Jaffna, Vavuniya polls campaign gather momentum:

‘LTTE got rid of by bullets’:

Rid Tiger proxies by ballot

by Ananth PALAKIDNAR

TULF leader and lead candidate of the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) for the Jaffna Municipal Council V. Anandasangaree in his campaign trail in Jaffna said that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) - the LTTE proxies should be got rid of by the ballot similar to how the ruthless LTTE was got rid of by bullets.

With the Local Government polls campaigns gathering momentum in Jaffna and Vavuniya the Tamil political parties in the fray after almost two decades of war in the North are all out to highlight the atrocities committed by the LTTE to the Tamils in the North and the East.

They have called upon the voters to create a democratic atmosphere in the North.

The DTNA, which comprises the TULF, PLOTE and the EPRLF (Naba) and the UPFA, comprising the EPDP, are in two different camps in the LG elections in Jaffna and Vavuniya.

However, they have taken a common stance in vehemently opposing the one-time proxies of the LTTE - TNA, in the campaign.

Anandasangaree told a campaign in Jaffna on Friday that the LTTE and its proxies have dumped the innocent Tamils into hell by waging a ruthless war for the past three decades.

“To create a peaceful atmosphere and strengthen democratic values in the North, the nightmare created by the LTTE and its proxies, the Tamil National Alliance should be completely wiped out in the North.

The LTTE was got rid of by bullets and the Tamils should get rid of the TNA likewise and pave the way for the dawn of peace and democracy in the North and East.

The TNA could not stop the LTTE from waging a war against its own people and the party is solely responsible for thousands of innocent civilians who were affected by the war,” Anandasangaree said.

PLOTE leader D. Sitharthan who is leading the DTNA’s LG polls campaign in Vavuniya said in one of his campaigns that the LTTE was no more, but its proxies had not changed their path and are still trying to mislead the people.

The voters must get rid of the TNA totally and create a new political culture to create a peaceful atmosphere in the North,” Sitharthan said.

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“Strengthen democracy”

Minister of Social Services Douglas Devananada speaking in support of the UPFA candidates in the North said that by making the UPFA to win the LG polls in Jaffna and Vavuniya, the democratic process would be strengthened further with the Northerners coming out completely from the scars of war created by the LTTE. “The UPFA Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is focused on developing the North and the East and restoring it to its pristine glory. By making the UPFA to win the LG polls in Jaffna and Vavuniya, development activities could be carried out on a fast track stabilising peace and democracy in the North,” Devananada said.

Meanwhile, the polls campaign in Jaffna and Vavuniya has gathered momentum with candidates and their supporters canvassing from door to door walking on the streets and byways.

Even political bigwigs such as V. Anadasangaree, Douglas Devananda and D. Sitharthan who were provided with strict security, several bodyguards and bullet-proof vehicles were seen mingling freely with civilians and walking comfortably on the roads. The LG polls for Jaffna will be held on August 8 and the campaigns will conclude on August 5. Postal voting for Jaffna and Vavuniya LG polls were held on July 26 and 27.

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