LTTE: no change in our position on polls

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 November 2005, 09:06 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers said Wednesday there is no change in their position on Thursday’s Presidential election from that taken last Friday. Denying newspaper reports that the LTTE was now actively encouraging people to vote in the Presidential elections, head of the LTTE’s Peace Secretariat, S. Pulidevan, said "the issue was discussed at length by the LTTE and the TNA (Tamil National Alliance) last week and the conclusion was the Tamils cannot place our trust on either of the parties or their candidates".

The Daily Mirror newspaper Wednesday said the LTTE “has reportedly decided” to fully encourage the people of the north and east (to vote).”

Mr. Pulidevan dismissed the report as “unfounded” and “erroneous.”

“Our leadership came to a firm decision on this matter last Friday after extensive discussions and the LTTE’s position has not changed since then,” he told TamilNet.

Meanwhile, the TNA also dismissed the report which hit the newsstands this morning.

Mr.R.Sampanthan, TNA parliamentary group leader Wednesday afternoon issued a press release in this regard.

The full text of the press release follows:

“Our attention has been drawn to various contradictory reports that have appeared in the Media regarding the position of the Tamil people in the North East at the impending Presidential Election.

“The position of the Tamil National Alliance (Ilankai Thamiarasu Kadchchi ) was clearly enunciated to the Media at the conclusion of the meeting with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ( LTTE ) at Killinochchi on Thursday 10th November 2005.

“There is no change in the position made absolutely clear to the Media on 10th November pertaining to the Tamil people in the North-East.

Signed:- R.Sampanthan, Parliamentary group leader, Tamil national Alliance Ilankai Thamilarasu Kadchchi 16.11. 2005.”