TNA not for total withdrawal of army from N-E

8 December 2012 12:14 am - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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In an attitude of moderation, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) told Parliament yesterday that it was wrong to assume that the party wanted the armed forces out of the North and the East.

TNA leader R. Sampanthan who participated in the committee stage debate of the Defence Ministry said his party only wanted the armed forces to be present in these areas but without any adverse impact on the day to day lives of civilians.

“We don’t want the armed forces stationed there to subjugate the Tamil people, to make them feel they are not equal citizens of this country. We don’t want the armed forces to make our people feel inferior. Our people want to live with self-respect and dignity. That is all. We are not demanding the total withdrawal of the armed forces. They should be there as they are in any other part of the country,” Mr. Sampanthan said.

However, he also said that as many as 150,000 soldiers had been stationed in different parts of the North, and their presence in such a large number was totally unacceptable and unwarranted.

“They can be confined to the places where they were before the war. They can maintain their intelligence and carry out surveillance. It is a legitimate duty. We only want them not to have an adverse impact on the lives of our people,” Mr. Sampanthan said.

He said the military is cultivating large swathes of land in the North especially in areas such as Iranamadu and Keravil.

“Our people want to get back to their agriculture, fisheries, animal husbandry and other industrial activity. There are military cantonments being set up. We are opposed to any move to alter the demographic pattern of these areas,” he said.

Referring to the advent of the Tamil militancy, Mr. Sampanthan said he had taken the view that the LTTE was a phenomenon created by the successive governments that failed to address legitimate grievances of Tamil people. He said the LTTE was not created by the Tamil people and added that the country would not have faced this situation if the pacts between S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and S.J.V. Chelvanayagam and between Mr. Chelvanayagam and Dudley Senanayake were implemented.

In a note critical of the LTTE, Mr. Sampanthan said his leaders were killed by the Tigers, and he too was in their hit list once and expressed his disappointment over the TNA being called an LTTE proxy by the government. (KB)

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Comments - 9

Nodrog Saturday, 08 December 2012 03:47 AM

Finally a voice of reason. But, the Army should restrain themselves and not act again like how they did with the Uni students and open themselves for criticism.

vipula Saturday, 08 December 2012 03:59 AM

Mr.Sambandan they are our people not your people or south Indians.We all are Sri Lankan(Ceylonese ).And remember you also our people.Please get washed your brain and think that we are Sri Lankans.

tilak Saturday, 08 December 2012 06:51 AM

Were they live with freedom self - respect and dignity under LTTE control ? Even those so called TNA MP's

Mayu Saturday, 08 December 2012 07:14 AM

And this is how you make them feel one of you?? by scaring them off with guns and thugs?? Let police interfear with civil matters why army point their nose in everything in north??

Lobo Saturday, 08 December 2012 10:14 AM

Mayu, Jaffna is still a hot-spot with LTTE remnants still running around trying to incite the people, so the SLA has to be there. Its as easy as that but seems still so hard for people to comprehend.

Dilip Saturday, 08 December 2012 10:17 AM

I think Sampanthan got a point but I don't accept his military strategy. My house in Jaffna occupied by the Army, Can I go and stay at Sampanthan's house.

conty Saturday, 08 December 2012 01:03 PM

You poor man, have you no place to live now that the army is in occupation? Is the army paying you rent? They should. Sampanthan will say yes if you pay him rent I am sure!!!!!!!!!

AJ Sunday, 09 December 2012 05:13 AM

Sampathan is mad to say in parilement,while accepting LTTE problem, he wasted his speeach time .He should have listed about Army attrocities and should have asked how many army police, paramiltary, intelligence, and government policy issues with regard to withdrwal. I had a good repect over Sampathan now he is another Karuna for Tamils.By saying tigers he has become Army firend.Dies he wants army to look afte university of Jaffana.

lal Sunday, 09 December 2012 10:30 AM

The army will stay. Mr S has spoken enough on the matter and the decision is not his but the govt.

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TNA not for total withdrawal of army from N-E

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