Sangaree brands TNA decision foolish

The Tamil United Liberation Front leader, V. Anandasangaree has described the Tamil National Parliamentarian’s decision to reject Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon’s invitation for talks next week as foolish and detrimental.

The following is the statement from the TULF chief:

“Shree Menon would not have extended this invitation without a reasonable cause. All the TNA Parliamentarians know fully well that they have no moral right to represent the Tamils of the North and the East.

Yet the Government of India had invited them giving them recognition as representatives of the Tamils knowing fully well that they are interested not in saving the lives of several thousands trapped in Vanni but only trying to redeem the LTTE.

They are duty bound to accept the invitation and place before the Government of India represented by Shree Shivshankar Menon, their grievances and save our people about whom they had not taken any interest up to now.

The TNA is the only organisation that had not demanded or even pleaded with the LTTE to allow the people to go anywhere they want. When the casualty rate among the trapped IDPs had disturbingly increased several fold during the past few weeks the TNA can’t adopt the “dog in the manger” attitude. They must either do it or quit Parliament, declaring their inability to function as people’s representatives.

As long as they claim to represent the Tamil people they must be prepared to fall at anybody’s feet and seek assistance for the liberation of the people, without confronting anybody. I hope they will not repeat the same mistake they made when they rejected the President’s invitation two months back which if they had attended a lot of things could have been sorted out.

The TNA Member of Parliament Mavai Senathirajah had failed to give proper direction to his colleagues in Parliament. This clearly shows as to what they are up to. In all sincerity I warn the TNA Members of Parliament to keep out of the Tamil Nadu Politics at least till the Parliamentary elections are over. They should reconsider their earlier decision and go to Delhi to meet the Foreign Secretary.”