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LTTE
to TNA The Sunday Times learns that the demand has been conveyed to the TNA's prospective candidates and TNA leaders have been summoned by the LTTE for a meeting with LTTE's political wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan tomorrow to finalise nominations and campaign strategies. The LTTE is also reported to be finalizing its propaganda campaign and making arrangements for voters who would need to go from uncleared to cluster polling booths in cleared areas. At the last general elections, the Army prevented any crossover of voters from uncleared to cleared areas but the Supreme Court later held the Army action was illegal and ordered payment of compensation. Reports say the TNA has already selected some candidates, including Pongu Thamil chief organiser K. Amirthalingam, leading businessman and Pongu Thamil sponsor, S. Kulathevaraja and International Students' Federation President S. Gajendran. Most of the senior TNA members are likely to be on the list but there are doubts about TNA president V. Anandasangaree who has regularly defied the LTTE and is involved in a major battle for leadership within the party. The TNA is likely to use the 'lighthouse' symbol of the TELO or the 'House' symbol of the Federal Party if legal problems arise over Mr. Anandasangaree and the use of the TULF's rising sun symbol. Meanwhile, Mr. Anandasanagree warned General Secretary R. Sampanthan that no talks could be held with any other party or any electoral alliances formed without his approval. Mr. Anandasangaree in a strongly-worded letter to Mr. Sampanthan said the TULF had, at no stage, decided to form an alliance with other political parties to contest the forthcoming election. "I am surprised to learn through the media that you had been representing our party, without my knowledge at meetings with other political parties and discussing about a party alliance. And if at all you receive such invitations, you should have my prior approval in writing to attend such meetings. You also have no authority to convene any such meetings with any political party. Hence you should refrain from indulging in such activities," Mr. Anandasangaree said. He said the TULF had a separate noble identity and the party could not afford to lose the identity which it had built up over the years. Mr. Anandasangaree warned that candidates contesting under the TULF symbol should be members of the TULF and that promoting non-members to contest under the party symbol would be a violation of party regulation. Mr. Anandasangaree pointed out that a court case has been filed and that any violation of party regulations might amount to contempt for which Mr. Sampanthan would need to bear the consequences. |
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