Norwegian MP criticizes closure of A9

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 31 October 2006, 10:33 GMT]
Jan Bøhler, Labour Party parliamentarian and leader of the Oslo Labour Party, expressed concern about the failure of the week-end talks between the Sri Lanka Government (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and commended the efforts of the Norwegian Tamils supporting peace, Monday around 7:00 p.m in front of the Norway Parliament, source in Norway said. The GoSL blockade of the A9 landroute to Jaffna should be criticized by all who care about humanitarian issues, said Jan Bøhler in his address.

Video by: www.utroptv.no

He addressed more than 1000 Tamils who marched to the venue bearing torches, ending a fortnight long series of meetings held in 17 Norwegian cities, to draw the attention of the International Community to the plight of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.


Members of the Norwegian Tamil Forum (NTF), began their march from the Oslo Central train Station around 6:00 p.m Monday and reached the Norwegian Parliament where a public meeting was held. At the end of the meeting the NTF submitted a memorandum to the Norwegian Government through Jan Bøhler and Aagot Valla, The Socialist Left Party parliamentarian and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, requesting Norway and the International Community to intervene and end the humanitarian crisis developing in the Northeast.



Aagot Valla in her speech said "Though the path to peace is long, your gathering here to draw the attention of the world has successfully expressed that further strong measures should be adopted to bring in peace."

Erling Folkevord, Former Leader for the Norwegian Red Electoral Alliance (RV) and member of the Oslo Municipality addressing the Tamils pointed out that the EU and US proscribing the LTTE has only strengthened the anti-Tamil attitude of the Colombo government and told that his party will support Tamils' struggle until freedom for Tamils is achieved. He urged the Norwegian government and the International Community to support Tamils to regain their lost rights.







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