TNA holds its first election rally in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 March 2004, 17:34 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) held its first election rally in Trincomalee Sivan Kovil Veethi Monday evening. "The forthcoming general election has been thrusted on the country as chauvinist forces in the south could not digest the contents of the Interim Self Governing Authority proposal submitted by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to the United National Front government,” said TNA leader and the lead candidate in the Trincomalee electoral district, Mr.R.Sampanthan, addressing the rally.

All the seven TNA candidates contesting the Trincomalee district in the forthcoming general election which has been fixed for April 02nd were taken in a procession from Arasady junction to the venue in a decorated trailer of a tractor.

Later, they worshipped at the historic Sivan Temple and paid homage to the late Tamil Leader “Thanthai” (S.J.V.)Chelvanayakam by garlanding his statue, which is located close to the venue.

Trincomalee district TNA candidates being taken in procession from Arasady junction to Sivan Kovilady venue along Thirgnanasampanthanr Road in the heart of Trincomalee town Monday evening. Candidates are seen seated on a platform fixed in the trailer of the tractor

A leading Tamil writer Mr.Thirumalai Suntha presided. Former Urban Councilor Mr.S.Sriskandarajah introduced the candidates to the people.

Mr.Sampanthan recalled the events that led to the take over of three key ministries from the UNF government after three days the LTTE submitted its ISGA proposals to the government which resulted in the dissolution of parliament and calling for new general election. He said the Peoples Alliance's senior leaders had rejected the ISGA as unacceptable to them.

“Subsequently the President took over three key ministries Defense, Interior and Media which had been having considerable impact on the smooth implementation of the ceasefire agreement signed by the UNF government and the LTTE,” Mr.Sampanthan said.

Tamils should not consider the April poll as an ordinary one. But it should be treated as a referendum to tell the international community that they are fully backing the ISGA proposal submitted by the LTTE to find a permanent political solution to the Tamil national question, Mr.Sampanthan said.

Former parliamentarian and candidate Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham and other candidates of the TNA, Messrs S.Gowri Muhunthan, K.Ragunathan, S.Shanmuganathan, V.Vigneswaran, A.H.Sahul Hameed, also spoke.



TNA candidates contesting the election in Trincomalee district on stage Monday evening rally ( L-R)S.Gowri Muhunthan, R.Sampanthan, K.Thurairatnasingham,S.Shanmuganathan,K.Ragunathan, V.Vikneswaran and A.H.Sahul Hameed.

 

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