TNA, LTTE discuss local elections at Kilinochchi meet

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 March 2006, 12:19 GMT]
Selvam Adaikalanathan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian for Vanni district addressing media in Kilinochchi after a meeting between the Liberation Tigers and the TNA parliamentarians Sunday morning, accused Colombo for delaying making decision on holding local elections in the NorthEast

"Our candidates are being subjected to threats and harassments by the paramilitary elements in the Sri Lanka Army controlled areas on a daily basis in the run-up to the local elections," the Vanni MP said adding that his alliance dicussed ways of facing the situation if Colombo goes ahead with holding local elections in the NorthEast ignoring the Tamils request.

The meeting between the TNA and the LTTE's Political Head S. P. Thamilchelvan took place at the LTTE Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

"The ground situation in the East, where paramilitaries continue with threats, attacks, abductions and extortions, is not conducive to holdin elections," Adaikalanathan said.

The TNA has urged the Sri Lankan President and the Commissioner of Elections to postpone the local council elections.