Battle within the TNA

by P. Krishnasamy

Amidst reports on the widening gap between Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R. Sampanthan and Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC), C. Wigneswaran, there is much that is not discussed.

TNA Leader R. Sampanthan and NPC Chief Minister C. Wigneswaran in an animated conversation (colombotelegraph)

The TNA-controlled NPC, in the eyes of many, appears to be out of TNA's control with Wigneswaran projecting an image largely independent of his party.

When the Sunday Observer spoke to senior journalists and party front liners whether a split was imminent, if any, offered mixed reactions.

Some supported the position taken by Wigneswaran while others criticized him for treading a path destructive to the party while denying the Northern Tamils the government's development programs and welfare measures which they desperately need.

Some of them also did not rule out the involvement of some local political leaders for their own ends. Wigneswaran when contacted through email expressed his inability to answer questions due to " the budget discussions that are going on at the NPC and last minute hectic activities that are also in progress before end of the year'."

Tamil diaspora organizations, including the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), did not respond to our emailed questions. Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) Leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam too refused to make any comments.

Hopes dashed

Justice Wigneswaran, a former Supreme Court Judge, nominated by the TNA with the unanimous consent of all four constituent parties became the CM after his sweeping victory in the September 2013 NPC. The PC polls for the Northern Province were held after 25 long years due to the long drawn out war between the Government Security Forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The previous unified North-East PC under the stewardship of CM Varadarajah Perumal was dissolved by the then President Ranasinghe Premadasa after Perumal declared an 'Independent Eelam' on 1 March 1990.

From the very inception, Chief Minister Wigneswaran appeared to be parting ways with the TNA leadership for reasons not very clear and he thereafter kept away from taking part in campaigns for the TNA in the run up to the August 2015 parliamentary elections, claiming he was expected to play a neutral role as he was chief minister for the entire province.

Here are some excerpts of the views expressed by journalists and two TNA front liners:

Suresh Premachandren, former parliamentarian and leader of the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF):

There are differences of views within the TNA on the question of supporting the UNF Government.

I am sure that Chief Minister Wigneswaran is not aspiring to become a party leader. He has only expressed his views as regards the incumbent government and the stance taken by party leadership. TNA Leader R. Sampanthan and Party Spokesman M.A.Sumanthiran hold views different from those of Wigneswaran on the new UNF Government.

In fact, the NPC passed a resolution calling on an UN inquiry to investigate the genocide of the Tamils of Sri Lanka and saying that the Tamil people have no faith in a domestic mechanism.

This is quite contrary to the stance of the TNA leaders, Sampanthan and Sumanthiran, who have openly expressed views in favour of a domestic inquiry.

These are matters relating to policy and political ideology. Party leader Sampanthan had said at a meeting in Batticaloa that some of those who were rejected by the people and dumped in to garbage bins are now supporting the chief minister and this was setting a bad precedent.

He said he was willing to step down as party leader if Wigneswaran would take over the party, but I am sure Wigneswaran is not aspiring for the leadership position.

P.Ariyanendran, former TNA parliamentarian, TNA Media Secretary and member of the TNA Central Committee:

C. Wigneswaran was fielded at the 2013 NPC elections as a common chief ministerial candidate by all four constituent parties of the TNA. The leaders and supporters of the four parties worked tirelessly for his victory.

But at the parliamentary elections in August 2015, he failed in his bounden duty to support the party. He was nominated as the common candidate by the party and it was his responsibility to support the party. We do not know the exact background but we certainly know that certain elements were behind him.

It was a serious blunder he committed by not supporting the party and not taking parking part in the propaganda work in the run up to the crucial elections. Had he taken active part in the campaigns, the TNA would possibly have won two more seats in the Jaffna constituency.

When Party Spokesman and MP for Jaffna, M.Sumanthiran criticized him for that at the party's Central Committee, he openly spoke about it during his visit to Australia in an interview to an Australian radio channel. He should not have done it because it was an internal matter within the party.

Several politicians have connived in creating this split within the party. They had their personal animosity towards some leaders. Measures should now be taken to iron out the differences because both leaders - Sampanthan and Wigneswaran - are important pillars of the party.

N.Vivekanandan, Kilinochchi-based senior journalist:

The Tamils of the North and East voted for a regime change which they desperately wanted. They did not vote for the incumbent government for any other major reasons. They wanted to get rid of the former autocratic and tyrannical rule.

But contrary to the party position, Chief Minister Wigneswaran is adopting a confrontational attitude towards the incumbent government. He should adopt an attitude of consensus with the government in the best interests of the Tamil people.

I would like to quote what special UN peace envoy Yasushi Akashi told me at an interview I had with him:

"The US bombed Hiroshima and Nakasaki during the final stages of World War II and the impacts of the colossal destructions, both biological and physical, are continuing to this day.

But we never took recourse to politics of vengeance but, instead, we maintained good relations and rapport with the US for the sake our people and our country's growth. We benefited through that approach and everyone knows it. That has to be the attitude if you are taking into account the welfare of your people and the progress of your region."

Chief Minister Wigneswaran is rigidly adopting a policy of confrontation with the Central Government since his election as the Chief Minister.

There are many things that we can get from the government for the socio-economic betterment of our people. We should derive benefit from the Colombo administration to help develop the region and to assist our people to recommence their normal lives.

These are former war-ravaged areas and there are so many needs to be met. Wigneswaran has even openly spoken against the Prime Minister's 'Grama Rajaya' program to develop all villages under programs initiated by the Central Government. If he thinks it will taken away the NPC's hold on the people or will take away some of his powers, he should take up the matter with the appropriate authorities and sort things out through serious discussions instead of giving publicity to it. These are issues that can be sorted easily.

Ratnam Thayabaran, senior journalist, Convener of the Northern Province Journalists' Association and Journalist-in-Charge of the Jaffna Press Club:

The TNA is not treading the right path. Both the people of the motherland and the diaspora community had so many expectations when the TNA was elected with an overwhelming mandate.

It is a matter of concern that the TNA has not fulfilled these public aspirations. It was the diaspora community that staged wide-scale protests and agitations on the demands of the Tamils because the Tamils here have not been able to stage such massive agitations on their own.

The comments that TNA Leader R.Sampanthan made about the Chief Minister is equally unbecoming of a leader of his seniority and calibre. He has spoken publicly on issues that should have been discussed and sorted out within the party.

His remarks indicate that he is now scared that he will lose his position as the leader of the TNA. As a consequence, Tamil people's esteem for the chief minister has gone further up.