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| Sunday, 7 March 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Storm in a teacup - Pararajasingham on LTTE crisis by Ananth Palakidnar
Commenting on the TNA's stance with regard to the current crisis he said that the TNA was backed by the LTTE and we have given prominence to the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposals submitted by the LTTE to the UNF government of Ranil Wickremesinghe last year. "The crisis situation has nothing to do with the TNA's role in the forthcoming polls. We will continue to campaign in the North and the East and go ahead with our manifesto which was released last week in Jaffna, which also insists on the continuation of the peace process and the ceasefire Pararajasingham said. Making his observations on the safety of the candidates particularly the non TNA candidates contesting in the North and the East Mr.Pararajasingham pointed out that almost all the candidates were concerned about their security. "I do not see any restriction for the candidates to carry out their campaign in the North and the East. But the non TNA candidates find it difficult to do their campaigns in the areas controlled by the LTTE," he said. Commenting on the assassination of a United National Party (UNP) candidate at the Batticaloa General Hospital last week he said that the investigations were being carried out and he did not want to say anything on this issue. Mr. Pararajasingham further in his interview said more than the polls the people in the North and the East were expecting the peace process to continue and an early settlement to the ethnic crisis to be reached. But it was unfortunate to note that the UNF government was toppled and the entire peace process is now in disarray. Speaking on the International community's involvement in the peace process he said that it was due to the utmost concern of the international community that the peace process continued to a certain extent and the ceasefire became meaningful. "The TNA expects the international community to continue with it's efforts to support the peace process in Sri Lanka. Their endeavour must not go in vain", he said. Finally commenting on V. Anandasangaree's exit from the TNA Mr. Pararajasingham said that it was unfortunate. However this was not the time to think about individual interests. The TNA is committed to meet the political aspirations of the people in the North and the East and will continue to campaign for their rights. |
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| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
The leader of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) candidates from the
Batticaloa district Joseph Pararajasingham commenting on the current
crisis situation within the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said
that it was only a `storm in a tea cup'. Mr. Pararajasingham in an
exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer said that he understood some
crisis has emerged between the LTTE leadership in Batticaloa and Vanni but
it was not that very serious as some media circles has exaggerated."
Efforts are being made to settle the dispute and we believe that in a
couple of days the problem will be sorted out," Mr. Pararajasingham
said.
