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| Bishop Rayappu at the front |
”We believe that by including the above in their election manifesto that there is a possibility that the TNA can lessen the impact of the argument that the Tamil people have accepted the Provincial Council system and a demerged North and East by participating in these elections. It is very important that our rejection of the provincial council system and a demerged North and East is clearly communicated to the International Community.”
Tamils have consistently made it clear that a unitary constitution and a provincial council system within the confines of a unitary constitution are incapable of fulfilling their political aspirations. In this regard it is notable that Tamil political parties with a Tamil Nationalist dispensation had chosen to boycott the two provincial council elections that took place in our homeland in the past (1989 and 2008). There can be no doubt that a Tamil political party with a Tamil Nationalist dispensation can never run a provincial council autonomously, something that even Tamil parties aligned with the Government could not achieve.
The Chief Ministers who ran the provincial councils subsequent to the elections of 1989 and 2008 have confirmed that nothing substantive can be achieved through the provincial council system which is in the firm grip of the Governor and the Central Government.
Participating in an election is acceptable if such participation furthers our political goals. To the contrary if participating in such elections would adversely affect the attainment of our political goals, then alternative strategies should be considered. To think of such alternatives with foresight and vision in the wake of an election being forced upon us is important in pushing forward Tamil Nationalist politics in the right direction within the present context.
That the people want to use elections as a vehicle through which they could express their anger and frustration against the oppression being meted out against them is understandable. On the one hand, while elections might be an opportunity to demonstrate such opposition and anger, on the other hand it is important to also take into account the political costs of taking part in an election. It is the responsibility of all committed to Tamil Nationalist politics, to weigh the above explained phenomenan carefully, to consider the multi-dimesnional nature of the challenge and to consider the different alternatives available, in the lead up to deciding on the question of electoral participation. The Tamil people will never allow the bartering away of their political fundamentals for the sake of attaining an immediate politicial strategic objective – that of preventing a Government backed Tamil political party capturing the provincial council in the Eastern Province. However given the hard reality that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has decided to contest the Eastern Provincial Council Elections directly, we wish to make the following suggestions as to what to include in their election manifesto for the forthcoming elections:
1. The present unitary constitution and the provincil council system within such confines should be rejected. The 13th amendment cannot be even considered to be a strting point towards achieving a political solution.
2.
The North and East are the traditional homelands of the Tamil speaking peoples. Any political solution should recognise a merged North and East as the relevant territorial unit. The confidence of the Muslim people should be sought to make this a reality. It is important that the Muslims and Tamils realise that working together is essential to safeguard the existence of both communities.
3. A permanent political solution can only be attained by recognising the right to self determination of the Tamil people and by recognising Tamil Nationhood. There is no point in a political process that refuses to acknowledge the above.
4. Despite four months since passing the Geneva resolution injustices and oppression against the Tamil people have not reduced, rather they have increased. The land grab project continuing unabatted, Tamil political prisoners continuing to linger in prison, lack of any progress in tracing missing persons, the continuos destruction of the economic and cultural fundamentals of the Tamil nation, the ever increasing role of the military in the daily lives of the Tamil people, the ever increasing interference into the independence of different sectors of life including education, higher education, health, agriculture and fisheries, the conversion of high security zones into permanent high security zones (including the Sampur High Security Zone), a significant number of Tamils continuing to live as displaced people in IDP camps, the continuous neglect of the livelihood of those resettled are examples of these injustices and oppressive practices. Further there is no progress in holding accountable those responsible for the genocide and war crimes committed against the Tamil people. The International Community has to realise that solutions to these problems cannot be found using the LLRC report as a road map. Both the report and the action plan have been designed to hoodwink the International community and to buy further time. The International Community has to realise that such time is being sort to provide space for the Government to complete its project of destroying the existence of the Tamil people.
We believe that by including the above in their election manifesto that there is a possibility that the TNA can lessen the impact of the argument that the Tamil people have accepted the Provincial Council system and a demerged North and East by participating in these elections. It is very important that our rejection of the provincial council system and a demerged North and East is clearly communicated to the International Community.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph
Bishop of Mannar
Ms. Shantha Abimannasingham P.C
President’s Counsel, Jaffna
Prof. K. Kandasamy
Dean, Faculty of Science
University of Jaffna
Prof. S.K. Sittrampalam
Emeritus Professor of History
President, Hindu Religious Council
Prof. R. Kumaravadivel
Senior Professor of Physics
Formerly Acting Vice Chancellor,
University of Jaffna
Prof. R. Vigneswaran
Prof of Mathematics
Vice – President, Federation of University Teachers Association
Mr. V. Kamalathas
Batticaloa District Civil Society Activists Alliance
Mr. S. Arasaratnam
Retired Banker
Amparai Tamils Society
Mr. T. Rasaratnam
Rtd Chief Clerk, Natpitty Munai.
Mr. T. Rajan
Batticaloa District Civil Society Activists Alliance
Mr. T. Gurukularajah
Rtd Assistant Director of Education
Killinochchi
Prof. A.S. Soosai
Department of Geography,
University of Jaffna
Dr. (Mrs). S. Uthayakumar
Consultant Physician
Teaching Hospital, Jaffna
Dr. S. Sivansuthan
Consultant Physician
Teaching Hospital, Jaffna
Mr. S. Kanthaswamy,
Senior Attorney-at-Law, Point Pedro
Mr. A. Panchalingam
Retired Principal
Jaffna Hindu College/ Kokuvil Hindu College
Mr. K. Santhiralingam
Retired Principal
Amaprai Tamils Society
Prof. V.P Sivanathan
Dean, Faculty of Arts
University of Jaffna
Mr. T. Ramakrishnan
Secretary, Amparai Tamils Society, Kalmunai Branch
Mr. A. Rasakumaran
President, Jaffna University Teachers Association, Lecturer, ELTC.
Mr. K. Rooban
Batticaloa District Youth Activists Association.
Mr. P. Saravanapavan
Batticaloa District Youth Activists Association.
Mr. T. Kalayarasan
President, Navithanveli Pradeshiya Sabah
Mr. A. Ganeshamoorthy
Rtd Public Health Education officer, Natpittymunai
Mr. Pon. Selvanayagam
Rtd. Divisional Educational Officer, Paandirippu
Mr. K. Suriyakumaran
Representative, Jaffna District Fishermen Societies’ Federation
Representative, Vadamaraatchi North Fishermen Society
Dr. S. Raviraj
Consultant Surgeon & Senior Lecturer, University of Jaffna
Rev. Fr. C. Jeyakumar
Parish Preist, Kayts
Department of Physiology
Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna
Dr. S. Premakrishna
Consultant Anaesthesist
Teaching Hospital, Jaffna
Dr. P. Lakshman
Consultant Cardiologist
Teaching Hospital,
Jaffna.
Dr. P. Sathiyalingam
MOH, Vavuniya
Mr. Sivasubramaniam
Representative, Northern Alliance of Fishermen, Jaffna
Rev. Fr. E. Ravichandran
Director
Director, Youth Animation Centre,
Jaffna
Dr. S. Kumaravel
Teaching Hospital, Jaffna.
Mr. S. A. Jothilingam
Attorney-at-Law, Political Analyst
School Teacher
Mr. V. Puvitharan
Senior Attorney-at-Law
Colombo
Mr. B.N. Thamboo
Attorney-at-Law, Colombo
Mr. K. Guruparan
Lecturer, Department of Law,
University of Jaffna & Attorney-at-Law
Dr. S. Kannadasan
Department of Patholgy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna.
Mr. V. Arasaratnam
Former Assistant Commissioner, Cooperatives
Amparai Tamils Society
Mr.. N. Inpanayagam,
President, Rural Workkers Association
Jaffna
Mr. K. Rajeevan,
Batticaloa District Civil Society Activists Alliance
Mr. P. Nishanthan
Batticaloa District Cilvil Society Activists Alliance
Dr. K. Sureshkumar
Consultant Obstertrician and Gynaecologist
Teaching Hospital, Jaffna.
Dr. S. Baheerathan
Teaching Hospital, Jaffna
Dr. A. Kamalanathan
Teaching Hospital, Jaffna
Dr. G. Hyrin Arc
Teaching Hospital, Jaffna
Dr. P. Nanthakumar
MOH, Tellipalai
Dr. S. Mohanakumar
Teaching Hospital, Jaffna
Mr. J.T. Simson
Teacher, Mannar
Mr. S. Jeevanayagam
President, Karaichchi Rural Development Societies Confederation, Killinochchi.
Mr.C.P. Sathiayseelan
Social Activist, Vavuniya
Mr. S. Jeyachandran
Manager, Teachers Development Centre, Vavuniya
Mr. M. Kapilnath
Human Rights Activist, Vavuniya
Mr. S. Suthareswaran,
Senior Banker, Jaffna
Mr. V. Sritharan
Senior Lecturer in Accounting, University of Jaffna
Dr. B. Nimalathasan
Senior Lecturer in Accounting,
University of Jaffna
Mr. A. Saravanapavan
Lecturer in Human Resources
University of Jaffna
Dr. S. Suthakaran
Mental Health Unit, General Hospital, Vavuniya.
Mr. S. Janarthanan
Jaffna Economists Association
Mr. S. Beeshman
Jaffna Economists Association
Dr. E. Sivashankar
RDHS, Jaffna
Mr. T. Vigneswaran,
Lecturer in Political Science
University of Jaffna
Mr. S. Thiruchenthuran
Lecturer in Political Science,
University of Jaffna
Mr. S. Raveenthiran
Lecturer in Geography,
University of Jaffna
Mr. M. Gratein,
Attorney – at – Law
Killinochchi
Mr. P. Krishanthan
Attorney at Law
Trincomalee
Mr. S. Iruthanayagam
Soosaiyappar Fishermen Society Mathagal
Dr. K. Ilangognaniyar
Teaching Hospital, Jaffna
Rev. Gerald Roosairo
Colombo (OMI Church)
Fr. S.M.P. Ananthakumar
Secretary, Jaffna Catholic Priests Association
Mr. S. Ariharan
Former President, University Students Union,
University of Jaffna
Mr. V. Pavaananthan
President, University Students Union, Jaffna
Mr. P. Tharshananth
Secretary, University Students Union,
Jaffna
Mr. K. Jenemajeyamenan
President, Arts Faculty Students Union, University of Jaffna
Mr. A. Prasanna
President, Science Faculty Students Union,
University of Jaffna
Mr. S. Sabeskumar
President, Management and Commerce Faculty Students Union
University of Jaffna
Mr. Sanjeevan
President, Agriculture Faculty Students Union
University of Jaffna
Mr. S. Janahan.
President, Medical Students Union
Jaffna
Mr. Xavier Wilfred Jeyaruban
Surveyor, Jaffna
Dr. K. Pratheepan
Teaching Hospital, Jaffna
Mr. Thiruveni Sangamam
Rtd Provincial Council Servant
Kaaraitheevu, Amparai.
Dr. M. Vasudevan
Teaching Hospital, Jaffna
Dr. S. Kunatheesan,
Teaching Hospital, Jaffna.
Mr. A. Sittrampalam
President, Maathagal Farmers Alliance
Mr. A. R. Mathilalagu
President, Maathagal Fishermen’s Society
Mrs. A.M. Jeyamany
Secretary
Maathagal West Womens Development Society
Mr. S. Christurasa
President, St Lutheur Fishermen Society
Mr. R. Johnpillai
Nanaattan
Rev Father Augustine Pushparaj
Parish Priest, Nanaattan, Mannar
Rev. Fr. S. Jeyapalan Croos
Parish Priest, Vangalai, Mannar
Dr. S. Sivathasan
Teaching Hospital, Jaffna
Rev Fr. L. Gnanthikkam
Parish Priest, Vanchiyankulam
Mr. K. Sugash
Attorney-at-Law
Jaffna
Mr. T. Archchuna
Attorney-at-Law
Jaffna
Mr. A. Santhiyapillai
Peace and Justice Division
Jaffna Catholic Commoners Society
Dr. A.Y. Thanenthiran
Teaching Hospital, Jaffna