Under President’s leadership

I could do more for my people - Ex-TNA MP

Ms. Thangeswari KATHIRAMAN  Former Eastern Province Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian has now decided to contest on UPFA ticket at the forthcoming polls. She says the TNA could hardly deliver anything to the people in the North and the East. Thangeswari, an arts graduate of the Kelaniya University whose forte is archaeology says she could do more for her people by joining hands with the UPFA Excerpts of her interview:

by Ananth PALAKIDNAR

Q: You made your entry into Parliament through the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). As the parliamentary polls are round the corner why did you exit from the party?

A: The very people including the leader of the TNA R. Sampanthan who supported me during my parliamentary days have now changed. I still do not understand why they sidelined me from the TNA. I worked hard to maintain the integrity of the party and was even appreciated by the party leader for my role in Parliament and in my constituency. However, the TNA bigwigs R. Sampanthan, Mavai Senathiraja and Suresh Premachandran decided to keep me away from contesting the Parliamentary polls this time. But I cannot keep away from serving my people. I represent the people who still have problems with regard to their socio-economic issues. They supported me immensely during the previous Parliamentary polls. With the return of peace to my region I believe I could do more for my people under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and I decided to contest in the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

Q: The Tamil National Alliance was known as the proxy of the LTTE. How do you see the present state of the TNA?

A: Well, I would say it’s messy. Apart from me several other members who stood by the party have now lost their confidence over the leadership of the party. The decisions are taken without discussing the issues properly with the party members. Several colleagues of mine and I were ousted from the party for no reason. Party leader Sampanthan, Suresh Premachandran and Mavai Senathiraja who decide on party matters have included several new faces to contest the parliamentary polls this time. Compared to myself and my other colleagues in the TNA, the newcomers have hardly done anything when the party faced challenges. Therefore, I am thoroughly disappointed with the attitude of the TNA leadership at present.

Q: What made you join the UPFA and contest as a candidate?

A: I feel that more than the present day TNA, the UPFA must have realised the importance of my political career. The UPFA leadership invited me to contest on their ticket. I realised that by accepting the invitation I could continue to serve my people who have been greatly neglected for the past several decades. Now that the war is over in the North and the East the People of these two war-torn regions have paid a heavy price to breathe the air of peace. Ofcourse there are important political issues to be addressed.

However, the need of the hour of the people in the North and the East is rehabilitation and reconstruction. Therefore, we cannot simply hang on to political issues without attending to the immediate needs of our people.

The UPFA’s agenda to rebuild the war-torn North and the East and the country at large is promising and therefore I decided to join hands with the UPFA.

Q: How do you see the new TNA team which has been named to contest the forthcoming polls?

A: I wonder whether they could gain the popular support of the people in the North and The East. Without proper consultations and understanding the pulse of the people whom the TNA represent, the new candidates have been chosen. Even Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) has fallen out with the TNA leadership. The ACTC is one of the oldest Tamil political parties in the country. Hence I think the new TNA candidates are not the favourites of the people of the North and the East but the men of the TNA hierarchy are driving the party on the wrong track.

Q: What is your view on the developments that are taking place with the end of war in the North and the East?

A: I would say there are plenty of constructive things that have come up with regard to rehabilitation and reconstruction activities. People had been confined to IDP camps for several years without having any access to their original areas.

The situation has now changed. We do not hear the sounds of the guns any more. We still have a long way to travel to rebuild the war-torn region. Political and economic issues have to be addressed. However, I am confident that the new Parliament led by the UPFA would pave the way for more development activities in the North and the East.

Q: How do recall the days when the TNA remained a pro-LTTE faction and you were part of it?

A: The TNA leadership did not play any role in showing the LTTE the right political path. Anyway now it’s all over. The past is past. What I expect is a new era where all citizens of this country could live in peace without leaving room for any divisions. We have learnt a bitter lesson in the past and we should not allow history to repeat itself.

Q: Since you are a politician from the East what is your view on the entry of Sivanesathurai Chanthirakanthan alias Pillayan and the Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna into the political mainstream?

A: The two ex-LTTE cadres reforming themselves as moderate politicians is somewhat remarkable.

One being the Chief Minister in the Eastern Provincial Council and the other the Minister in the National Government is appreciative. However, they should grab every opportunity to serve the people and be in their good books.

Q: What have you got to say about the pro-LTTE activities abroad?

A: The so-called LTTE activists abroad should realise the ground realities. With the end of the three decades of deaths and destruction, people in the island and the innocent civilians in the war torn North and the East want to live in peace by exploring greater economic vistas. We have to solve the unresolved issues through healthy democratic means. Therefore, Sri Lankan expatriates should lend a helping hand instead of toppling the apple cart.

Q: What sort of political arrangement do you expect to fulfil the political aspirations of the people in the North and the East?

A: First of all we should have amicable talks to deal with our issues. A greater devolution of powers is vital to address the grievances of the Tamils in the North and the East.

They should live in dignity as equal citizens in this country. I am confident that President Rajapaksa will do his best to fulfil the political aspirations of the minorities in the country.

Q: What is your impression of the UNP?

A: The party has already seen its waterloo at the Presidential poll last month. Its leadership and policies are all shaky. I doubt the party could deliver anything good for the people in the future. At the Presidential poll the party backed Sarath Fonseka and now for the Parliamentary polls it is focusing on Ranil Wickremesinghe. They are nothing but a bunch of jokers.