POSTPONEMENT OF THE APRC MEETING
I am perturbed over the decision of the APRC to postpone the meeting of the APRC due to the objections raised by the representatives of some political parties demanding the inclusion of the T.M.V.P. at its deliberations. I understand that the T.M.V.P. have claimed that they are the real representatives of the Eastern People and that no deliberations can take place without their participation. First and foremost the claim of anybody that they are the real representatives of the East should not be entertained. This claim is almost similar to the claim of the L.T.T.E. that they are the sole representatives of the Tamil People. The rival claims of both the L.T.T.E. and the TMVP should be rejected because the 22 T.N.A. Members of Parliament were fraudulently elected to Parliament as correctly pointed out by various Election Monitoring Teams. They demanded annulling of the Elections held in the North and the East and recommended a re-poll in these two Provinces. The TMVP is only contesting a few local bodies and to qualify for representation in the APRC the said party must have representation in Parliament.
The threat to withdraw from the APRC by the representatives of both and J.H.U. and the MEP is shocking. The reason given for their withdrawing from the APRC is more shocking. Representatives of both these parties who have attended more than 64 meetings should have gained much experience and should not encourage anybody claiming sole representation or real representation of any ethnic group or of any part of the country. Furthermore the APRC is constituted with representatives of parties that have representation in Parliament. The main constituent partner of the Alliance should have taken the initiative to inform the TMVP to wait till they gain a few seats in Parliament to find representation in the APRC. Everyone should look in to the general interest of the country as a whole.
I needless say that the country is bleeding profusely. We must stop it and the only way to do it is to find a solution as quickly as possible and leave it to the International Community to deal with the LTTE. Innocent people are dying every day. Young men from poor families are dying at the battle front. I foresee a disastrous end to the APRC and sincerely appeal to everybody to see that the APRC continues its task uninterruptedly. If the parties that have no representation in Parliament also should be accommodated in the APRC, it can be done by opening the doors for each and every party to send a representative to the APRC. I see no harm in doing so, except that the APRC’s deliberations will get further delayed. All must get together irrespective of any party affiliation to save the APRC from any effort by anybody to sabotage its activities. That is what wanted at the present juncture.
V. Anandasangaree,
President – T.U.L.F.
