The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), the largest political party in the East, now wants voters to support “a candidate who has the backing of a political party” that would resolve Tamil grievances.
This official position of the party was declared in a statement (issued in Tamil) by the TMVP after a politburo meeting on Friday.
 |
| Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan |
This announcement retracts the TMVP’s declaration on December 2 that it would support President Mahinda Rajapaksa. That declaration came after a TMVP delegation led by Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, Chief Minister of the Eastern Province and TMVP leader, had a lengthy meeting in Colombo with Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa.
Then, Mr. Pillayan claimed they had resolved outstanding issues.However, Friday’s TMVP statement said that the “Tamil community had lost everything, were without political leadership and were in desperation.” It added “due to the mistakes committed by our predecessors, miscalculation and treachery,” Tamils were now living in untold agony and misery.
Mr. Chandrakanthan told the Sunday Times last night “our politburo members are still unhappy over several matters. That is why we want to leave the choice of choosing the best candidate to vote in the hands of Tamil voters.” He added that among other issues that have cropped was one relating to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
After the meeting with Basil Rajapaksa, Mr. Chandrakanthan said, he had announced at a news conference in Colombo that the TMVP would not demand powers under this Constitutional amendment for Eastern Provincial Councils. “Members were not happy that I made this statement. They are in fact seeking more powers,” he said. Friday’s statement urged a package beyond the 13th amendment to the Constitution.
The TMVP-Rajapaksa meting was triggered by the Sunday Times front page exclusive report headlined “Pillayan withholds support for President”. The report quoted TMVP Secretary, Edwin Silva Kailasaraja, as saying that the politburo attended by 13 members had unanimously decided not to extend support for President Rajapaksa.
The state-run Independent Television Network (ITN) showed the Sunday Times report on its news programmes to say it was wrong and Mr. Chandrakanthan would indeed support Mr. Rajapaksa.On December 6, the Sunday Times in a front page report headlined “Pillayan’s double cross: the story behind the story” gave more details to confirm that the politburo had in fact taken a decision not to support President Rajapaksa.
|
E-mail