Mass anti-LTTE rally in Zurich and Stuttgart

Early political solution stressed

By Ananth Palakidnar

The Tamil political parties which are opposed to the LTTE and victimised by the outfit will join hands with their expatriate members in Switzerland and Germany in the first week of July to show their opposition to the LTTE and to emphasise on an early political solution to the Lankan national crisis.

The leader of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) Dharmalingam Sitharthan told the Sunday Observer that Appapillai Amirthalingam, the late leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front and Uma Maheswaran, the late leader of the PLOTE were assassinated by the LTTE on July 13 and July 16, fifteen years ago. Along with these two leaders members of various political parties and innocent civilians have been annihilated by the LTTE.

Therefore to commemorate those killed by the LTTE, arrangements have been made in Zurich in Switzerland and Stuttgart in Germany from the early part of July until July 16. Along with the PLOTE leader, the TULF leader V. Anandasangaree and the EPRLF leader T. Sritharan would take part in the Zurich and Stuttgart events and address the gathering, Sitharthan said.

He said that the Zurich and Stuttgart events would be known as the 'Heroic People's Day.'

According to Sitharthan when President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Geneva recently a large number of expatriate Tamils opposed to the LTTE had met him and expressed their support in finding a political solution to the Tamil problem in Sri Lanka. "Denouncing the LTTE's terrorist activities, the expatriate Tamils representing the Tamil parties opposed to the LTTE have decided to create international awareness in expediting a political settlement to the Lankan crisis," he said.

Commenting on the meeting of the Co-Chair countries in Oslo on the Lankan situation tomorrow, July 25 and 26,Sitharthan said that the Oslo meeting indicated the frustrations of the International Community in dealing with the Lankan crisis."

It's high time for the International Community to understand that the LTTE would not abide by whatever decision taken on putting an end to the crisis. Therefore the Co-Chair countries should explore the alternative measures on tapping the other Tamil political parties in finding a political solution to the Lankan crisis.