It is good that the government’s propaganda has brought back democracy to the North, TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said today at a news conference.

Mr. Sumanthiran congratulated the government for holding an election.

“But holding an election alone will not bring back democracy, it is the first step in a democratic process,” he said.

“Ever since 1956, the Tamil people of the country expected their democratic wish very clearly. They wanted to live within a united country, but adjust the governance structure to a Federal model, but that was not heeded,” he said

“In 1970 at the General Election the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) in their election manifesto clearly asked the Tamil people not to vote for anybody who stood for separation of the country as there were some candidates who asked for the secession of the country,” he said.

“Forty years after, the TNA put forwarded an election manifesto that TNA want a solution within a united and undivided country. As permanent minority it does not mean that TNA will bow down to the majority wishes all the time,” he said.   

He charged that the government was trying to go back and take away what is now in presently in the constitution.

“The government cannot unite the country by keeping the power for one community and say that the country must be united-that will never happen.  

“The TNA is willing to live within a united country but with shared powers. It is now up to the government to deliver. (Chaturanga Pradeep and Indika Sri Aravinda)

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