TNA separatist Manifesto leaves India betrayed again
Posted on September 10th, 2013
Shenali D. Waduge
There is nothing to be surprised about the TNA manifesto ƒ¢¢”š¬- while it attempts to distance itself from the LTTE it continues to cling on to the one slogan that it can bind the Tamils and that is the dream of a separate Tamil State. That dream appears to be close to reality that it must be sending shockwaves to the Indian establishment who are being told that the 13th amendment is not the solution. This means the TNA baby is now beyond Indian control and in the hands of a surrogate mother or mothers and we wonder who. In alienating India through it manifesto, the TNA has now put into gear a very dangerous scenario of actually creating the ƒ¢¢”š¬’Eelam’ but for whom it is actually meant for remains the open question. ƒ¢¢”š¬’We told you so’ is what we like to tell India for that ƒ¢¢”š¬’Eelam’ encompassing India’s South is something India should now start sweating about having thought that its intelligence and Constitution would suffice to protect its shores from separation, unless India has already been handed over to the same surrogate mother. ƒ”š‚ In these games of politics one never knows whose fooling whom.
Referendum rehearsal
Let us next view the forthcoming Northern elections as a possible rehearsal scenario that would give the likes of Navi Pillai the argument to foster the notion that the election results is sufficient to be the basis of the Tamil will. This is why the Tamil people need to be more than spectators. If the Sri Lankan nation is at stake India is also at risk and it works both ways which really prompts us to ask for what reason India even thought of arming Sri Lankan militants in the first place when it is now pretty obvious India has totally lost the plot. Whether officials on either side have been part of the gameplan the overall threat to the region is nothing we should now ignore. We need to also think of the relevance of TNA Suresh Premachandrans’ call to arms for in establishing a win in the North and with the TNA manifesto making no bones about its plan to separate this means the next stage will be one of conflict. Unless the Sri Lankan Armed forces have been able to uncover all hidden catchment of arms the possible use of these to trigger another bogey cannot be ruled out. Alongside this threat comes the need for intelligence to establish exactly how many Tamils are illegal and how many Indian intelligence may be on the ground. They may not necessarily be working for India either. What these manoeuvred scenarios would next lead to is the ability for those seated at the UNHRC to call for a R2P on Sri Lanka citing a return to conflict, risk to civilians and that foundation has been set superbly by Ms. Pillay who has declared President Rajapakse to be an ƒ¢¢”š¬’authoritarian’ running an ƒ¢¢”š¬’authoritarian’ government.
If not for Russia, we can imagine what would have happened to Syria with the false accusation of chemical weapons attack by ƒ¢¢”š¬’dictator’ Assad. Had Russia not come to the rescue of Syria, the nation would have been sprayed with bullets and bombed into oblivion.
Have we in Sri Lanka garnered our support and allegiance to obtain the same level of support that Russia is currently giving to Syria in the likely scenario of Sri Lanka becoming a target in a gameplan that has nothing to do about helping Tamils?
Surely the Tamils must realize this now. Is it difficult for the Tamils to now look at the similarities and the type of personages aligned to the quest for Eelam and to wonder whether it is conducive to the Hindu civilization that the majority of Tamils align and belong too? When the conversion aspect of Tamil Nadu is sufficient to raise alarm why is it that the Sri Lankan Tamils are slow to realize the dangers at play. Are they willing to again succumb to Tamil politicians who have been fooling them all the way?
The TNA draws its arrogance on the mandate given by Tamils at the 2010 general elections ignoring its allegiance to the LTTE.
In 1949 when the Illakanka Tamil Arasu Kadchi was formed it was immediately following independence from British rule. There was no grounds to even argue on discrimination to form a party claiming to separate. A distinct language/culture for Tamils is found in Tamil Nadu for it is from there the Tamils descend therefore self-determination requests rightfully belong to Tamil Nadu.
It is totally out of context to use the Sinhala Only as a basis for argument of grievance because Tamil language was never used in administration to feel discriminated ƒ¢¢”š¬- is it not racist to not mind use of English Language to prevail but go against Sinhalese language which was the language spoken by the majority? Moreover, let it be reiterated again that the platform on which SWRD Bandaranaike came to power was on the ticket that the leadership would put to right what the colonial powers had denied the Sinhala Buddhists for over 500 years. Was this not a bigger grievance that is yet to be addressed and remains totally ignored by all parties including present day politicians? If grievances are to be addressed what about the grievances of the majority Sinhalese Buddhists ƒ¢¢”š¬- if reconciliation is the basis of unity what about addressing all that the majority Sinhalese Buddhists were denied which include apologies for the vast lands taken over and temples destroyed upon which Churches prevail even today.
However, Tamils have been luckily enough by promoting a scenario of grievance to make Tamil language move from reasonable use to official level and now to become a bi-lingual policy of the state whereas not a single grievance of the Sinhala Buddhists has been addressed. As the oldest indigenous race the Sinhalese Buddhists have unmet rights too.
The TNA has been shrewd enough to use ƒ¢¢”š¬’Tamil speaking’ to enable them to galvanize the Muslim population claiming a new notion of ƒ¢¢”š¬’shared sovereignty’ for that is the only way that the Tamil Eelam seekers can stake claim to the Eastern province ƒ¢¢”š¬- where the natural harbor is not the ONLY resource TNA’s surrogate mothers wish to tap. Therefore it is obvious that every attack currently taking place at different levels and for different reasons has a basis for sidelining and marginalizing the majority Sinhalese Buddhist populace one to which unfortunately and sadly the politicians have fallen prey to unable to resist the carrots that can easily entice them into submission. Had they been well read on the geo-politics and current scenarios taking place the world over they would wake up from their slumber as should the advisors advising them.
Why would politicians need to defend the status given to Sinhalese Buddhists and the foremost place given to Constitutions ƒ¢¢”š¬- it is because politicians have failed to make the identity of the country known publicly that those like the TNA put forward arguments in an attempt to denationalize the populace and once that is done no one will defend the nation. Let it be not forgotten that it was the men who gave their lives to defend the nation deserve to be entitled for a stake in it and not those coming later to reap the dividends.
The standardization is being again repeated though conveniently forgetting that it enabled Tamils low castes to obtain education and this is what the elite English speaking Tamils and even Sinhalese are up in arms against.
TNA’s political solution
Can someone please explain how a country can remain ƒ¢¢”š¬’unitary’ but have ƒ¢¢”š¬’internal self-determination’ at the same time ƒ¢¢”š¬- what kind of tomfoolery are people playing with words? If Tamils are a distinct people then they must certainly align themselves to the Tamils in Tamil Nadu and much as India does not like to accept Tamil Eelam is nowhere else but Tamil Nadu. It is impossible to create Distinct People and claim self-determination all over the world otherwise soon the Tamil Canadians would make claim, British Tamils would do the same, German Tamils will also start and that may get the Sikhs in UK, Chinese in Australia, UK and US to also start making claim for they too have been distinct in those countries. Tamils cannot prove that an independent Tamil kingdom existed nor disprove the many Sinhalese presence in the North and the East as archeological findings continue to stake proof of such. If Tamil people were entitled to self-determination then it was for the British during colonial rule and whilst handing over independence to decide so ƒ¢¢”š¬- the British did not and therefore decades after independence have been given to Sri Lanka, the Tamils have no right to make such a claim.
The merged North-East by Indian in 1987 was demerged by Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court in 2006 therefore the TNA has no basis to once again call for its re-merger for the Muslims are not part of a self-determination bid to satisfy the distinct Tamil identity. But the Muslims will obviously use this as a bargaining slogan against the Central Government. All this nonsense of having to barter and give in to immoral demands would have been taken care of if politicians put their greed aside and brought back the election system that would have ensured parties that do not serve the people except themselves are thrown into political oblivion. The ƒ¢¢”š¬’first past the post’ system is one in which politicians would be made to serve the people and not the other way round. When TNA speaks of the sovereignty lies with the People and not the State this is all the more reason for the Government to seriously address the need to change the election voting system so that the bartering and bargaining and bribing stops.
What right does the TNA who are living in Colombo while the military has been making houses, toilets and what not for the Tamil people and giving them homes have to ask a country’s armed forces to leave any part of the country. Who is the TNA to be making such demands? What has the TNA done for the Tamil people in all the years it has been in politics? If Tamil people have been displaced should the TNA not take part of the blame because it was aligned to the LTTE and did these TNA members give even a bag of rice to these Tamils or help them in any livelihood programs to now be dictating terms to the country’s military? Obviously it is because the TNA has no defense over the LTTE that it is now calling for an international human rights investigation against both the Government and the LTTE but surely it will also mean that the TNA will also get caught up in these allegations but obviously the call is coming from parties that may provide them witness protection and cover and that is why TNA is making such an open call. If Tamils fled the country it is upto them to return, no one asked them to flee. All the programs that the TNA is now promoting through its manifesto are well in place and have all been well established by the State and the defense forces ƒ¢¢”š¬- the TNA is a bit late to come with its suggestions.
When TNA now comes out and says ƒ¢¢”š¬’Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka is flawed’ that is bringing down the gavel on India and is poignant to set this against the killing of Rajiv Gandhi wherein it is strongly believed that LTTE changed its allegiance from India to another more powerful bloc. This bloc having been in the local scenario both in India and Sri Lanka is now ready for the kill. It is this that has prompted the TNA to now kick India out of the picture and to declare that they would seek ƒ¢¢”š¬’development with international assistance’ echoing some of the clauses of the ISGA/PTOMs which personages like GLPieris and Jayantha Dhanapala may be more familiar with. And if we wonder who apart from India will be dangling the TNA puppets we need to next move to wonder who those in the ƒ¢¢”š¬’international community’ are who are now steering the shots for an unregistered alliance in a bid to once more take Tamils for fools and betray India once more ƒ¢¢”š¬- making that betrayal all the more significant is the manner the TNA chief Ministerial candidate adorns a sataka in the color of the Indian flag!
Never answered is why more Tamils live amongst the Sinhalese including the TNA and its Chief Ministerial candidate if they cannot live with Sinhalese ƒ¢¢”š¬’anymore’.
Never answered is why Indian Tamils are never taken into the equation while Muslims are brought in ƒ¢¢”š¬- surely it cannot be because of Trincomalee only?
Never answered is why Tamil Eelam cannot be in Tamil Nadu when obviously they are calling for the same Eelam ƒ¢¢”š¬- they cannot be different Eelams for Tamils surely?
Never answered is why TNA would not take the oath of allegiance to the state of Sri Lanka for the Constitution is one that upholds its unitary status.
TNA and Sambandan and WIgneswaran need to keep in mind that much of what they are claiming to do has already been done by the armed forces in what can be described as a perfect civilian-military partnership and the UN survey conducted reveal that the people of the North have no issues with the military presence so what nonsense are the Colombo living TNA and Wigneswaran talking about?
What India needs to now concern itself is that its stranglehold on both the Sri Lankan state and the Tamil politicians has come to such an extent that TNA is prepared to depart ways with India and seek allegiance elsewhere ƒ¢¢”š¬- if India does not need to be told in any uncertain terms this spells more trouble for India than it does for Sri Lanka.
It is perhaps a good time to redefine India’s relationship with Sri Lanka to a more amiable one departing from the big brother bully role adopted thus far on all its neighbors and take a leaf from the fine manner that Russia is now steering global opinion.
India needs to first realize it belongs to Asia, its base is Indian, its identity is Indian, its foundation is made by the majority Hindus, national identity is above the regional identity and this means that India and Sri Lanka civilizational ties should be treated above those of the divisive compulsions of coalition political games played by Tamil Nadu. Regionalism is weakening the Indian state and eventually the Balkanization of Bharat. TNA has set the ball rolling and TNA is no longer the Indian puppet ƒ¢¢”š¬- once again India finds itself betrayed.
September 10th, 2013 at 2:10 pm
Now even that fool Dayan J is panicking. He too agrees TNA has gone too far.
But HAMAS won the election in Palestine!
Muslim Brotherhood won the election in Egypt (until the army kicked them out).
IRA political group won the election in Northern Ireland.
Pulan Devi won the election in MP.
Similarly TNA will win the election in north PC. But TNA will be FAR WORSE than other terrorist dirt.
It is good to keep in mind the fate of RAJIV GHAND.
Tamils kill those who helped them.!!
RUN-NIL stopped the war in 2002-2004 but Tamil PEOPLE rejected him in 2004 election and 2005 election!!
MR WASTED BILLIONS on Tamils and he will be rejected BIG TIME soon.
I don’t know why but this is how it works.
Endia might raise another LTTE and kill TNA terrorists WHEN it finds out.
September 10th, 2013 at 5:22 pm
To quote the article:” If grievances are to be addressed what about the grievances of the majority Sinhalese Buddhists – if reconciliation is the basis of unity what about addressing all that the majority Sinhalese Buddhists were denied which include apologies for the vast lands taken over and temples destroyed upon which Churches prevail even today.”
Now that the civil war is over so should the issue of Eelam. Any party still having this issue in their manifesto should face the pressure of the government to remove such treasonous ideology or face dismantling. As the article pointed out and I quoted the grievances of the Sinhalese have not been addressed. I would go as far to state they have been deliberately ignored. No grievance can be put forth without the grievance of the majority being first addressed. Any failure to do so renders that person or entity null and void.
The Tamil led UNHRC have become the voice of the LITE and not the champions of human rights violations. They have by their actions made themselves irrelevant to the domestic issues of Sri Lanka and should not be taken into account. China or India would not if it means the division of their nation.
It seems to me that only Colombo gives respect to the UNHRC. If so then the Buddhist Sanga has to play a greater role to bring the world’s attention to the grievances of the majority Singhalese in the same manner that the Dalai Lama has successfully championed the rights of his people.
It is now quite apparent that the Sri Lankan government cannot be relied on dealing with a political party whose main agenda is to be the voice of LITE and a complete failure to address the grievances of the majority Sinhalese. If so then again the Buddhist Sanga must rise up and demand it from the government. If the Tamils can capture the attention of the world for trumped up charges and accusations by their sheer determination then they should be matched by the Sri Lankan Buddhist Sanga to push back the Tamils from demanding more and more based on a pack of lies. The Buddhist Sanga needs to mobilize her supporters to a nation wide movement that claims all of Sri Lanka as a single Buddhist entity which allows the practice of other faiths as long as these faiths do not cross the line and demand a separate country or even special rights.
September 10th, 2013 at 7:12 pm
We’ve some hopes now. Finally, two actions have taken place yesterday to take legal redress twowards Northern PC elections.
1. A legal action has been taken against the TNA election manifesto.
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_13B/Sep10_1378796804CH.php
2. Sinhala Jathika Peramuna has taken a wrtit application against holding the NPC elections.
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=87781#
September 10th, 2013 at 7:45 pm
I don’t agree with the assertion India is betrayed by the TNA. India always wanted a seperate nation for Tamils in Sri Lanka. If Tamil Eelam is created, India and the West will extend their rule to the island. It will not divide India.
For instance in early 1970s there was a claim that break up of Pakistan will break up India. Some claimed West Bengal (part of India) would join with Bangladesh which will have a domino effect. However, nothing of the sort happened. In fact following the creation of Bangladesh, West Bengal separatism weakened.
It is better for Tamil Nadu to remain part of India. It is tipped to be world’s 3rd largest economy in a few years’ time. World’s sixth power nuclear power and fourth largest armed forces. It is also the assumed guardian of Hinduism. Tamil Nadu constantly needs these economic and defence assurances. For that reason, unless a major calamity befalls on Tamil Nadu, it will always remain part of India. Creation of Tamil Eelam will only enhance Tamil Nadu people’s loyalty to India.
Due to heavy geopolitical influence from the West, India, Tamil Diaspora and Tamil Nadu, Tamil Eelam would not align with China. Compared to Sri Lanka, it will be a huge boon for Indian defence as its southern flank will be completely secure. It will also resolve the fishermen’s issue which is a headache for India. In today’s context, India is West’s key defence ally in the region and even in South East Asia.
The only loser of Tamil Eelam is Sri Lanka as other key players stand to gain from it. That is why it is extremely dangerous to allow devolution, regionalisation and accepting traditional Tamil habitats. Resultant challenges will have to be singlehanded faced by Sri Lanka.
September 10th, 2013 at 8:53 pm
Even as Congress Party Ministers openly support an Eelam in Sri Lanka, specifically referring to the PC Elections as the First Step of “Capturing” the land of Eelam ….. OUR IDIOT Govt is Enabling that Process through Provincial Council Elections.
The GOSL did not even INVESTIGATE IN DEPTH our REQUEST to CHECK THE IMMIGRATION/CITIZENSHIP status of OVER 1 million ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS imported into Sri Lanka by the LTTE. Instead, they are being allowed to …. to vote in the PC Elections …. and given “Temporary ID Cards” to vote for TNA candidates who will make certain that they are PERMANENTLY ESTABLISHED as Sri Lankan citizens!
IGNORANCE is EXCUSABLE, but STUPIDITY is UNPARDONABLE!
Yes indeed, given IDIOTS like this at the HELM of Sri Lanka, the Confidence of INdian Union Minister E M Sudarsana Natchiappan on the imminent “RE-CAPTURE” of the land of the putative Eelam in Sri Lanka is VERY WELL FOUNDED!
………………………….
Minister openly supports ‘Eelam’
Express News Service – CHENNAI
September 10, 2013
Last Updated: 10th September 2013 11:34 AM
Union Minister E M Sudarsana Natchiappan’s remark that Tamils should first “capture” the land that belonged to them in Sri Lanka if the Eelam dream is to materialise is perhaps the first time a senior Congress leader from TN has openly acknowledged the idea of an Eelam for Tamils in Lanka. “Like Israel and Palestine, we must also capture the land of Tamils in Sri Lanka. We should struggle with this aim. Sri Lanka belongs to Tamils,” said the minister.
Significantly, he’s the first from the Congress ranks drawing a parallel with Israel in the issue.
Natchiappan’s party, the Congress, has consistently opposed the idea of a separate nation for Tamils and has reiterated that any solution to the ethnic problem in the island nation has to be found within the framework of a unified Lanka.
Giving a call to the Tamil diaspora to return to Lanka, Natchiappan said working against Sri Lanka from abroad would be detrimental to the aim of Eelam. “If you leave this (Lanka) sacred land and do anything against it (from outside), tomorrow Eelam will fade away as a dream,” he said. However, speaking to Express later in the day, Natchiappan clarified that by Eelam he meant entire Sri Lanka and that it was not a call to divide the nation.
Natchiappan said the view he wanted to convey was that the diaspora should desist from causing apprehensions among the Tamil population regarding the upcoming elections.
“They should aid the process of devolution by supporting the democratic process. The political parties in Tamil Nadu hould also provide moral support to the people there for the elections,” he pointed out.
September 11th, 2013 at 6:47 am
Points of importance :
(1) Why are TAMIL ILLEGAL MIGRANTS ALLOWED TO VOTE IN SRI LANKA ? We are breaking our own Laws here.
Are there enough Laws in Lanka to deal with Illegal Migrants ? If not, WHY ? What is wrong with our Lawmakers ?
Buddhism is NOT the law of land. Buddhism is the main religion here, and should be protected too, as some groups use religion is a weapon these days.
The USA has identified some 11 Million illegal migrants for deportation. The UK is doing the same. New entrants into the UK (through visa) have to pay a large amount as a bond.
SAARC rules allow SAARC member countries which includes INDIA, access to Lanka freely with ‘visa on arrival’. But, Sri Lankans cannot enter India with that same freedom. Why is that ? Why do we allow this to happen an not protest unfair treatment ? SAARC countries are poor, and Sri Lanka will have a constant flow of illegal migrants if the rules are not changed.
(2) The TNA, the main Tamil political party, contesting in the North through the ITAK, is not even REGISTERED ! Why do we allow such anomalies ?
The TNA members have gone to the west and condemned Lanka and accused Lanka of genocide of Tamils (not war with the killer terrorist group, the ltte), discrimination against Tamils (when Tamils have more rights in Lanka than in Tamil Nadu, India), that Tamil want Self Determination, etc. All this goes on with no action taken against these TNA members who live in Colombo (NOT in Jaffna, their Promised land !), and they get their pay, perks & pensions from the taxpayers of Lanka, who are mainly Sinhala people. Is this country deaf & dumb ?
We think in any other Democracy, the TNA would have been kicked out by now. Sri Lanka’s only surfeit is excess of people who are disloyal to this Nation that gives them FREE education & health care, not available in some of the wealthy Democracies in the world.
(3) The M-TNA (the M stands for Muslim) : The Tamil speaking Muslims of the East are TAMILS who have converted to Islam. Are the citizens of Sri Lanka aware of this ? This is why there is a liaison between the Northern & Eastern Tamils now.
Most of the political parties of the South have a Nation flavor, whilst all the Tamil parties are racist. There isn’t single National Tamil political party.
Muslim people represent a religion, Islam, and yet they are allowed to contest at elections under their RELIGION, Islam (Muslim). Wonder what would happen if BBS started contesting elections – the howling would be deafening !
Why do we allow parties based on religion to contest elections or even form political parties ? ALL political parties ought to have a National flavor, or tied to Environment Protection.
(4) That Tamil leaders have misled the Tamils of Lanka through Separatism is evident. The Tamil Caste wars of the North have been transformed into Tamil Separatism.
(4-A) The “hurt parties” of the South, viz. the JVP and the Army deserters must be heard and their grievances taken care of through the Buddhist temples and GoSL. Or else they will drift with/bought by mischievous elements.
(5) These are the cracks in the bedrock of Sri Lanka politics. Applying bits of bandages to fix these problems will not suffice. The Laws of the Land must be amended to protect the Country and the People. Buddhism is not the Law of the Land. This misinterpretation must be corrected by having strong Laws to protect the country and they must be acted on without fear or favor. Or else ‘kind & compassionate’ Buddhist Lanka will be the next sacrificial goat on the altar of Tamil Caste wars of Tamil Nadu. We have to learn from small Buddhist countries such as Singapore and Bhutan and see how they protect their land & people.
At the end of the day, we have to ask ourselves, do we really have sufficient Laws to safeguard our country and are we implementing the existing Laws adequately to do so ?
———–
Note : Tamil Nadu is still stuck in their Caste bound past, however much they may make ‘per capita’ – it will not be equitably distributed income. At the rate they meet their Human Rights needs, can they ever be an internationally respected state ?
September 11th, 2013 at 7:09 am
The TNA manifesto is supposedly negated by the Seventh Schedule ? In that case, why do the authorities allow the TNA to call for Self Governance ? This is what I mean – the law of the land is made to look like an ass.
Please see below article from the Island newspaper.
“NPC polls: ‘Seventh Schedule negates core of TNA manifesto’
September 10, 2013, 9:39 pm
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The TNA’s controversial manifesto calling for self-governance in a re-merged North-Eastern Province was just propaganda meant to draw voters as all those contesting the first Northern PC polls, on the TNA ticket, had furnished a letter each to the Elections Secretariat reiterating their commitment to the unitary status of the country in accordance with the ‘Seventh Schedule’ of the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution, Election Department sources said.
The then President J. R. Jayewardene introduced the Sixth Amendment on August 8, 1983 in the wake of the outbreak of Eelam War I.
Elections Department officials said that the ‘Seventh Schedule’ was applicable to all elections, including the presidential.
Each contestant had to reaffirm that he/she will uphold and defend the Constitution and won’t directly or indirectly, in or outside Sri Lanka, support, espouse, promote, finance, encourage or advocate the establishment of a separate state within the territory of Sri Lanka.
Responding to a query by The Island, sources pointed out that the TNA had, like any other political party in the fray, furnished letters guaranteeing their allegiance to the Constitution. Against that background, the much publicised TNA’s manifesto became irrelevant. Those who had voiced grave concern over the TNA manifesto had conveniently forgotten that whatever MP R. Sampanthan’s party propagated, it too, was committed to unitary status.
The TNA’s commitment to the Sixth Amendment had made the manifesto irrelevant, sources said.
The Elections Secretariat recently rejected nominations of seven candidates of an Independent group, contesting from the Kilinochchi District, on the basis that the document bearing the ‘Seventh Schedule of the Constitution had not been properly signed by one candidate who had lost his index finger due to the war.
Three disabled war victims and four others who had their nominations to contest the Northern Provincial Council polls rejected, have complained to the Court of Appeal that the aforesaid rejection by the Returning Officer for Kilinochchi was mala fide and arbitrary.
The petitioners are K. Dharmalingam and six others from Kilinochchi District.
Additional Elections Commissioner U. Amaradasa told The Island that whatever the circumstances, all candidates would have to fulfil the obligations in accordance with the ‘Seventh Schedule.’
Calling for the re-merger of the Eastern Province with the Northern Province, the TNA declared that the devolution of power should be on the basis of shared sovereignty, necessarily over land, law and order, socio-economic development including health and education, resources and fiscal powers
The TNA said: “To achieve the above including self-reliance it is imperative that we need self-government. We have set out a two-stage constitutional process to secure this. Whilst we do our utmost to play a positive role in promoting self-government for the Tamil-speaking people in the North-East, we will carry on with our political negotiations for meaningful sharing of powers of governance. We cannot emphasise more the immediate necessity for a democratically elected body with legislative, executive and fiscal powers — to take over those functions of governance rightly belonging to us.”
Responding to a query by The Island, Elections Chief Mahinda Deshapriya said that all political parties including the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had to accept the ‘Seventh Schedule.’ Although the Northerners would be voting at provincial council polls for the first time on September 21, the ‘Seventh Schedule’ had applied to all elections for over two decades, Deshapriya said”.
September 11th, 2013 at 12:18 pm
The opening statement of the so called “Manifesto” states”
“The Tamil People overwhelmingly gave TNA a mandate at the General Election held in April 2010. The TNA has continued to act in accordance with that political mandate and is now facing the Northern Provincial Council Election as a necessary step in the fulfillment of that objective. It is pertinent to recall the salient features of that mandate.”
These salient features are captioned as “History of Independence from 1948”; “Power Sharing Arrangements”; “Military Onslaught And Its Aftermath”; “Our Stand On Political Solution”;” Matters of Immediate Concern For The Tamil People”; “Internally Displaced Persons”; “Muslims”; “War Widows”; “Post War Land Issues”; “Law and Order”; “Job Creation”; “Development With National And International Assistance”; “The Role Of The International Community”.
What are they talking about? Have they gone NUTS and become IDIOTIC to place a “MANIFESTO” that is TOTALLY IRRELEVANT to an “Election of a Provincial Council”? . My observation is “NO”. They are not gone NUTS or become IDIOTIC. In short, this is a very well “CRAFTED” and a “CALCULATED” move to take the entire NORTH and the EAST to form a “SOVEREIGN/FEDERAL STATE”. This is what Vartharajah Perumal attempted some years back. This time the LTTE PROXY; TNA (hiding behind Ilanki Tamil Arasu Kadchi) has chosen a “FAT,BIG BULL” to draw the cart.
So the Government and the PEOPLE of Sri Lanka “BE AWARE” and “BEWARE”. Their “MANDATE” must be nothing but the “ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF JAFFNA”, ACCORDING TO THE LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS. PERIOD.
If they (the elected representatives) FAIL to do that; PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE, DISSOLVE IT FORTHWITH AND TAKE ACTION TO BRING THEM TO JUSTICE. Government and the people: Please be strong and show them we mean BUSINESS.
September 11th, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Fran,
“The TNA’s controversial manifesto calling for self-governance in a re-merged North-Eastern Province was just propaganda meant to draw voters”
This part is TRUE.
Tamils ONLY vote for RACISTS. The WORST RACIST gets Tamil votes. This is the case in SL and TN.
But there is a disconnect between the LAW and IMPLEMENTATION. IF TNA agreed to UNITARY SL (a MUST to contest elections), why not they are punished for VIOLATING that declaration?
September 11th, 2013 at 1:50 pm
douglas,
We fail to understand how an UNREGISTERED political party can put out a Manifesto AND contest elections for a PC under the ticket of another registered political party. If the TNA is allowed to do just that, then something is very wrong with our ELECTION LAWS, isn’t it ?
Never heard of such nonsense happening in any other Democracy anywhere else in the world. With the kind of Laws we have in Sri Lanka to protect us, we are doomed unless the Laws are changed to protect the People and the Land.
September 11th, 2013 at 2:00 pm
Lorenzo,
This not the time humor or joke with voters. We in Lanka, N&S, E&W, have gone through endless strife humouring these greedy killers in the ltte > TNA.
TNA (unregistered political party) has to come up with a genuine plan re the future actions of their NPC.
GoSL should stop this election happening, unless the TNA manifesto changes. If these Tamil voters are so anti-Sri Lanka, why are they in Sri Lanka ? We know that there are a large number of Tamil illegal migrants and that needs correcting too.
Perhaps that is why these illegal migrants do not feel they belong in Lanka as their Hearts are still in Tamil Nadu ?
Then they should be sent back to TN.
September 11th, 2013 at 4:01 pm
Tamils and other Indians who arrived after 1792 are invaders and colonists and should return back to India or sata back and be part of the nation and should give up their baggage.
What we need is the unity among the non -Indians.
September 11th, 2013 at 4:11 pm
Fran,
The biggest JOKE is the govt. that doesn’t hesitate to shoot DEAD Sinhala school children but POWERLESS to do anything about TNA terrorirsts!
Shame! Damn shame!
Tamil people in SL and TN (SAME) ALWAYS voted for RACIST politics. That will NEVER change.
TNA is only an English translation for ITAK. Earlier they translated into Federal party now TNA. ITAK is a registered party since 1949 (even BEFORE SLFP!!).
Other small parties have agreed to contest under ITAK. That is how it is written in the ballot paper.
TNA is mainly for international consumption.
TAMIL NATIONAL = Tamil nation
Thamil Arseu = Tamil nation
When ITAK wins, the international media goes Tamil National Alliance won.
The MORE RACIST the TNA is, the MORE VOTES it gets.
September 11th, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Kithsiri,
But the govt. does NOTHING to save SL from TNA!!
That is the starting point.
JR to his credit BANNED the TULF in July 1983. Very WISE decision indeed. Just imagine the damage they would have done had it not happened?
Why can’t this govt. do it BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE?
September 11th, 2013 at 6:54 pm
Judging from the response, Shenali you have done an excellent job as usual. At least lets WAKE UP our SILENT majority, the educated, well to do Sinhallese Budddhists & OTHER reaces ( our partnes the FEMALE populatio of lanka) EXCEPT Tamils.
I wonder WHY we have to discuss ALL THESE NONSENSE, because OUR energy is wasted in repeating these ARGUMENTS, LIKE A MANTRA.
LETS start with the strength of Tamil population NOW.. it is around 5%. Where as Muslims make up 7% or more. THEN why are we discussing about Tamils & TNA??. Even when population of Tamils were around 12 % we GAVE almost everything to please these PARASITES. Now who in any part of the world give a small MINORITY some more rights.
I say it is time to CLAWBACK concessions already given. INDIA is talking big about the Sri Lankan Tamils, BUT NOT even TN in India, has no equal rights with respect to Language. Toilet Nadu is PLEADING please give TAMIL language official status. BUT INDIA refuses & blames lanka for ALL the concessions we have grabted to Tamils.
THAT IS WHY in the past, Tamils called SINHALA MODAYA.. so these are the adjectives they use, to a community who helped them settle in Colombo & the South. HE President Rajapkasha should ask TNA to throw their manifesto to garbage dump & consult MUSLIM leadership in Lanka, if they need our Presient’s audience. FROM NOW ON TAMILS are a SUB – GROUP in Lankan politics.
I cannot EXPLAIN any more o these DONKEYS.. if they cannot listen & remember what our EX- General arth Fomseka said after winning the war. He said, TAMILS you people are a MINORITY.. so do NOT demand & ask for any unreasonable concessions. JUST be like nice SERVANTS who are employed in Toilet cleaning or other low paying jobs because thats all you people are good at.
Bristish forsaw this & brought Indian & Pakistanis to work in the planattions when Sinhalese REFUSED. So do I have to spell out to Tamils whay their place should be? .WITH a mere 5%, keep your gaps shut & NO VADUKUDAI RESOLUTION, NO MANIFESTOs, NO MERGER, NO Tamil as an OFFICIAL langauge, BUT allowed to speak if they are illiterate in other languages.
NO direct approach to President of lanka, ONLY THROUGH MUSLIM leadership as you are a SUB GROUP NOW. Plead with Muslims let you join them in presenting your grievencies.. THESE words like MIANIFESTOS doensn’t mean anything to us. JUST like Catholic & Christian churches, and GTF, BTF, WTF or whaever are MEANINGLESS.
WE STRICTLY GO BY how many do you represnt IN SRI LANKA. Thats all, South African, European or any other doesn’t ring the bell for us.
SO GIVE UP YOUR dreams of ELAM, because you will create ANOTHER TOILET STATE in North & East of Lanka..
Remeber aways our MOTO…..ONE NATION< INDIVISIBLE, UNDER ONE FLAG , ONE LEADER..thank you all~ J
September 11th, 2013 at 8:14 pm
Simple Translation of TNA stand is: “We will take whatever you fools give us NOW, and CONTINUE to fight for a for a separate Sovereign Eelam LATER”!
This stand … spelled out in BLACK & WHITE in the TNA manifesto to attract Separatist Support to the TNA while it poses pro-forma as law-abiding party accepting the Unitary Status of Sri Lanka to gain legal status in the PC Elections …. is NOTHING SHORT OF OUTRIGHT DUPLICITY and A PUBLIC DECLARATION OF TREASON.
It should be treated as such, and the TNA candidacy in the PC Elections should be REJECTED as that of a TREASONOUS PARTY that has given every intention of VIOLATING the Constitution of Sri Lanka.
No Legal Political Organization of Sri Lanka standing for Elections should be allowed to AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE CONSTITUTION in one document and then make DECLARATIONS TO THE CONTRARY in another legal document … its ELECTION MANIFESTO! That is tantamount to not only MISLEADING THE VOTING PUBLIC as to the POLICIES IT WILL PURSUE ONCE IT IS ELECTED, but also VIOLATES the CONSITUTION, the Supreme Law of Land.
In issuing this MANIFESTO, the TNA has given INCONTROVERTIBLE EVIDENCE OF TREACHERY. The GOSL should USE it NOW to the Fullest Extent of the Law to punish these TRAITORS!
The TNA Leaders should now be ARRESTED, PROSECUTED, CONVICTED and PUNISHED for TREASON against the Nation.
Failure to HOLD ACCOUNTABLE the TNA Leaders for TREASON, will ENCOURAGE the TNA, and ALL OTHER POTENTIAL HIDDEN TRAITORS to VIOLATE the Laws of Land with IMPUNITY, with NO FEAR OF RETRIBUTION!
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NPC polls: ‘Seventh Schedule negates core of TNA manifesto’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
September 10, 2013
The TNA’s controversial manifesto calling for self-governance in a re-merged North-Eastern Province was just propaganda meant to draw voters as all those contesting the first Northern PC polls, on the TNA ticket, had furnished a letter each to the Elections Secretariat reiterating their commitment to the unitary status of the country in accordance with the ‘Seventh Schedule’ of the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution, Election Department sources said.
The then President J. R. Jayewardene introduced the Sixth Amendment on August 8, 1983 in the wake of the outbreak of Eelam War I.
Elections Department officials said that the ‘Seventh Schedule’ was applicable to all elections, including the presidential.
Each contestant had to reaffirm that he/she will uphold and defend the Constitution and won’t directly or indirectly, in or outside Sri Lanka, support, espouse, promote, finance, encourage or advocate the establishment of a separate state within the territory of Sri Lanka.
Responding to a query by The Island, sources pointed out that the TNA had, like any other political party in the fray, furnished letters guaranteeing their allegiance to the Constitution. Against that background, the much publicised TNA’s manifesto became irrelevant. Those who had voiced grave concern over the TNA manifesto had conveniently forgotten that whatever MP R. Sampanthan’s party propagated, it too, was committed to unitary status.
The TNA’s commitment to the Sixth Amendment had made the manifesto irrelevant, sources said.
The Elections Secretariat recently rejected nominations of seven candidates of an Independent group, contesting from the Kilinochchi District, on the basis that the document bearing the ‘Seventh Schedule of the Constitution had not been properly signed by one candidate who had lost his index finger due to the war.
Three disabled war victims and four others who had their nominations to contest the Northern Provincial Council polls rejected, have complained to the Court of Appeal that the aforesaid rejection by the Returning Officer for Kilinochchi was mala fide and arbitrary.
The petitioners are K. Dharmalingam and six others from Kilinochchi District.
Additional Elections Commissioner U. Amaradasa told The Island that whatever the circumstances, all candidates would have to fulfil the obligations in accordance with the ‘Seventh Schedule.’
Calling for the re-merger of the Eastern Province with the Northern Province, the TNA declared that the devolution of power should be on the basis of shared sovereignty, necessarily over land, law and order, socio-economic development including health and education, resources and fiscal powers
The TNA said: “To achieve the above including self-reliance it is imperative that we need self-government. We have set out a two-stage constitutional process to secure this. Whilst we do our utmost to play a positive role in promoting self-government for the Tamil-speaking people in the North-East, we will carry on with our political negotiations for meaningful sharing of powers of governance. We cannot emphasise more the immediate necessity for a democratically elected body with legislative, executive and fiscal powers — to take over those functions of governance rightly belonging to us.”
Responding to a query by The Island, Elections Chief Mahinda Deshapriya said that all political parties including the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had to accept the ‘Seventh Schedule.’ Although the Northerners would be voting at provincial council polls for the first time on September 21, the ‘Seventh Schedule’ had applied to all elections for over two decades, Deshapriya said.
September 11th, 2013 at 8:25 pm
BAH! My Assessment: Absolutely NOTHING will come out this Lawyers Guild case, just as the JHU moves to remove the 13th Amendment was a MONUMENTAL flop! All smoke and no fire!
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Nationalist organization in Sri Lanka to take legal action against Tamil party election manifesto
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sept 10, Colombo: A nationalist organization in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Lawyers’ Guild said that they will file a case in the Supreme Court against the election manifesto of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
Kapila Gamage, the convener of the Sri Lanka Lawyers’ Guild, a lesser known lawyers’ organization linked to the Nationalist Organizations Collective said the TNA manifesto was against the Constitution of the country.
He said that the proclamation of self-rule in the manifesto is a violation of the Sri Lanka Constitution. He reminded that it is compulsory for any elected member of an election to any institution to take oaths confirming that he or she will safeguard the constitution of the country.
The Sinhala nationalist organizations pointed out that the TNA has announced the election victory would be manipulated as a mandate to lobby for a self-rule and re-unification of the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
Gamage said that the legal action would be initiated before the election.
Veteran nationalists Gunadasa Amarasekara, Bengamuwe Nalaka Thero and several others participated in the press conference held to protest the TNA manifesto yesterday.
Meanwhile, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said that the manifesto presented by the Tamil National Alliance for the Northern Provincial election has distorted the fight against terrorism.
He said that it presents a wrong picture about Sri Lanka to the international community and depicted the LTTE as an innocent heroic organization.
September 11th, 2013 at 10:29 pm
There has been Hindu-Muslim riots in Uttar Pradesh. Following the riot HINDU pro-govt. voters are likely to vote BJP!!
AK-47s and grenades have been found in mosques.
Over 10,000 displaced. Over 10,000 arrested.
Over 40 killed.
September 12th, 2013 at 6:33 am
Lorenzo,
Tamil Terrorism (ltte) and Sinhela Terrorism (Rioting) will be met through the Police & the Armed forces of Sri Lanka. Always. No difference. Solving social problems through Violence will never be accepted in Sri Lanka.
There are no Riots involved with the TNA doings right now, so the Police & Army are not called in. The TNA, through their Manifesto, are now proposing a Federal State with a merged N&E, supposedly to attract Tamil voters.
The Question is : Have the TNA a right to attract Tamil voters through Separatist ideologies ?
This has to be fought in the Courts and in the Parliament. No other way.
September 12th, 2013 at 6:40 am
Repeat : The Big Question right now is :
Have the TNA the right to attract Tamil voters through Separatist ideologies ?
September 12th, 2013 at 11:46 am
Dear Fran: TNA is an Alliance of three registered political parties ( including Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi), just as much as the UPFA is an Alliance of twenty eight (28) political parties.
That is why at the end of the “Manifesto” it is stated “….At this election by voting for the Tamil National Alliance contesting under the name of Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachci”.
Hope I have cleared you doubts. Thanks.
September 12th, 2013 at 12:41 pm
douglas,
Thanks for clarification.
I knew that the TNA is a combination of three parties. I did not know that the ‘combo’ was called ITAK.
However, how does that allow them to attract Tamil voters through Separatist ideologies ? Whatever the ‘combo’ is called, it breaks the law, does it not ? That is my main point.
Also, how did ITAK get registered at the Elections Office while carrying the TNA Manifesto on the sidelines ? Something is very wrong with our Election Laws, isn’t it ? Or is it that our Elections Office has been duped or dumb ?
September 12th, 2013 at 12:57 pm
douglas,
Please delete the part : ‘I did not know the combo was called ITAK’. It was an error.
HIghlight the part : However, how does that allow the TNA to attract Tamil voters through Separatist ideologies ? That is breaking the Law.
Add : The ITAK was registered as a non-Separatist party. How can ITAK allow a Separatist party to use its name ? Isn’t ITAK breaking the law here ?
September 12th, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Dear Fran: You are absolutely correct. Our Constitution says and refer to Sri Lanka as a UNITARY STATE. If some organization, whether it is a political party or not, campaign for “SOVEREIGNTY” in another part of that country, it must be treated as “TRAITOROUS”.
I hope, you would remember someone by the name Stanley Perera (I think from Australia) tried, having spent his own resources to institute legal action against this TNA. He failed in that attempt at the very outset of exploring the possibilities. He left Sri Lanka in disgust and did not even now contribute to this web page. Perhaps, if he reads this some insight into that episode would be exposed.
September 13th, 2013 at 4:03 am
Dear douglas,
We feel encouraged to read the news item below.
* Sri Lankan government not to accept the Tamil party election manifesto
Thu, Sep 12, 2013, 08:11 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sept 12, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government says it cannot accept the election manifesto of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for the Northern Provincial Council.
Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told a news conference that the government regrets the contents of the TNA election manifesto.
He said that the government could not accept the manifesto as it contravenes the Constitution of the country.
In its election manifesto, the TNA, once considered as a proxy for the terrorist group LTTE during the war, has called for establishing power sharing arrangements in a unit of a merged Northern and Eastern Provinces based on a Federal structure.
According to Rambukwella, there are attempts by some groups to initiate legal action against the TNA manifesto to get a restraining order against it before the Northern Provincial Council election this month.
Sri Lanka Lawyers’ Guild said they will file a case in the Supreme Court against the TNA’s election manifesto as it was against the Constitution of the country since the proclamation of self-rule in the manifesto is a violation of the Sri Lanka Constitution.
The TNA says the manifesto emphasizes the political aspirations of the Tamils, while upholding the integrity of the country.
TNA parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran said the party’s election manifesto while being prepared to uphold the right of self-determination of the Tamils would also preserve the integrity of the country”.
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In this instance, we have to look at the INTENT of the party concerned, the TNA. Is the INTENT to safeguard & nurture the Tamil people and also others of Lanka ? NO. The INTENT is SEPARATISM. The INTENT of the TNA actually endangers the Tamil people by creating mistrust and disharmony.
When something smells like skunk (Urulawa), looks like skunk and acts like skunk, we certainly have to assume it IS Skunk !
September 13th, 2013 at 4:56 am
Yes, I remember Stanley Perera and his valiant attempts to correct the situation. Douglas, these are our heroes. We must never forget them. We must all continue to remember and bless them for their relentless efforts to save their Motherland.
We wish that the GoSL, the President especially, will give well deserved recognition to these heroes who stepped forward to save Lanka in her hour of need. This should be done at least in a special speech made in Parliament.