Statement Released on behalf of M/s V. Anandasangaree, D. Sithardhan and T. Sritharan representing the TULF, PLOTE and EPRLF(Pathmanaba Group) on their visit to New Delhi.
The deteriorating situation in the North and East due to escalation of violence, mass scale displacements and sufferings of the people, urged us to pay a visit to New-Delhi and brief the top Political Leaders and some other relevant authorities, of the ground situation prevailing here. The delegation comprised of M/s. D. Sithardhan, T. Sritharan and myself representing the PLOTE, EPRLF(Pathmanaba Group) and the TULF. We are convinced that India has a role to play and peace cannot be achieved without Indian advice and guidance. Being the world’s largest democracy and in very close proximity to Sri Lanka, India has a moral duty to do so. Hence the visit to New Delhi became necessary.
We discussed matters ranging from devolution of power to escalation of violence. We love our people and our country and therefore duty bound to give an unbiased account of all what is happening here and also how India can help us. We explained in detail the sufferings the people of Muthur, Sampur, Eachilampattai and other neighboring villages, are subjected to due to the current armed confrontation. The operation, as the Government refers to as limited operation was precipitated by a foolish action of the LTTE who kept the Sluice Gate of Marvilaru closed, depriving the people of their drinking water and water for the large extent of paddy crops close to the time of harvest. The closure of the sluice gate cannot be justified under any circumstances. All the three communities, the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims were badly affected due to this action. We told them that the armed confrontation between the forces and the LTTE resulted in large scale displacement, heavy civilian casualties with loss of life and limb and extensive damage to property. We also brought to their notice that it took a long time for the refugees to return to their devastated homes and that a lot of them are still in refugee camps without proper food, shelter and sanitary facilities.
Unbiased report was given to them of the events that led to the mass exodus of Tamil refugees from Trincomalee to Tamil Naad. The New year eve bomb explosion at the Trincomalee Market that caused the death of a few Sinhalese and Tamils, the gunning down of a Bank Officer Mr. Vigneswaran, five Tamil students preparing for higher education and six Sinhalese peasants of Kumarankaduwella while engaged in sand mining, the massacre of 12 Sinhalese construction workers hacked to death with their hands tied behind and a mini-communal riots that followed the New year eve bomb blast in which a few innocent Sinhalese and Tamils were killed and sixty shops belonging to the Tamils and one belonging to a Muslim were burnt down, compelled the Tamils of Trincomalee to flee to Tamil Naad to save their lives, their children from conscription by the LTTE and to have their children educated. To our great relief Mr. S C Chandrahasan, a son of our Leader the late Hon. S J V Chelvanayagam, who takes a lot of interest in the welfare of the Sri Lankan Tamil Refugees all over Tamil Naad, told us that the Chief Minister of Tamil Naad Hon. Dr M Karunanithy had requested all schools to admit refugee children overlooking all formalities and that no refugee child should be refused admission and thrown on the street.
With regard to the North, due to the closure of A – 9 Road, we told them that there is an acute shortage of essential food items and prices of available items had shot up. We assured them that we are continuing to pressurise the Government to send more ships with essential items to meet the shortage. We also requested the Indian authorities to seriously explore the possibilities of sending ships to Kankesanthurai and also promised to take it up with the Sri Lankan Government.
The main topic for discussion at all levels was the ethnic issue. Disputing the claim of some others, who had mis-represented facts, we pointed out that in the fifty year history of the ethnic problem, for the first time two major political parties that take turns to rule the country, had committed to a Federal Solution. The UNP’s Presidential Candidate had offered to solve the problem based on a Federal Constitution and the President’s party the SLFP also had resolved unanimously at its convention last year to offer a Federal Solution. We explained to them that since some are opposed to the terms “Federal” and “Unitary”, we are supporting an Indian Model which is welcomed by many people. We also emphasized the fact that the Tamils will not accept any other solution.
We complained of the false propagandas carried out in Tamil Naad, pointing out that the fifty five persons who were killed in the orphanage were not orphans and that fifty one of them were almost of the same age group and attending school in the upper forms and taken for compulsory training by the LTTE. The balance four belonged to the staff. We stressed that those living in LTTE areas are living like slaves and need to be liberated.
Before leaving India we thanked the Indian Government for the assistance given to the tsunami victims and also thanked the Government of Tamil Naad for the assistance given to our refugees.
V. Anandasangaree,
President – TULF.
