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| Sunday, 15 February 2004 |
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Mixed reactions from politicos by P. Krishnaswamy Political parties have expressed mixed reactions over the forthcoming General Elections. Whatever the reactions are, the parties stand firm in conducting a free and fair election and giving importance in solving issues such as the ethnic crisis and economic problems. Here are some of the views expressed by the politicos of various parties to the Sunday Observer: Ceylon Workers' Congress stalwart and former MP R. Yogarajan: "The dissolution of Parliament was a blatant interference with the mandate of the people. Peace talks were to recommence after the LTTE gave its alternative proposals for an interim administrative set-up. The removal of three key ministers disrupted the process. This was followed by the dissolution of parliament before the term of office of a Government which had the confidence of 130 MPs. This was unjustifiable and undemocratic. The people will give their judgement at the forthcoming elections." Sri Lanka Muslim Congress General Secretary, Hasan Ali: "People gave a six-year mandate to the UNF government. They also gave a similar mandate to the President. Keeping that in mind, the Executive and Legislature should have acted in the best interests of the country, concentrating on their respective functions. The dissolution of Parliament before the mandate was over will not benefit the country in any manner. It was done due to a power struggle. After the snap election, it is again going to be a hung parliament. In another two years, someone might again dissolve the Parliament in a similar manner." National Unity Alliance Secretary General and former MP, Segu Issadeen: "The dissolution of Parliament was not surprising. All anticipated it because there was a stalemate regarding cohabitation between the Executive and the Legislature. The Mano-Malik talks did not yield fruit either. So it became necessary to leave it to the public to decide through a snap Parliamentary Election." Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) frontliner and former MP, Dr K. Vigneswaran: "Since the last General Election, we suffered much as a political party while the people of the North and East were deprived of many things. Abductions, extortions, political victimisations and child conscriptions - at the rate of two children per day - were the order of the day. The peace process never reached the stage of political discussions. Only the problems of the LTTE were discussed, not the problems of the people. The only statement that touched upon a political discussion was that they would explore possibilities of a federal solution. After the LTTE pulled out of the peace process last year, the peace process was deadlocked. So it is time to go before the people to get their verdict and the EPDP welcomes the dissolution of Parliament." |
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