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| Sunday, 1 December 2002 |
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New-Democratic Party urges cautious negotiations Press Release on the Fourth National Convention of the New-Democratic Party held at the "City Hall", Jaffna, on 8th and 9th November, 2002 "We are in the crucial stage where negotiations are taking place to find a solution to the National Question. New-Democratic Party will not accept, under the cover of negotiations, to betray the cause of self-determination of Tamils to US imperialism or submit to Indian hegemonism. We believe that Tamils and Liberation Tigers through negotiations progress towards achieving right of self-determination, autonomy and equality of Tamils, Muslims and upcountry Tamils. Our Party Convention stressed that the negotiations should be conducted with caution, farsightedness and smoothly." That was the Resolution adopted at the 4th National Convention of the New-Democratic Party. The 4th National Convention of the New-Democratic Party was held in Jaffna at the "City Hall" on 8th and 9th November, 2002. Delegates from North East, Upcountry and Colombo took part at the Convention and the Convention was presided over by a Presidium consisting of Comrades: S. K. Senthivel, E. Thambiah, K. Thanikasalam, R. K. Soodamany and S. Panneerselvam. The Convention adopted various resolutions on national and international issues. Our Party has been relentlessly conducted mass agitation and struggles calling for a political resolution of the National Question through negotiations. We consider that the present environment of negotiations is decisive and important. At the same time American imperialism is attempting to ensure its domination under the cover of negotiations. India is keen to disrupt the talks and making subtle moves to assert its hegemony. We should not allow the struggle for self-determination of the Tamils to succumb to American imperialism. The Tamils suffered severe set backs due to Indian intervention. We should not give them an opportunity to meddle in our affairs again. The National Question is still the main contradiction in Sri Lanka. Just because there is an end to war and peace negotiations going on the status of contradiction has not shifted and this contradiction still remain as main contradiction. Our Party has consistently held the view that the Sri Lanka's National Question is the problem of Tamils, Muslims and Upcountry Tamils while reiterating our stand that the rights of Tamils, Muslims and Upcountry Tamils should be ensured though negotiations on the basis of autonomy, equality and self-determination. This Convention warns that America is trying to assert its domination in South Asian Region by making use of the environment of negotiations. America is trying to make use of Tamils in Sri Lanka as it is using the Israelis for control of Middle East. This danger has to be exposed. This Convention condemns the Indian hegemonic forces for their disruptive work through some Tamil leadership, JVP, Sihala Urumaya and People's Alliance. In the struggle against American imperialism and Indian hegemonism the participation of Sinhalese people is very vital. Sinhalese people while supporting to end the war and to enter into negotiations they should deplore the communal elements among them and support for the establishment of autonomy, ensure equality and for the right of self-determination for the Nationalities by carrying forward struggles. Then only they can fulfil the struggle of the Sinhalese people against imperialism and hegomonism. This Convention fully affirm that National Liberation Struggles, the struggle for self-determination of Nationalities are part of the struggle against globalisation. The Convention also calls upon the parties to make use of the present environment of negotiations to take a stand against the path of globalization against imperialism and hegomonism. The Convention condemns the United National Front government for burdening the people with mounting loads by way of introducing new taxes, increasing prices while chanting the slogan of peace. The Convention demands the government to grand salary increase to employees, reduce prices and grant subsidies. This Convention calls upon people to unite and engage in mass struggles to condemn the UNF government for supporting imperialist globalization, its privatisations programmes, Upper Kotmale Hydro power project, Trincomalee Power Plant, handing over of Colombo Harbour to foreign companies, privatisation of education, health and transport. This Convention vehemently condemns the American imperialist attack and aggression against Afghanistan and war against Iraq in the name of fighting Islamic fundamentalism. Our Party wholeheartedly support all forms of struggle against Imperialism which is the root cause for all the crisis in the present world. We extend our support sympathy and support to all peoples who are fighting for self-determination. We firmly believe that socialism is the only way to solve all these crises. "Not only to fight against imperialism we should also establish socialism instead of feudal capitalist set up to achieve real freedom for the people," the Convention declared. |
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