|
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has stated categorically that it
considers both the People's Alliance (PA) and the United National Party (UNP) as
forces of Sinhala hegemony and would not be supporting any political party at
the forthcoming general elections.
"EPDP has placed before the people its policy on the political issue - Power
Speaking to The Sunday Leader at his office in Kokaddichcholai in the
LTTE-controlled areas, Karikalan, LTTE's officer-in-charge for Batticaloa and
Amparai said, "The Tigers consider both parties as protagonists of Sinhala
chauvinism and the suffering of the Tamils would not be alleviated whichever
party came to power on December 5." This follows the assassination of
Thambirajah Jeayakumar, the Batticaloa district's UNP candidate for the general
elections on November 17. It is widely believed that the Tigers were
instrumental in his assassination.
Karikalan, speaking to journalists some months ago, expressed the LTTE's
displeasure towards Tamils contesting in the ranks of the national parties at
elections, since both the PA and the UNP were not interested in resolving the
problem1s of the Tamils.
Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Karikalan said that the Tigers did not support
any political party contesting elections because it did not recognise the
legitimacy of the parliament of Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a notice under the hand of the Rajasinghan Padai Privu
(regiment) widely believed to be a front of the LTTE, was issued to the press
which stated, "The death knell will sound on our soil for Tamil candidates who
support the parties propagating Sinhala hegemony."
The leaflet accused the speakers and candidates of racist Sinhala political
parties contesting elections of exploiting the LTTE to capture seats in
parliament. It said the word 'LTTE' was pronounced as a charm not only in Sri
Lanka but in Tamil Nadu too, to capture power and office.
The notice went on to elaborate on the theme that all Sinhala parties being
snakes in the grass and that "if the ruling party was a viper, Ranil's party was
a poisonous snake."
"All the racist parties speak about the problems of the Tamil people and
attempts at resolving them only in the time of elections," the notice charged.
Karikalan, referring to the violent incident in Tandavanveli, in Batticaloa last
Sunday said that violent incidents inspired by the armed forces showed the
military's drive at suppressing the aspirations of the Tamils had not abated.
|
