் பெயர்;ந்த மக்களின் மீள்குடியேற்றம், தமிழ் பிரதேசங்களின் பொருளாதார அபிவிருத்தி, இனப்பிரச்சினைக்கு நியாயமான தீர்வு என்பனவற்றை நிறைவேற்ற வேண்டும் என எண்ணுகின்றனர். கடந்த காலங்களில் இனிப்பாகப் பேசிவிட்டு, நயவஞ்சகமாக ஏமாற்றிய ஐக்கிய தேசியக்கட்சியை விட, இனப்பிரச்சினைக்கு தீர்வு காண்பதில் உள்ள சிக்கல்களை வெளிப்படையாகக் கூறும் இன்றைய அரச தலைமை நம்பகமானது என அந்தப் பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்கள் எண்ணுகின்றனர். எனவே “சோற்றை விட சுதந்திரம் தான் பெரிது” என்ற தமிழ் தேசியவாதத் தலைமையின் வழமையான வாய்ப்பாட்டை, தமிழ் தேசியக்கூட்டமைப்பிலுள்ள இந்த ‘இளம் துருக்கியர்கள்’ ஏற்கத் தயாரில்லை என நம்பகமாகத் தெரியவருகிறது. அதையும் மீறி தமிழ் தேசியக்கூட்டமைப்பு தலைமை தனது வழமையான பாதையில் பயணிக்குமாக இருந்தால், கூட்டமைப்பில் பிளவு ஏற்படுவது இம்முறை தவிர்க்க முடியாத ஒன்றாக இருக்கும் என பெயர் குறிப்பிட விரும்பாத கொழும்பிலுள்ள அதன் பிரமுகர் ஒருவர் தெரிவித்தார்

மிழினத்திற்கு அரசியல் ரீதியிலான தீர்வை வழங்கி வேண்டுமென்ற எண்ணம் இருந்தால் ஏன் பல இலட்சம் படையினர்? - ஸ்ரீகாந்தா எம்.பி

[ புதன்கிழமை, 21 ஒக்ரோபர் 2009, 05:30.48 AM GMT +05:30 ]

இராணுவத்தினரின் தொகையை உடனடியாக குறைத்து அதற்காக செலவிடும் பணத்தை வடக்கின் அபிவிருத்திக்கு செலவிட வேண்டும் என்று தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு எம்.பி. என். ஸ்ரீகாந்தா தெரிவித்தார்.

ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தலில் எதிர்க்கட்சிக் கூட்டமைப்பின>ன் பொது வேட்பாளராக ஜெனரல் சரத் பொன்சேகாவை முன்னிறுத்தும் முயற்சிகளை கடுமையாக எதிர்க்கின்றோம். பாதுகாப்பு செலவு தொடர்பான குறைநிறைப்பு பிரேரணை விவாதம் நேற்று செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை பாராளுமன்றத்தில் இடம்பெற்ற போது அதில் கலந்துகொண்டு உரையாற்றுகையிலேயே அவர் இவ்வாறு தெரிவித்தார். தொடர்ந்து அவர் உரையாற்றுகையில், யுத்தம் ·முடிந்துவிட்டது. இதனால் வெற்றிக்களிப்பில் இருப்பதாக அமைச்சர் சரத் அமுனுகம தெரிவித்தார். இது இரண்டு நாடுகளுக்கு இடையில் நடைபெற்ற யுத்தமல்ல. படையினர், போராளிகள் உட்பட இவர்களுக்கு இடையே சிக்கி மரணமாகிய அனைவரும் எமது நாட்டு மக்கள். எனவே, மகிழ்ச்சியடைய முடியாது. இந்த யுத்தத்தால் பல்லாயிரக்கணக்கான தமிழ் மக்கள் உயிரிழந்தனர். பெற்றோர்களை இழந்தனர். சிங்கள இராணுவ வீரர்களின் இறப்பாலும் அக் குடும்பங்கள் பாதிக்கப்பட்டன. இந்த முப்பது வருடகால யுத்தத்தில் வடபகுதி மக்கள் அபிவிருத்தியை காணவில்லை. அம்மக்களின் பொருளாதாரம் அபிவிருத்தி செய்யப்பட வேண்டும். யுத்தம் முடிவுற்ற நிலையில் பல இலட்சம் இராணுவத்தினரை ஏன் இன்னமும் வைத்துப் பராமரிக்க வேண்டும்? தமிழினத்திற்கு அரசியல் ரீதியிலான தீர்வை வழங்கி நீதியை வழங்க வேண்டுமென்ற எண்ணம் இருந்தால் ஏன் பல இலட்சம் படையினர்? அதைவிடுத்து இன்னுமொரு போராட்டம் வெடிக்குமென்ற எண்ணத்தில் வடபகுதி மக்களை கட்டுப்படுத்தும் நோக்கில் முகாம்களை அமைத்து வடக்கை இராணுவக் கட்டுப்பாட்டில் வைத்திருக்க அரசு முனைந்தால் அபிவிருத்தி உருவாகாது. எனவே, பல கோடி ரூபாய்களை படையினருக்கு செலவழிக்காது படையினரின் எண்ணிக்கையை படிப்படியாக குறைத்து அவர்களது சு·கமான வாழ்வுக்கு வழிவகுக்க வேண்டும். அதைவிடுத்து வடக்கில் நிரந்தர இராணுவ ·காம்களை நிலையாக அமைப்பது இதற்குத் தீர்வு கிடையாது. இராணுவமும் இன்று அரசியல் மயமாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. கடந்த காலங்களில் இராணுவப்புரட்சிகள் முறியடிக்கப்பட்டன. இலங்கையில் இராணுவப் புரட்சி ஏற்படும் நிலையுண்டா என வெளிநாட்டு பிரதிநிதிகள் அண்மையில் என்னிடம் கேட்டார்கள். இதனை மறுத்தேன். ஏனெனில் ஜனாதிபதிக்கு சிங்களவர் மத்தியில் வரவேற்பு உள்ளது. இன்று ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தலில் ஜெனரல் சரத்பொன்சேகா போட்டியிடுவதாக எதிர்க்கட்சிகள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன. எனவே, இராணுவத்தை அரசியலில் இணைப்பது தவறானதாகும். ஓய்வுபெற்ற பின்னர் போட்டியிட்டால் பரவாயில்லை. ஆனால், ஜெனரலாக பதவி வகிக்கும் சரத் பொன்சேகாவை அரசியலில் இணைக்கக்கூடாது. ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க சிறந்த தலைவர். ஆனால், இராணுவத்துறை சார்ந்தோரை அரசியலில் உள்ளீர்ப்பது பிழையான விடயமாகும். வடக்கின் வசந்தம் வருவதற்கு முன்பே மழைக்காலம் ஆரம்பமாகவுள்ளது. இரண்டு இலட்சத்திற்கும் மேற்பட்ட மக்கள் ஆபத்துக்களை எதிர்நோக்கியுள்ளனர். இது தொடர்பாக அரசாங்கம் நடவடிக்கைகளை மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும். அமைச்சரவையை, இராணுவத்தினரின் தொகையை குறைத்து தேசிய ரீதியில் நிரந்தரமான தீர்வைக் காண வேண்டும்.

Sri Lanka's minority representatives disgruntled with the move to propose former Army Commander as opposition common candidate

Labels: Gen. Sarath Fonseka, presidential, Sri Lanka

(October 21, Colombo - Lanka Polity) Minority political parties and activists appear dejected with the rumor that former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka will contest the future Presidential election as a common candidate of the joint opposition. Fonseka is famous as an outspoken Sinhala nationalist despite holding a top position in the multi ethnic island nation.

Democratic Peoples Front, a Colombo based Tamil Party, said in a statement issued by its leader leader Mano Ganesan that he has told UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe that his party will not be a party to the proposed United National Alliance if General Sarath Fonseka is considered and proposed as the common candidate in the event of a presidential elections. "Tamil speaking people of this country do not have anything in common with General Fonseka for him to be our common candidate," says the media statement issued from the office of Ganesan says The statement further says that, "The name of General Sarath Fonseka is being considered by Marxist nationalist People's Liberation Front (JVP) as a common candidate for the presidential elections. Sarath Manemendra of Nava Sihala Urumaya too has invited Gen Sarath Fonseka to contest the presidential elections. He has spoken this from the office of Sri Lanka Freedom Party - People's Wing) (SLFP-M) leader Mangala Samaraweera. Therefore this has given all reasonable signals to the nation that the proposed alliance between UNP, SLFP(M), SLMC and DPF wants General Sarath Fonseka to contest the presidential elections as the common opposition candidate.

"This position is not shared by Democratic Peoples Front (DPF). DPF will not be a party to the proposed United National Alliance if General Sarath Fonseka is considered and proposed as the common candidate at the presidential elections. Tamil speaking people of this country do not have anything in common with General Fonseka for him to be our common candidate," says Ganeshan.

Meanwhile, the major Tamil constituent Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has also expressed its dissatisfaction with the move to propose the former Army Commander that crushed the Tamil rebellion for self-determination as the opposition common candidate for the Presidential.

TNA MP N. Sri Kantha in Parliament yesterday criticized the SLFP (M) Convener Mangala Samaraweera stating that he was trying to drag military officers into politics.Speaking during the debate on the Supplementary Estimate of the Defence Ministry in the House yesterday the TNA MP said Samaraweera was trying to draw a connection between the military and politics.

பொன்சேகாவை பொதுவேட்பாளராக நிறுத்தினால் கூட்டமைப்பு எதிர்க்கும் சபையில் நேற்று ஸ்ரீகாந்தா அறிவிப்பு

2009-10-21 05:17:48

முப்படைகளின் பிரதம அதிகாரியான ஜெனரல் சரத் பொன்சேகாவை, எதிர்க்கட்சி களின் பொதுக் கூட்டமைப்பின் ஜனாதிபதி வேட்பாளராக நிறுத்துவதற்கு எடுக்கப்படும் முயற்சியைக் கடுமையாக எதிர்ப்பதாக தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு நேற்று நாடாளுமன்றில் கூறியது.

கொழும்பு, ஒக்÷ராபர் 21
முப்படைகளின் பிரதம அதிகாரியான ஜெனரல் சரத் பொன்சேகாவை, எதிர்க்கட்சி களின் பொதுக் கூட்டமைப்பின் ஜனாதிபதி வேட்பாளராக நிறுத்துவதற்கு எடுக்கப்படும் முயற்சியைக் கடுமையாக எதிர்ப்பதாக தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு நேற்று நாடாளுமன்றில் கூறியது.
நாடாளுமன்றில் நேற்று இடம்பெற்ற பாதுகாப்பு அமைச்சுக்கான குறைநிரப்புப் பிரே ரணை மீதான விவாதத்தில் கலந்துகொண்டு உரையாற்றிய கூட்டமைப்பு உறுப்பினர் என்.ஸ்ரீகாந்தாவே இவ்வாறு கூறினார்.
அவர் மேலும் கூறியவை வருமாறு:
தற்போது யுத்தம் முடிந்துவிட்டது. நடந்து முடிந்தது இரு நாடுகளுக்கிடையிலான யுத்தம் அல்ல, உள்நாட்டு யுத்தம். இதில் மரணித்தவர்கள் எமது நாட்டு மக்கள். அவர்கள் படையினராக இருக்கட்டும், தமிழ் மக்களாக இருக்கட்டும், எல்லோரும் எம்நாட்டு மக்கள்தான்.
தொடர்ந்தும் யுத்த வெற்றிபற்றி தொடர்பாகப் பேசி மகிழ்ச்சியடைந்து கொண்டிருப்பது சரியல்ல. இந்த யுத்தத்திற்குக் காரணமான தேசிய பிரச்சினையைத் தீர்க்க அரசியல் தீர்வு உடன் முன்வைக்கப்படல் வேண்டும்.
யுத்தத்தால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட வடக்கு கிழக்கு மக்கள் இப்போது பெரும் துன்பத்தை எதிர்கொண்டுள்ளனர். அவர்கள் உறவினர்களை, குடும்பங்களை இழந்து அநாதைகளாகியுள்ளனர்.
25 வருடங்களாக வடக்கு கிழக்கில் அர்த்தமுள்ள அபிவிருத்திகள் எவையும் இடம்பெறவில்லை. அப்பகுதிகள் இனியாவது அபிவிருத்தி செய்யப்பட வேண்டும்.
யுத்தம் முடிவுற்ற நிலையிலும் கூட இந்நாட்டுக்குப் பாரிய இராணுவக் கட்டமைப்புத் தேவையில்லை. அவர்களுக்காகச் செலவு செய்யும் கோடிக்கணக்கான ரூபா பணத்தை இந்நாட்டின் பொருளாதாரத்திற்குச் செலவிட முடியும்.
படையினர் சுயமாகப் படையில் இருந்து விலகும் திட்டம் ஒன்றை அரசு அறிமுகப்படுத்த வேண்டும். இதற்கு எதிர்க்கட்சிகளும் உதவவேண்டும். இதன் மூலம் நாம் எமது நாட்டைக் கட்டியெழுப்பமுடியும்.
இந்தப் பாரிய படைக்கட்டமைப்பை அரசு வைத்திருப்பதற்கான காரணம் என்ன? தமிழர் தரப்பில் இருந்தும் மீண்டும் இராணுவ ரீதியான எழுச்சி ஏற்படும் என்று அரசு நினைத்தா இந்தப் படைக் கட்டமைப்பை வைத்திருக்கின்றது? இவ்வாறு வைத்திருப்பின் அது ஆரோக்கியமானதொன்றாக இருக்கமுடியாது.
அத்தோடு ஜெனரல் சரத் பொன்சேகா ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தலில் போட்டியிடுகின்றமை பற்றிப் பேசப்படுகிறது. ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தல் அறிவிக்கப்பட்டதும் பொதுக் கூட்டமைப்பின் ஜனாதிபதி வேட்பாளர் சரத் பொன்சேகாவா அல்லது வேறு ஒருவரா என்று தெரிவிப்போம் என மங்கள சமரவீர தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.
தற்போது முப்படைகளின் பிரதம அதிகாரி படையில் உள்ள ஒருவரை அரசியலில் இணைத்துப் பேசுவதையும் அவரை அரசியலில் இணைக்க முற்படுவதையும் நாம் எதிர்க்கின்றோம். பொதுவாகப் படையினர் அரசியலில் ஈடுபடுவது நல்லதல்ல.
ஓய்வு பெற்றதன் பின்பு அரசியலில் ஈடுபடலாம். இலங்கை வரலாற்றில் அப்படி எத்தனையோ பேர் அரசியலில் ஈடுபட்டிருக்கின்றனர். ஆகவே, சரத் பொன்சேகாவை ஜனாதிபதி வேட்பாளராக நிறுத்துவதை தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு எதிர்க்கின்றது என்றார்.

TNA MP slams SLFP (M) Convener

DAILY MIRROR 21st oct 2009

By Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera TNA MP N. Sri Kantha in Parliament yesterday criticized the SLFP (M) Convener Mangala Samaraweera stating that he was trying to drag military officers into politics. Speaking during the debate on the Supplementary Estimate of the Defence Ministry in the House yesterday the TNA MP said Mr. Samaraweera was trying to draw a connection between the military and politics. “Military personnel can come into politics after resigning from the posts they are holding in the military establishments as done by Former Prime Minister John Kotelawala and others,” he also pointed out. The TNA MP also called on the government to reduce the number of soldiers in the army as the war was over. “It is no point in having an army of more than 100,000 men now and spending millions for it now, as the war was over,” he added. Mr. Sri Kantha pointed out that the government should not hold the view that the Tamils will launch another military struggle but should come up with a political solution to the national issue.

NATION -4th OCTOBER 200913th Amendment: For whose benefit? By Vindya Amaranayake
Even after 22 years, since its inclusion into the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the 13th Amendment is still making news. Although part of the country’s supreme law, the Amendment has still not been fully implemented and political, legal and social authorities are yet to come to an agreement on the implications of implementation of this amendment.

At a recent panel discussion on the implementation of the 13th Amendment in the present context, organised by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, political and legal authorities dissected and analysed the provisions contained in the harrowed amendment.

Chairman- All Party Representative Committee (APRC), Science & Technology Minister Prof. Tissa Vitarana, addressing the gathering at the OPA auditorium, explained the motivation behind the Committee to recommend the full implementation of the 13th Amendment as a solution to the ethnic problem.

Although the mandate of the APRC was not to recommend the implementation of the 13th Amendment, given the political context of the country at the time, as an interim solution, this recommendation had to be made.
“I’m not a great defender of the 13th Amendment. However, the full implementation of the 13th Amendment was to be a good signal to the minorities, of the government’s intention of resolving the ethnic issue through a political solution,” he said.

This was recommended until the committee came up with a final solution, which would take a longer time to realise. For the moment, there are 13 parties representing the committee, and four parties present at the inception, later abstained from attending deliberations. “This is going to be a long process, and it can be strengthened by the inputs of all parties concerned,” the Minister said. However, he also opined that it should be implemented in a judicious manner.

It has been advocated by many experts, at numerous forums, that the 13th Amendment is fundamentally flawed. Prof. Vitarana too pointed out some of the areas where the Amendment has failed to effectively devolve power between the centre and the provinces.

“The powers were devolved within a unitary framework. Therefore, the centre can revoke any power at any time. What has happened in practice is that the Concurrent List has been usurped by the ministers of the central government,” he said.

It has been reiterated that adequate funds are not being allocated to carry out the development work in the provinces. The APRC Chairman pointed out that one other reason for provinces not receiving enough funds is that provincial development plans are not integrated to the national development strategies. Development work, throughout the country is conducted through the ministries in the central government and therefore, there’s very little room for the provinces to get involved in the process.

“There’s very little money given to the provinces apart from the recurrent expenditure. They don’t even have adequate funds to run the powers that are given to them. For example take education and health. The central government has enough funds. What they do is, declare certain institutions belonging to the provinces and declare them as ‘national.’ We have spent the large part of APRC deliberations on resolving this,” Prof. Vitarana said.
When it comes to the full implementation of the 13th Amendment, two highlighted are the police and land powers. Given the experience of dealing with terrorism and separatism, many question the wisdom of devolving police powers to the provinces at the DIG level.

“Devolving police powers is a controversial issue. Not only in the context of separatism in the North, but in the South as well, it could lead to many problems. What would happen if the post of Chief Minister (CM) falls into the hands of the wrong individual? We must take sufficient measures to avoid such problems from arising,” he added.

According to the Amendment, there should be two police commissions; one at national level and the other at provincial level. The three members of the provincial commission are appointed as follows: One member by the President, another by the CM of the province and the third by the IGP, on the recommendation of the CM. Therefore, the CM can have excessive powers over the police commission.

“The APRC recommendation is that, there is no need for two commissions. One is enough for the whole country. Then, there is uniformity throughout the country. There has to be sufficient checks and balances to ensure there’s no abuse of power,” Minister Vitarana said.

Concluding his remarks, he said that the country is confronted with a situation where a section of its community feels that, for them to be safe and have the freedom to establish their identity in the regions where they have lived for a long time, they need to have a certain amount of power, without having to beg everything from the centre.
“We have no future in a divided country. To remain united, we must give this section of the community the feeling that they are safe and have the right to live in any part of the country,” he added.

Chairman of the Law Commission, legal luminary Prof. Lakshman Marasinghe made a detailed analysis of the flaws within the 13th Amendment. However, he termed the Amendment a malleable document, which leaves room for interpretative explanation. Due to the many problematic provisions, he said it should be modified and improved, for it to be an effective piece of legislation.

Representing the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, its Deputy Secretary General Nizam Kariyappar said, when the 13th Amendment was drafted, the Muslims in the East were completely neglected. “When the Indo-Lanka Accord was hatched, we welcomed it. But, we felt, we need significant representation in the East as one of the three communities in that province. Muslims are a little over a third in the Eastern Province. But, when merged with the North, we were reduced to one sixth,” he pointed out.

Being the SLMC representative in the APRC, Kariyappar said the committee has held 128 meeting to date, and its mandate has never been to recommend the 13th Amendment. We want to come up with a home-grown solution. He said what is needed is the abolition of the Concurrent List and clear documented subjects for provinces.

“This has nothing to do with ethnicity. This is a power struggle between the centre and the provinces. Unchecked power is the problem. Our problem is 99% of the powers devolved to the provinces are under the executive. One of the fundamental principles of democracy, separation of powers is not respected within the Amendment,” he pointed out.

According to Article 154(h) of the Amendment, every statute presented by the provincial council must have the Governor’s assent. “What does the Governor have to do with provincial legislation? Eastern Province CM Pillaiyan is awaiting the Governor’s assent for the past one-and-a-half years to execute his financial act. It was killed at its birthplace. This goes against the very essence of separation of powers,” Kariyappar charged.
He also said that every section in the Amendment is used to cripple devolution of powers to the provinces.

Meanwhile, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament N. Srikantha said it is meaningless to ‘wrest out’ a political solution to the national issue from the Sinhalese, where they grudgingly agree to a ‘package.’ The Jaffna District MP also said there is no point in anybody thrusting a solution on the Tamil people either.

“We are not very much interested in the 13th Amendment. Much ‘blood’ has flowed under that bridge. The need is to frame a new Constitution. There is no need making cosmetic changes to the present Constitution. This is going to be a herculean task, and it should be based on the noble ideal of the separation of powers,” he said.

Srikantha also said that, within the present Constitution, any form of devolution is bound to fail because of the Executive Presidential system. He added, “There’s no point in us breaking our heads over it. At the most, the 13th Amendment was to be an interim solution. But it failed to deliver. Nobody benefited from it apart from the few politicians who were appointed to the Provincial Councils.”

In September 1989, then President Ranasinghe Premadasa summoned an All Party Conference and the agenda was to deliberate a lasting solution to the ethnic problem. Then the Mangala Moonesinghe Commission was appointed for the same purpose. Again in 2000, then President Chandrika Kumaratunga sought to bring in Constitutional reforms. MP Srikantha pointed out that all these attempts came after the introduction of the 13th Amendment, and therefore, it appears that past leaders of the country never considered the Amendment as the final solution.

He also commented that fears over the loss of territorial integrity and sovereignty, following power devolution, are imaginary fears within the minds of the majority community, and that, due to common value systems and traditions shared by all the communities living in Sri Lanka, it is possible to realise a lasting solution to the problem.
“There’s no need to fear devolution. We will do our part in evolving a national identity. There are Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims in this country. And then there are Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and believers of Islam. But, I find there are only a very few Sri Lankans here. We only get to see patriotism during a cricket match,” the MP added.

Firebrand Attorney-at-Law S.L. Gunasekera, representing one extreme of the ethnic continuum said that the country must put aside the preconceived notion that devolution is the key to national harmony, and that the Tamil and Muslim communities are discriminated upon.

He added that problems in this country are human problems and are not pertaining to a particular ethnic group. “We all suffer from maladministration. There’s nepotism and political patronage raging in the country. The limitation of power is pushed aside. How is the 13th Amendment going to solve these problems?” he questioned, adding that the Amendment is a piece of supreme idiocy and that the “ridiculous document should be torn and discarded.”

13th Amendment: For whose benefit?

By Vindya Amaranayake Even after 22 years, since its inclusion into the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the 13th Amendment is still making news. Although part of the country’s supreme law, the Amendment has still not been fully implemented and political, legal and social authorities are yet to come to an agreement on the implications of implementation of this amendment. At a recent panel discussion on the implementation of the 13th Amendment in the present context, organised by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, political and legal authorities dissected and analysed the provisions contained in the harrowed amendment. Chairman- All Party Representative Committee (APRC), Science & Technology Minister Prof. Tissa Vitarana, addressing the gathering at the OPA auditorium, explained the motivation behind the Committee to recommend the full implementation of the 13th Amendment as a solution to the ethnic problem. Although the mandate of the APRC was not to recommend the implementation of the 13th Amendment, given the political context of the country at the time, as an interim solution, this recommendation had to be made. “I’m not a great defender of the 13th Amendment. However, the full implementation of the 13th Amendment was to be a good signal to the minorities, of the government’s intention of resolving the ethnic issue through a political solution,” he said. This was recommended until the committee came up with a final solution, which would take a longer time to realise. For the moment, there are 13 parties representing the committee, and four parties present at the inception, later abstained from attending deliberations. “This is going to be a long process, and it can be strengthened by the inputs of all parties concerned,” the Minister said. However, he also opined that it should be implemented in a judicious manner. It has been advocated by many experts, at numerous forums, that the 13th Amendment is fundamentally flawed. Prof. Vitarana too pointed out some of the areas where the Amendment has failed to effectively devolve power between the centre and the provinces. “The powers were devolved within a unitary framework. Therefore, the centre can revoke any power at any time. What has happened in practice is that the Concurrent List has been usurped by the ministers of the central government,” he said. It has been reiterated that adequate funds are not being allocated to carry out the development work in the provinces. The APRC Chairman pointed out that one other reason for provinces not receiving enough funds is that provincial development plans are not integrated to the national development strategies. Development work, throughout the country is conducted through the ministries in the central government and therefore, there’s very little room for the provinces to get involved in the process. “There’s very little money given to the provinces apart from the recurrent expenditure. They don’t even have adequate funds to run the powers that are given to them. For example take education and health. The central government has enough funds. What they do is, declare certain institutions belonging to the provinces and declare them as ‘national.’ We have spent the large part of APRC deliberations on resolving this,” Prof. Vitarana said. When it comes to the full implementation of the 13th Amendment, two highlighted are the police and land powers. Given the experience of dealing with terrorism and separatism, many question the wisdom of devolving police powers to the provinces at the DIG level. “Devolving police powers is a controversial issue. Not only in the context of separatism in the North, but in the South as well, it could lead to many problems. What would happen if the post of Chief Minister (CM) falls into the hands of the wrong individual? We must take sufficient measures to avoid such problems from arising,” he added. According to the Amendment, there should be two police commissions; one at national level and the other at provincial level. The three members of the provincial commission are appointed as follows: One member by the President, another by the CM of the province and the third by the IGP, on the recommendation of the CM. Therefore, the CM can have excessive powers over the police commission. “The APRC recommendation is that, there is no need for two commissions. One is enough for the whole country. Then, there is uniformity throughout the country. There has to be sufficient checks and balances to ensure there’s no abuse of power,” Minister Vitarana said. Concluding his remarks, he said that the country is confronted with a situation where a section of its community feels that, for them to be safe and have the freedom to establish their identity in the regions where they have lived for a long time, they need to have a certain amount of power, without having to beg everything from the centre. “We have no future in a divided country. To remain united, we must give this section of the community the feeling that they are safe and have the right to live in any part of the country,” he added. Chairman of the Law Commission, legal luminary Prof. Lakshman Marasinghe made a detailed analysis of the flaws within the 13th Amendment. However, he termed the Amendment a malleable document, which leaves room for interpretative explanation. Due to the many problematic provisions, he said it should be modified and improved, for it to be an effective piece of legislation. Representing the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, its Deputy Secretary General Nizam Kariyappar said, when the 13th Amendment was drafted, the Muslims in the East were completely neglected. “When the Indo-Lanka Accord was hatched, we welcomed it. But, we felt, we need significant representation in the East as one of the three communities in that province. Muslims are a little over a third in the Eastern Province. But, when merged with the North, we were reduced to one sixth,” he pointed out. Being the SLMC representative in the APRC, Kariyappar said the committee has held 128 meeting to date, and its mandate has never been to recommend the 13th Amendment. We want to come up with a home-grown solution. He said what is needed is the abolition of the Concurrent List and clear documented subjects for provinces. “This has nothing to do with ethnicity. This is a power struggle between the centre and the provinces. Unchecked power is the problem. Our problem is 99% of the powers devolved to the provinces are under the executive. One of the fundamental principles of democracy, separation of powers is not respected within the Amendment,” he pointed out. According to Article 154(h) of the Amendment, every statute presented by the provincial council must have the Governor’s assent. “What does the Governor have to do with provincial legislation? Eastern Province CM Pillaiyan is awaiting the Governor’s assent for the past one-and-a-half years to execute his financial act. It was killed at its birthplace. This goes against the very essence of separation of powers,” Kariyappar charged. He also said that every section in the Amendment is used to cripple devolution of powers to the provinces. Meanwhile, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament N. Srikantha said it is meaningless to ‘wrest out’ a political solution to the national issue from the Sinhalese, where they grudgingly agree to a ‘package.’ The Jaffna District MP also said there is no point in anybody thrusting a solution on the Tamil people either. “We are not very much interested in the 13th Amendment. Much ‘blood’ has flowed under that bridge. The need is to frame a new Constitution. There is no need making cosmetic changes to the present Constitution. This is going to be a herculean task, and it should be based on the noble ideal of the separation of powers,” he said. Srikantha also said that, within the present Constitution, any form of devolution is bound to fail because of the Executive Presidential system. He added, “There’s no point in us breaking our heads over it. At the most, the 13th Amendment was to be an interim solution. But it failed to deliver. Nobody benefited from it apart from the few politicians who were appointed to the Provincial Councils.” In September 1989, then President Ranasinghe Premadasa summoned an All Party Conference and the agenda was to deliberate a lasting solution to the ethnic problem. Then the Mangala Moonesinghe Commission was appointed for the same purpose. Again in 2000, then President Chandrika Kumaratunga sought to bring in Constitutional reforms. MP Srikantha pointed out that all these attempts came after the introduction of the 13th Amendment, and therefore, it appears that past leaders of the country never considered the Amendment as the final solution. He also commented that fears over the loss of territorial integrity and sovereignty, following power devolution, are imaginary fears within the minds of the majority community, and that, due to common value systems and traditions shared by all the communities living in Sri Lanka, it is possible to realise a lasting solution to the problem. “There’s no need to fear devolution. We will do our part in evolving a national identity. There are Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims in this country. And then there are Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and believers of Islam. But, I find there are only a very few Sri Lankans here. We only get to see patriotism during a cricket match,” the MP added. Firebrand Attorney-at-Law S.L. Gunasekera, representing one extreme of the ethnic continuum said that the country must put aside the preconceived notion that devolution is the key to national harmony, and that the Tamil and Muslim communities are discriminated upon. He added that problems in this country are human problems and are not pertaining to a particular ethnic group. “We all suffer from maladministration. There’s nepotism and political patronage raging in the country. The limitation of power is pushed aside. How is the 13th Amendment going to solve these problems?” he questioned, adding that the Amendment is a piece of supreme idiocy and that the “ridiculous document should be torn and discarded.”

“Tigers forfeited many an opportunity for peace” – N. Sri Kantha
20th of Sept 2009

Though they outwardly deny being coerced by the LTTE in the past, now in the absence of the Tiger terror machine the Tamil National Alliance is increasingly behaving like a responsible and reasonable Tamil democratic party. The previous week for the first time they held direct talks with President Rakapaksa on outstanding issues, unlike in the past when they insisted that any talks should be with the LTTE. This week we spoke to one of the stalwarts of the TNA, Parliamentarian N. Sri Kantha, who has some sound and constructive advice to the government

By Rohan Abeywardena
Q: There has been a definite change in the attitude of the TNA in recent days. Is it a case of it evolving into a reasonable Tamil democratic party?
A: I don’t think there is any change in regard to our political stand. We have been right throughout, insisting on the necessity to evolve a political solution with a view to solve the national question once and for all within the framework of a united country. That has been our consistent stand. It might be that there had been some voices among the ranks of the TNA and more particularly the TNA parliamentarians deviating from this stand in the recent past but as a party our stand has been very clear. Now that the war is over the pressing question with regard to all of us is the getting together, forgetting petty political and party differences and to involve ourselves seriously in a political process to solve the national question namely, the ethnic problem. That is how the TNA faces the present and looks into the future.

Q: Finally the realisation has come that what ever solution must come from within the country. Earlier TNA was seen going around the world making very disparaging remarks about the country. Now at least you all are willing to talk to the President…
A: We never advocated the creation of a separate and sovereign state out of Sri Lanka. We came into being in November 2001 and our stand has been very clear: the national question being a political issue can only be solved politically and not through war. In regard to your allegation that we have been going round the world and making aspersions on the country, I would like to deny that. If at all some of our members had been very forthright and to some extent fiercely critical of the government with regard to the war then in progress, I would say you have to understand it from the point of view of the Tamil people who were caught between the two contending military forces - the Security Forces on one side and the LTTE on the other. In fact, we have been stating that there was a third party to the conflict, the innocent civilians in the war zone, who were caught up between these two adversaries. So it is in the light of their suffering and hardships forced by the continuing war, one has to understand the actions on the part of some of our parliamentarians you are referring to.

Q: It was a very conciliatory gesture of TNA Leader R. Sambandan to swear in your newly elected local government members while the national anthem was being played.
A: It is not a question of our becoming more conciliatory. We have been always open for political negotiation and that is how we have been looking at the whole question
In regard to the question you are referring to it’s nothing new. Whenever the national anthem was played in any part of the country, if anyone of us happen to be there we have always respected it. But in this instance not only the national anthem was played but also the Tamil anthem before that and at the beginning the anthem of the Urban Council of Vavuniya was played. So obviously and logically there should have been the national anthem. So that was how it was played.

Q: You all had the first round of talks with the President, what is the next?
A: We have agreed this meeting which was very cordial that we should follow it up with periodic meetings with senior personalities in the government and we have agreed to have discussions with Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, who is now heading the task force for the rehabilitation and resettlement in the North in regard to the problems and issues concerning the people of the area including, that is very important, the internally displaced persons numbering more than 250,000 at the moment. So we would carry this process forward.

Q: There is lots of reconstructions already going on in the East and if not for financial constraints, they would want to keep up the momentum in the North as well. Will you all be taking an active role in whatever the government is doing for the good of the people?
A: Definitely. That is in regard to every constructive effort from the Government or for that matter any other quarter the constructive cooperation for the TNA would be there. We will do our part without compromising on our basic stand.

Q: Leaving aside the Sinhalese, there are major issues between the Muslims and the Tamils. In the past you all have had talks even during Ashraff’s time without any breakthrough. What is being done to resolve those issues?
A: Well, the Tamil-Muslim equation which had always been healthy in the North-East and also through out the country got spoilt during the regime of President J.R. Jayewardene. When one of his senior ministers who is now no more and who was in charge of national security at that time went on arming some Muslim young men in the guise of fighting the Tamil militant groups including the LTTE in the aftermath of the 1983 anti-Tamil pogrom. It was not a question of arming the villagers in the border villages. It was different. It was precisely and purposely with the objective of setting up an armed Muslim group to deal with the Tamil militants. So there were obviously clashes between the two that really spoilt the Tamil-Muslim equation. Many things have happened in the past - the LTTE, in fact ,did some barbaric acts in regard to innocent Muslim civilians and consequently Tamil civilians were subjected to the same treatment at the hands of some groups including the one known as Jihad. Now with the war over and everybody looking forward to a peaceful country, we have a duty as the representatives of the Tamil people to extend our hand of friendship to our Muslim brothers who are Tamil speaking and therefore having a very strong linguistic relationship with the Tamil people. We will do that. We have already started that and you would have seen that in the oath taking ceremony of the newly elected member of the TNA to the Vavuniya Urban Council whom you referred to a little while ago, the Muslim Congress member too was there. He too was administered the oath by our leader R. Sambandan and Muslim Congress was represented by Basheer Segu Dawood, one of the most senior leaders of their party on behalf of its leader, my good friend Rauf Hakeem. So now we have started this process. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress is the formidable representative of the Muslims in the Northeast. There cannot be any denying of that fact. And there are also others who seem to represent them and who too have a sizeable support among the Muslim community. So we would talk to all of them and see whether we can agree to have a common political stand in regard to the whole question of finding a solution

Q: But those fundamental unresolved issues that were discussed for a long time from the time of late SLMC leader Ashraff have to be resolved among yourselves first.
A: Yes. These are issues that have to be resolved between the Tamils and the Muslims and we will rise to the occasion. We will do it. We are confident of that and I would like to stress one point; if the Tamils cannot understand the grievances and apprehensions of the Tamil speaking Muslims who can be considered as the minority within a larger minority then how can we the Tamils expect our Sinhalese brothers and sisters to join hands with us in dealing with our own grievances and apprehensions? So therefore true to the proverb “Charity begins at home,” we will first do our part in evolving a common stand together with the Tamil speaking Muslims of the Northeast.

Q: What about the resettling of some 50,000 odd Muslims who were evicted from Jaffna in 1990?
A: We raised this issue with the President the other day when we met him. He too agreed that they should be resettled but at the same time he added that first the IDPs in the welfare camps in Vavuniya, Jaffna and other areas be settled, followed by the displaced Muslims who are now mostly in Puttalam. We are fully conscious of the issue and we would be glad to welcome our Muslim brothers back in Jaffna.

Q: Now it is an open secret that when the TNA was formed some of the reluctant people were coerced into it at the point of a pistol by a certain Tamil journalist, since deceased, who brokered the deal for the LTTE. He had reportedly told those who were reluctant that either they join or get the bullet and people simply joined. Now that such threat….
A: I can always laugh at what you have been telling. Nothing of the sort happened. You must be referring to Sivaram or Nadesan? Of course, both played a significant role in the formation of the TNA

Q: According to some of the other Tamil groups that was one of the reasons why Sivaram was killed.
A: I vehemently deny it. In 2001 four parties came together and formed the TNA. The LTTE was nowhere in the picture at the time in regard to our deliberations.

Q: When this accusation was levelled by others in the past it was not denied.
A: That is the problem in politics. Different people will say different things. So we have to dissect and have a clinical analysis on our own to find out the truth. I’ll leave it to you. Coming back to your question, for threats to go away, the threats should have been there in the first place. Take the case of the TELO and the EPRLF; we fought the LTTE for more than 15 years prior to the formation of the TNA in 2001. Please don’t forget that. Both these parties lost their top leaders at the hands of the LTTE. That was also the case with the TULF that lost its top most leaders Amirthalingam together with his colleague Yogeswaran at the hands of the LTTE. So there was no question of the LTTE trying to intimidate us. Even if they had tried that, for argument sake, it would not have worked. Then in 2001 the TNA was formed and we won 16 seats. Of course, the LTTE permitted us to do our campaigning in areas under their control in the East.

Q: And helped some to get elected by stuffing the ballot boxes.
A: No. Earlier it even prevented voters from coming to polling booths in government controlled areas. That was the situation in ’89, ’94 and 2000. That didn’t happen in 2001. So, this process gradually led to in 2004 with the accommodating some candidates from various civic organisations that had been operating in not only army controlled areas, but also in LTTE held areas. But it is true that the LTTE was, on and off, having discussions with the TNA parliamentary group. I won’t deny that, but we were not controlled by the LTTE. We were not, in fact, acting on the dictates of the organisation, but there was a consultative process because we had taken the clear stand as far back as 2001 general election that future political negotiations between the government and the Tamils should have the LTTE as the one and only representative from the Tamil side. Therefore given that position, one has to understand the relationship that existed between the LTTE and the TNA, but there were moments when we found that it was little uneasy. I admit that. But we were able to work continuously with a view to keep the LTTE at the negotiating table. We were disappointed when the war broke out again in mid 2006.

Q: Even TULF Leader Anandasangaree says he is very disappointed in you all especially because you all failed to say one word to the LTTE to relieve the plight of civilians held as human shield. Where was your independence?
A: That is the problem with Anandasangaree. He is a good friend of mine despite him being very senior to me. I respect him, but the people of Jaffna have given him a befitting reply for his political somersault when they only gave him one seat at the recently held election to the Jaffna Municipal Council which has a total strength of 23 members. Now coming back to these civilians caught up in the war zone, how many times we echoed and re-echoed their feelings in that we demanded a ceasefire in their interest, not in the interest of anybody else. The LTTE, even if we had requested or demanded the release of civilians in the war zone, it wouldn’t have released them. We knew that because the LTTE wanted them for its own interest. At the same time the LTTE was prepared for a ceasefire and the resumption of negotiations. So what we felt was that we should try what was possible and not aim at what was totally impossible and that too in the interest of the people concerned. So we demanded a ceasefire and the resumption of political negotiations. How can one say we never addressed this serious issue?

Q: With the best of intentions Ranil Wickremesinghe must have blindly entered the Ceasefire Agreement, but the LTTE had other motives from the beginning, using the CFA cover to arm itself and it is quite obvious they were never interested in peace, but were only getting ready for war.
A: Whatever we did vis-à-vis the LTTE, we did with good intentions, but there is something in what you say. In fact, we got thoroughly disappointed when the political negotiations failed prior to the resumption of military hostilities in mid-2006. There were number of opportunities, including the solid one offered by Ranil Wickremesinghe. So looking back, one can easily say that the LTTE should not have missed that opportunity. Even prior to Ranil Wickremesighe there were some opportunities, but it was very unfortunate that the LTTE failed to act wisely. That is the bane of our race. What else can I say? The LTTE had exploited these opportunities, including the one presented by Ranil Wickremesinghe. I would also say it could have dealt with the present President in a meaningful manner because they were in one way responsible for his election to the highest office in the land. There cannot be any denying of that. So they missed all these opportunities. Still, just because the LTTE failed to act wisely, we could not have acted in the same manner. That is exactly why instead of asking the LTTE to release the civilians we had been insisting on a ceasefire to which the LTTE was agreeable. So we tried what we thought was possible and we never thought of trying what was clearly an impossible one that is the LTTE releasing the civilians. We knew it wouldn’t have released them even if we had demanded.

Q: Since you all have started direct talks with the government, will the campaign abroad to tarnish the Sri Lankan state carried out by TNA parliamentarians like Sivajilingam and Adaikalanathan continue in parallel?
A: Please do not mention the name of Adaikalanathan because he is not involved in any political activity abroad. I can assure you of that. In regard to Sivajilingam and one or two other MPs you may have in mind I would deal with Sivajilingam first. I don’t think Sivajilingam had made any serious allegations in recent times after the conclusion of the war, but the general perception that some of the TNA MPs continue to engage in anti-government propaganda persists. We have already told our MPs that ‘you should conform to the political stand of the TNA and shouldn’t do anything to vitiate the atmosphere’. We expect our MPs to act with responsibility. If anyone does not conform, he cannot remain in the fold of the TNA and with elections round the corner next year any such MP will not be re-nominated. At the same time in regard to the civilian casualties in the war, particularly in the final phase, and also in regard to the indescribable suffering of more than 250,000 civilians in the IDP camps, which is an unprecedented situation in the history of this little island, you cannot expect our MPs, whether they are here or abroad to keep their mouth shut. They have to raise their voices in the interest of those people. But as you rightly said as elected representatives all of us have the great responsibility of acting with care, caution and discretion.

Q: Since the crushing of the LTTE, the government has even undertaken to rehabilitate more than 10,000 Tiger combatants, but yet there are continuing reports in the Western media about mass scale harassment, rape and genocide against Tamils in IDP camps here.
A: Please dismiss anything that has nothing to do with the truth. But the undeniable truth is that the camps are a hell. I have been to one of the IDP camps a few days ago to take charge one of my closest relatives who suffered there for more than four months with a 14-year-old young son. If I had wanted I would have taken them in the beginning, but I didn’t want to go through the back door. When our people are suffering I felt even my very close relative who was there should undergo the same suffering. But with the new scheme of relatives taking charge of the IDPs, I was able to get the two out of that hell. The government has been trying to do its utmost, there is no denying that, but it can’t cope with the situation. Therefore, I would suggest that rather than keeping these people there, to release everybody against whom the government has no suspicion of their having any links with the LTTE. Secondly, there are reports that more than 10,000 were able to get out of IDP camps through devious methods and there are also reports, I don’t think anyone has denied them, that among them were LTTE members. Those who had the means and the mind to bribe were able to get out, but others who conformed to the law are suffering inside. Please rest assured that out of the more than 10,000 who had fled the IDP camps in Vavuniya, there are hundreds of LTTE members. This is the tragedy. A sizeable section of the people who should be in has managed to get away. Out of the 250,000 odd who remain there, there might be a few thousand who may be rightly or wrongly suspected of LTTE connections. So keep them and release the rest.

Q: How can you just release them? Where can they go? Many of their houses would have been destroyed in the fighting.
A: Instead of keeping them as virtual detainees in sub-human conditions, if you release them, some of them will not be able to find shelter on their own. Those people can be kept in permanent buildings and not in makeshift sheds or tents. I would suggest if you bring in the scheme it might be about 50,000 to 100,000 who may remain since they will not be able to find shelter on their own. Then close down all schools in Vavuniya as you need to house these remaining people. The studies of students can wait for a few months in the interest of their kith and kin numbering more than 250,000 who are suffering in tents in IDP camps. My suggestion is bring in a scheme, whereby a sizeable section would be able to leave the IDP camps, while the rest would remain to be fed and sheltered by the government and they can be housed in permanent buildings like schools in Vavuniya particularly in the rainy season. I say this not only in the interest of the IDPs, but also in the interest of the government. The government is going to face a serious situation. It cannot, by any stretch of imagination, cope up with the IDP population once the rains set in.

The low lying areas of Cheddikulam, where the IDP camps are situated will get flooded. So rather than waiting till the last minute I would appeal to the government to think about this scheme, whereby the burden of the government would be lessened in that it would be left to deal with at most 100,000 IDPs. Till the rains are over they can be housed in schools. As the government is telling us that the de-mining process is going on steadily and smoothly, in the New Year the government can embark on resettling those people in their respective villages.

Q: One of the key charges levelled against the TNA parliamentarians was that they did not have the welfare of their constituents in their hearts as most of the time they were abroad, except for some exceptions, with their families settled in foreign countries.
A: We have more than one million Tamils from the Northeast living in different countries of the world spread from Australia to Canada. So there is no point in accusing anybody from the TNA of having his or her family abroad. You all are now concerned about the Tamil diaspora. The term Tamil diaspora is now on the lips of everybody in this country.
These are people who fled the country because of the post 1983 situation. It is not that every TNA MP is having his family abroad. There are number of exceptions. Out of our 22 MPs more than half of that number is having their families here. Some of us have been in politics right from our teens. I am going to turn 60 in a few days. Do you know that I came into politics when I was barely ten? I entered politics participating in the election campaign of A. Amirthalingam in the Vadukoddai electorate in the March 1960 election. I participated in the Satyagraha campaign of 1961 and Padayatra of 1963. Take Sambandan, he is now 76. He had been actively involved right from the time of the first general election, when the Tamil Congress was holding sway in the Northeast and more particularly in the North winning seven seats then in the parliament of 95 elected members and that included Sambandan’s own constituency of Trincomalee. Take the case of Senathiraja, he has put in more than 50 years in politics. Take the cases of Adaikalanathan and Premachandran. They came into politics as militants. All of us invariably have suffered and in consequence our families have suffered. So whenever there was an opportunity for our family members, including our young children to leave the country, that opportunity was made use of because our own families have suffered. Some of us have been living under the shadow of death for more than two decades and the threat emanated from very many sources, including the LTTE and from some who are now in the democratic mainstream. If peace is restored our children would love to come back and settle here and contribute to the welfare of our own people and by extension to our own country, this island. In regard to the Diaspora how can you expect them to keep quiet when the war was raging and the people were dying in large number?
At the same time I can tell you we the TNA would be listening to only the Tamils who are here. You can take my word on that. The Diaspora is entitled to voice its feelings and views. They are entitled to it, but as far as we are concerned our masters are not beyond the shores of this country. Our masters are our own people who are still living in this country and mostly in the northeast. There cannot be any remote control from any quarter whatsoever as far as the TNA is concerned. We would never allow that.

Q: During the CFA many Tamils, especially from the Diaspora invested heavily in real estate in and around Colombo to reap the benefit of those massive investments, they would have to help to revive the economy here and even invest more. Now that the war is over when do you think they will return to be active here once again?
A: Now restore law and order in effective terms in the northeast. Disarm all the paramilitary groups who are the running dogs of any government in power. Give a free hand to the Police who will do a fine job. Whoever violates the law; whoever is in possession of any unlicensed firearms should be brought to court and dealt with under the law. If they can ensure such a situation, the Tamil Diaspora will not only be investing in the south of Sri Lanka, but also in the northeast of the country. This is a serious issue. There is no question of our talking peace without the ordinary citizen feeling safe and secure in any part of the country and more particularly in the war ravaged northeast. We have made this request to the President at our last meeting.

Q: So how many armed military groups are still out there?
A: This is the problem. There are number of paramilitary groups who claim to function as political parties. They must choose now. Either they should function as political parties or as underworld groups. If they choose to be the latter, then they have no place in our society. When we allow members of any political party to possess illegal weapons and brandish them in a provincial or local government election, then we are in for a terrible situation. Our appeal is that every paramilitary group or any group whose members are armed in violation of the law should be disarmed. Take the case of Batticaloa, DIG there Edison Gunatillake, who is a good friend of mine has been successful in recovering weapons from a Muslim militant group. It shows that there had been one militant group that had been in existence and roaming about armed with weapons till now. There are number of others. All should be disarmed. Give an ultimatum and declare a moratorium period for them to surrender.

Q: About how many IDPs have been released to their relatives?
A: More than 10,000 have been released. Not only consequent to our meeting with the President. Even prior to that they were formulating some plans. The meeting added momentum to that. It is not only the TNA, but world over there is concern for IDPs. So we have to understand these developments in the right perspective. We are ready to work with the government in the humanitarian task of alleviating the suffering of the IDPs who are our own people.

Q: In any final settlement the sticky point appears to be not so much the land issue, but the devolving of police powers. It might not be a case of just one or two unruly Chief Ministers to contend with in such a situation in the future, but nine Chief Ministers running nine different police forces might make this tiny country ungovernable.
A: That could be a real problem. The division of the country into nine provinces is, in fact, British oriented. That is outdated. That is exactly why we want the devolution of power based on ethnicity. Instead of the present provinces we should have regions taking into consideration the reality, including those that led to a protracted military conflict in this country. Instead of having nine provinces and nine chief ministers let us have a reduced realistic number. If we are fully aware of the factors and the forces that led to Tamil youth losing faith in the democratic system commencing gradually from the early 70s, we’ll be able to deal with the whole question comprehensively and effectively.

Q: In light of recent experiences, the majority community entertains great fears. In the world we are a small minority and there is fear no one is interested in our welfare, except for a few close friends. So in other words even though we are a majority here we do have a minority mindset. So as an initial step Tamils should not expect everything all at once, but let things come gradually.
A: Yes. Let us be patient, but that does not mean that we can agree to a continuing process of dealing with the national question in a compartmentalised manner. We have got to evolve a political solution once and for all. That is the only way of doing that if you mean it seriously.