"Kadirgamar betraying Tamils for mess of pottage" - Maheswaran

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 March 2001, 15:21 GMT]
Mr. Thiyagarajah Maheswaran, opposition MP for Jaffna, Saturday accused Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Mr.Lakshman Kadirgamar of betraying the Tamil people to make a living. The MP, speaking on the People's Alliance budget, said Mr. Kadirgamar is urging countries to ban the Liberation Tigers in order to keep his job by begging the government.

"Mr. Kadirgamar was not elected by the people. It is true that I took part in the campaign to collect signatures in Jaffna urging Britain not to ban the Tigers. In doing so I was only reflecting the aspirations of my people", the MP said.

Maheswaran said that there was nothing in the budget for the Tamil people and that instead, it was aimed at escalating the war against them.

"Air Force jets bombed and destroyed more than hundred thousand houses in Thenmaradchi while a palace is being built at the cost of millions for the President" the Jaffna MP charged.

"Tamils have been force to live under trees while the President is living in air-conditioned comfort. Mr. Kadirgamar and some Tamil groups in this Parliament are acting as the government's lackeys. I shall never be a stooge".

"The Deputy Minister for Defence, Gen. Anurudha Ratwatte made in issue of my signing the petition to the British government in this house. He accused me of aiding terrorism. I ask him: 'Six hundred youth were murdered in Chemmani. Twenty Tamil youth were murdered in Bindunuwewa. Eight were murdered in Mirisuvil. Who was the leader behind all these murders?' He is Gen. Ratwatte. I represent the Jaffna people. I speak their thoughts" Mr. Maheswaran said.