Sampanthan's remark could push people towards separatism

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Construction and Engineering Services Minister Wimal Weerawansa described the reference by TNA Parliamentarian R. Sampanthan on the self-determination of the Tamil people at the 14th annual ITAK convention in Batticaloa recently as an attempt to push the ordinary Tamils for separatism again.

However, this may not be a problem for the Tamil elite such as Sampanthan who curry favour with the imperialists. Only the innocent Tamils will suffer seriously if terrorist activities reappear in the North, the Minister told the Sunday Observer.

The Minister said Sampanthan had told the ITAK convention "Our hope for a solution to the problems of those in the North and the East the sovereignty of the Tamils is based on a political structure outside a unitary government, in a united Sri Lanka in which the Tamils have all the powers of government needed to live with self respect and self-sufficiency. We believe that only within such a structure of government can the Tamils truly enjoy the right to internal self-determination - their inalienable right."

He said the ordinary Tamils never ask for any self-determination but want to live in peace and harmony with other communities. It is only some Tamil elite who dance to the whims and fancies of imperialists, are demanding self-determination.

Minister Weerawansa said that the need of the hour is to develop the country irrespective of any differences between the North, South or any other part of the country. Initiatives should also be taken to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people.

If self-determination is permitted for one particular community, it will lead, the country towards separatism. There is no need whatsoever to permit self-determination for Sinhala, Muslim or Tamil communities. Having eradicated terrorism an environment should be created for all communities to live in peace and harmony. Three decades of LTTE terrorism was defeated due to the immense sacrifices of the Security Forces and the people.

The country was liberated from the clutches of terrorism not to concede to self-determination as demanded by Tamil elites such as Sampanthan.

Therefore a veteran politician such as Sampanthan should not have made this kind of damaging statements, the Minister said.