KRUNA TELLS ALL PARTY CONFERENCE
THAT IT IS FUTILE TO DISCUSS POLITICAL SOLUTIONS WITH PRABHAKARAN
By Walter Jayawardhana
Expressing the futility of attempting to negotiate peace with Tamil
Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on a political solution a renegade
leader of the Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam (LTTE) speaking of
his 22 years of experience with Prabhakaran said in Colombo that when
at an international sponsored peace talks the LTTE delegate leader agreed
to accept a federal system and issued a statement Prabhakaran rejected
it and instructed them to drag the peace negotiations for five years
as a means to accumulate more arms for war.
The renegade leader Colonel Karuna addressing an All Party Conference
to discuss a political solution to the Sri Lankan conflict at the Presidential
Secretariat summoned by President Mahinda Rajapaksa said, “ LTTE
delegate leader Anton Balasingham, without consulting Prabhakaran had
issued a statement stating that they were willing to consider a federal
system. When he discussed this with Prabhakaran he rejected the idea
of federalism. He wanted the talks dragged for at least five years till
the LTTE obtained enough arms to strengthen itself further.”
Colonel Karuna, who entered the Sri Lanka parliament recently under
his true name Vinayagamoorthy Muralidharan as the leader of the Tamil
Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), as a breakaway political party of
the Tamil Tigers said the Tamil question has to be resolved separately
without mixing it up with the Tamil Tigers and the only resolution of
the Tamil Tigers is to defeat them militarily like in the country’s
Eastern Province . He was confident , he said they will be defeated
very soon in the country’s North.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the All Parry Conference today
repeated his call to the LTTE to lay down arms and surrender.
He said: “I wish to once again very clearly call on the LTTE to
lay down their arms and surrender. They should act in this manner and
enter the democratic political process. Our aim should be to ensure
the democratic political rights of our Tamil brethren.”
The President had summoned the Al Party Conference to apprise its members
of the current developments with regard to the operations to eradicate
terrorism, establish peace and restore democracy throughout the country.
“However difficult it may be, it is my belief that the efforts
to find political solutions to political issues should be continued.
It is my belief that there are no military solutions to political questions.
The people have elected us to realize their aims and aspirations. It
is our duty to ensure to the Tamil people of the North the same democratic
rights as enjoyed by the people min all other parts of the country.
Military operations have become necessary to eradicate terrorism from
the country and enthrone democracy throughout the land,” the President
said.
The leader of the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TVMP) Vinayagamoorthy
Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman, further said he had been with the LTTE
for more than 22 years; and with his experience knew that when the LTTE
came forward seeking peace it was always to further strengthen itself.
On earlier occasions, incumbent governments, possibly by mistake, had
encouraged the LTTE by giving it arms and money.
He recalled his own participation in several rounds of talks with the
Government held under international sponsorship. They had come to an
understanding to accept a federal system as a solution. However, Anton
Balasingham, without consulting Prabhakaran had issued a statement stating
that they were willing to consider a federal system. When he discussed
this with Prabhakaran he rejected the idea of federalism. He wanted
the talks dragged for at least five years till the LTTE obtained enough
arms to strengthen itself further.
That was when he decided to leave the LTTE. It was called a renegade
for talking this decision, which was done after he had explained to
Prabharakan the futility of the armed campaign they were engaged in
where at least 80,000 people had lost their lives.
He emphasized that it was necessary to defeat the LTTE militarily.
This was necessary in the interests of the people of the North, who
have already rejected the LTTE, but controlled by the military power
of the organization.
He said the President had brought about many important changes in the
East with free and fair elections and that all communities in the East
were today participating in the development process there.
Here is the text of the President’s statement:
“I welcome you all with all respect, and thank you for being present
at this meeting at such short notice.
“We have today reached an important juncture in the difficult
path of eradicating terrorism from our motherland and ensuring the dawn
of peace. We seek this peace for all the people of our country. Similarly,
what we look forward to is a peace that will ensure to all citizens,
whether in the North, South, East or West equal rights and privileges,
to be enjoyed in freedom and dignity.
“The political parties gathered here are those that have the highest
regard to the democratic system, ands have great confidence in it; it
is satisfying that they all value democratic thinking and follow the
principles of democracy. We are also encouraged by the fact that all
of these parties comprise those who take great pains to achieve the
economic, social, cultural and political aspirations of our people.
“I wish to emphasize the importance of all of us have come together
so as not to betray the people in their eager search for democracy and
peace, away from the path of violence.
“However difficult it may be, it is my belief that the efforts
to find political solutions to political issues should be continued.
It is my belief that there are no military solutions to political questions.
The people have elected us to realize their aims and aspirations. It
is our duty to ensure to the Tamil people of the North the same democratic
rights as enjoyed by the people min all other parts of the country.
Military operations have become necessary to eradicate terrorism from
the country and enthrone democracy throughout the land.
“You will recall that in January this year the All Party Representative
Committee presented a set of proposals. It is the expectation of the
government to carry these proposals forward and implement them. Especially,
in the context of our Constitution not being properly implemented, such
the full implementing of these proposals cannot be done immediately.
They should be done step by step. Already this is being implemented
well in the Eastern Province. At the same time, the military operations
are continuing in the North, to free the people there from the yoke
of terrorism and ensure them of their democratic rights and freedoms.
“There should be a proper environment to fully implement the proposals
of the All Party Conference and the All Party Representative Committee.
The current military operations are being carried out to build that
required environment. They are not intended to harass the ordinary people,
or cause harm or hardship to them. Our policy in this regard is very
clear. It is that we continue with these operations to free another
group of our own brothers and sisters from the cruel grip of terror.
“I wish to state our satisfaction that the entire machinery of
government led by the respective Government Agents, is carrying out
fully coordinated work together with the International Red Cross and
the United Nations to ensure the welfare of the civilians who are faced
with some hardship and have been temporarily displaced due to the current
military operations in the North.
“I wish to state that all hardships faced temporarily by our brothers
and sisters in the North will be brought to an end in a short time.
Similar to what we did in the East, we will soon make arrangements to
bring normalcy to the lives of our fraternal citizens in the North,
and provide them the opportunity to elect their own political representatives
to the constitutionally established political institutions.
“You are aware that we are taking action to properly implement
our Constitution. Similarly, the local government bodies and provincial
councils are being strengthened. What the All Party Conference should
do now is to discuss and agree on measures towards stabilizing this
political process, and discuss the further measures necessary to achieve
peace. This should be done in a manner that is fair by all communities.
Such measures should help in raising the living standards of all communities.
Also, we should build an environment in which every citizen will be
able to live in peace and satisfaction.
“Finally, I wish to once again very clearly call on the LTTE to
lay down their arms and surrender. They should act in this manner and
enter the democratic political process. Our aim should be to ensure
the democratic political rights of our Tamil brethren.”
The representatives of the parties present supported the President
initiative to end terrorism and restore peace in the country, and also
the measures being taken to ease the temporary hardships faced by the
people of the North due to the ongoing military operations.
Representatives of the following parties were present: Sri Lanka Freedom
Party, Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Communist Party of Sri Lanka, Mahajana
Eksath Peramuna, Jathika Hela Urumaya, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, and
Ceylon Workers Congress. Up Country People’s Front, National Unity
Alliance, United National Party Democratic Group, Eelam People’s
Democratic Party, All Ceylon Muslim Congress, National Congress, Western
People’s Front, Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal, National Freedom
Front.
|
