Balasingham's demise creates a great void - TNA

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 December 2006, 13:54 GMT]
R. Sampanthan, the Parliamentary Group Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), in a condolence message following the demise of Liberation Tigers theoretician Anton Balasingham, said: "Mr. Balasingham had a clear understanding of the inequalities and inequities to which the Tamil people as a whole, were consistently subjected by the Sri Lankan State. He was also aware of the collective violence unleashed against the Tamil people when they engaged in peaceful protests and civil disobedience campaigns. He also had clear comprehension of the political aspirations and goals of the Tamil people. He was able to articulate the views of the Tamil people on these questions with clarity."

Full text of the message from Mr. R. Sampanthan follows:

PRESS RELEASE

The demise of Mr. Anton Balasingham at a critical juncture in the political struggle of the Tamil people, has caused much grief.

For several decades, the Tamil National Struggle was non-violent. Failure to resolve the Tamil National Question peacefully, inexorably led to an armed struggle. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam were in the forefront of that struggle.

Mr. Balasingham was the theoretician and a principal player in the formulation of the political strategy of the LTTE.

Mr. Balasingham represented the LTTE at negotiations and was the chief negotiator of the LTTE.

Mr. Balasingham had a clear understanding of the inequalities and inequities to which the Tamil people as a whole, were consistently subjected by the Sri Lankan State. He was also aware of the collective violence unleashed against the Tamil people when they engaged in peaceful protests and civil disobedience campaigns. He also had clear comprehension of the political aspirations and goals of the Tamil people. He was able to articulate the views of the Tamil people on these questions with clarity.

He thus played a very useful and valuable role in the furtherence of the struggle of the Tamil people towards the achievement of their legitimate goals and aspirations.

His demise at this time creates a great void. He could have continued to be of immense service to the Tamil people.

Mrs. Adele Balasingham had always been a source of great strength to him in every possible way. We convey our very deep condolences to Mrs. Balasingham and all others who are grieved by the demise of Mr. Balasingham.

R. Sampanthan


Parliamentary Group Leader
Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi
Tamil National Alliance

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