Rejection of ISGA will lead to separation - Sampanthan

[TamilNet, Saturday, 27 March 2004, 16:53 GMT]
"The international community should come forward to recognize Tamils right to consider secession if the future Sinhala government refuses to negotiate on the basis of the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposal of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam," said Mr.R.Sampanthan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader and the lead candidate of the TNA contesting in the Trincomalee district addressing an election rally in Sambaltivu and Salli, Tamil villages in the north of Trincomalee Friday evening.

"I appealed to the envoys of European Union (EU) member countries in Colombo in my recent discussions to recognize Tamil's right to go separate ways if the ISGA is rejected By Sri Lanka Government, and requested them to convey this appeal to other members of the non-European international community," said Sampanthan in his speech.

He said: "Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge thought with the take over of the defense ministry the LTTE would violate the ceasefire agreement and launch another war in the country. But the LTTE acted with restraint. The International community commended the LTTE for its political maturity in reconfirming their commitment to abide by the Cease Fire Agreement. LTTE said it would wait to recommence the stalled peace talks till the southern political crisis is resolved."

No government that comes to power in the April 2 general election could refuse to start peace talks on the basis of the ISGA with the LTTE. Therefore the Tamil voters should strengthen the hands of the LTTE by sending TNA with more than twenty parliamentary seats to play a key role in the formation of the new Sri Lanka government, said Mr.Sampanthan.