02.10.2005
Hon. Mahinda Rajapakse, M.P.
Prime Minister.
My dear Prime Minister,
I very earnestly appeal to both of you the main Presidential Candidates and to the Political Parties that back you to give top priority for the settlement of the Ethnic problem which is far more urgent and important than any other issue we are facing today. We have had enough loss of life and property and can’t afford to lose any more. Above all the people are living in constant fear and tension. No one wants things to go on like this indefinitely.
The Cease-fire Agreement (CFA) signed over 3 1/2 years back did not take us any where near the solution, but has helped only the L.T.T.E. to stabilize themselves in areas held by them and to bring under their control more areas held by the Government. The only consoling factor is that the war has stopped and that there are no more deaths at the battle front. But the killings go on unabated and the people in the L.T.T.E. held areas continue to live under the subjugation of the L.T.T.E. with no hopes of being liberated by the Government. No one seems to bother about the hundreds of thousands illegally held under the L.T.T.E. dictatorship for several years, with no hopes of redemption in the near future. Further delay will only help the L.T.T.E. to gain legitimacy of their possession.
The people belonging to all sections want an early solution to the Ethnic problem and end of the war once and for all. When everyone knows what our problem is and also what the solution is, there is no need for further discussion. Our experience has taught us that in our country all the promises made during elections are hard to implement after the elections mainly due to the pressure from the opposition side and the interested parties. There is no guarantee that the ethnic problem that had been dragging on from 1956 will be solved after the forthcoming Presidential Elections of 2005. There is no guarantee that what happened at the April, 2004 General Election will not be repeated and a free and fair election will be held in the North and the East.
The L.T.T.E. will never be accepted as the sole representatives of the Tamils and so with the TNA Members of Parliament who are proxies of the L.T.T.E. The Muslims did not have any proper representation in any discussions with the L.T.T.E. There is every possibility of the Peace Process getting dragged on further with no solution found for an indefinite period of time. Hence if anybody is serious about finding a permanent solution to the ethnic problem, it should not form a part of the Presidential Election campaign and should be dealt with separately.
Experienced politicians will agree that the election campaign will ultimately take a bitter communal turn and will be centred on the ethnic issue. Such a campaign will revive communalism that is virtually dead. I do not accept that J.V.P. and J.H.U. as communal parties. Every party wants an early and a peacefull solution. I therefore plead with every Political Party involved in the campaign to give full pressure to the Candidates whom they are backing to take the ethnic issue out of the Presidential campaign and to announce a solution based on a Federal Structure within a United Sri Lanka. Also to assure the country that everyone whatever section one belongs to, will be treated as equals and enjoy all rights without any discrimination on any grounds.
The fear that a Federal Solution will end up in the division of the country is baseless. There are a number of countries in the world where federalism has thrived and all the citizens living in peace enjoying all rights like the others. Furthermore the Indian stand that it will not support the demand for separation should allay the fears of those who think that the country may divide into two. It is in Tamil Naad in Indian where the demand for separation originated fifty years back. Now no one talks about separation and people are living happily and leading a contended life. The Indian stand could be taken as a guarantee against separation whichever party comes to power in India.
Thousands of Sri Lankan Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims and other ethnic groups visit India everyday. They are full of admiration for its liberal democratic ideals. A majority Hindu country has a great Muslim Scientist as Head of the State and treat him with due honour. Another highly respected Leader is the Prime Minister of India from an ethnic group that forms only 2% of its population and the Leader of ruling Party who is a very highly respected Lady is one not born in India. This great neighbour of ours has found Unity in Diversity; why can’t we?. Can’t we have powers devolved to our regions on the Indian Pattern?.
I strongly urge that both the candidates should declare that a solution to the ethnic problem will be found jointly, by both agreeing to take it up soon after the elections irrespective of who wins. I am positively sure that this is the only way to bring back peace to our suffering masses. With the attention of the entire International community focused on Sri Lanka, I belive this is the best time too.
With regards.
Yours Sincerely,
V.Anandasangaree,
President-T.U.L.F.
Hon. Mahinda Rajapakse, M.P.
Prime Minister.
My dear Prime Minister,
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN
I very earnestly appeal to both of you the main Presidential Candidates and to the Political Parties that back you to give top priority for the settlement of the Ethnic problem which is far more urgent and important than any other issue we are facing today. We have had enough loss of life and property and can’t afford to lose any more. Above all the people are living in constant fear and tension. No one wants things to go on like this indefinitely.
The Cease-fire Agreement (CFA) signed over 3 1/2 years back did not take us any where near the solution, but has helped only the L.T.T.E. to stabilize themselves in areas held by them and to bring under their control more areas held by the Government. The only consoling factor is that the war has stopped and that there are no more deaths at the battle front. But the killings go on unabated and the people in the L.T.T.E. held areas continue to live under the subjugation of the L.T.T.E. with no hopes of being liberated by the Government. No one seems to bother about the hundreds of thousands illegally held under the L.T.T.E. dictatorship for several years, with no hopes of redemption in the near future. Further delay will only help the L.T.T.E. to gain legitimacy of their possession.
The people belonging to all sections want an early solution to the Ethnic problem and end of the war once and for all. When everyone knows what our problem is and also what the solution is, there is no need for further discussion. Our experience has taught us that in our country all the promises made during elections are hard to implement after the elections mainly due to the pressure from the opposition side and the interested parties. There is no guarantee that the ethnic problem that had been dragging on from 1956 will be solved after the forthcoming Presidential Elections of 2005. There is no guarantee that what happened at the April, 2004 General Election will not be repeated and a free and fair election will be held in the North and the East.
The L.T.T.E. will never be accepted as the sole representatives of the Tamils and so with the TNA Members of Parliament who are proxies of the L.T.T.E. The Muslims did not have any proper representation in any discussions with the L.T.T.E. There is every possibility of the Peace Process getting dragged on further with no solution found for an indefinite period of time. Hence if anybody is serious about finding a permanent solution to the ethnic problem, it should not form a part of the Presidential Election campaign and should be dealt with separately.
Experienced politicians will agree that the election campaign will ultimately take a bitter communal turn and will be centred on the ethnic issue. Such a campaign will revive communalism that is virtually dead. I do not accept that J.V.P. and J.H.U. as communal parties. Every party wants an early and a peacefull solution. I therefore plead with every Political Party involved in the campaign to give full pressure to the Candidates whom they are backing to take the ethnic issue out of the Presidential campaign and to announce a solution based on a Federal Structure within a United Sri Lanka. Also to assure the country that everyone whatever section one belongs to, will be treated as equals and enjoy all rights without any discrimination on any grounds.
The fear that a Federal Solution will end up in the division of the country is baseless. There are a number of countries in the world where federalism has thrived and all the citizens living in peace enjoying all rights like the others. Furthermore the Indian stand that it will not support the demand for separation should allay the fears of those who think that the country may divide into two. It is in Tamil Naad in Indian where the demand for separation originated fifty years back. Now no one talks about separation and people are living happily and leading a contended life. The Indian stand could be taken as a guarantee against separation whichever party comes to power in India.
Thousands of Sri Lankan Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims and other ethnic groups visit India everyday. They are full of admiration for its liberal democratic ideals. A majority Hindu country has a great Muslim Scientist as Head of the State and treat him with due honour. Another highly respected Leader is the Prime Minister of India from an ethnic group that forms only 2% of its population and the Leader of ruling Party who is a very highly respected Lady is one not born in India. This great neighbour of ours has found Unity in Diversity; why can’t we?. Can’t we have powers devolved to our regions on the Indian Pattern?.
I strongly urge that both the candidates should declare that a solution to the ethnic problem will be found jointly, by both agreeing to take it up soon after the elections irrespective of who wins. I am positively sure that this is the only way to bring back peace to our suffering masses. With the attention of the entire International community focused on Sri Lanka, I belive this is the best time too.
With regards.
Yours Sincerely,
V.Anandasangaree,
President-T.U.L.F.
