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LTTE
as sole representative challenged Based in London but embracing expatriate Tamils from Europe, the new group called the Tamil Democratic Congress (TDC) has, as one of its aims, “the re-establishment of a culture of tolerance, respect for contrary opinion, human life and human rights among Tamils.” The TDC also expects “to provide a forum for diverse opinion of Tamils on the Tamil national question to be expressed democratically.” These are among the stated aims of the TDC, according to the press release sent to The Sunday Times. The organisation, which invites like-minded organisations within and outside Sri Lanka to liaise with it, seems to have been formed last week after Sri Lanka’s presidential election at which registered Tamil voters in the Jaffna peninsula were prevented from voting due to a boycott mounted by the LTTE. The strong call going out from the TDC for the expression of diverse opinions, democratic debate and tolerance in the Tamil community is a direct challenge to the LTTE, some London Tamils said, explaining the purpose behind the new organisation. “The word democratic in the title of the Congress is a clear indication of what we intend to do,” they said. “There are many views within the expatriate Tamil community in Europe and elsewhere. There are also other views among the Tamils living in Sri Lanka. But Tamils are living in fear of LTTE intimidation and violence. But the time has come for them to rise and tell the world there are other voices too,” a member of the group said. While giving voice to diverse Tamil groups and individuals to have their say, the TDC intends to promote investment and development in Sri Lanka’s north and east, promote the welfare of Tamils and foster the Tamil language and culture. The interim chairman of the organisation is Rajasingham Jayadevan, a London resident who is said to have been detained against his will for some two months when he went to Kilinochchi last year to meet LTTE leaders to ask for a free expression of views. |
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