TULF urges govt. to lift LTTE ban immediately

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 May 2002, 09:25 GMT]
Mr. Murugesu Sivasithambaram, President of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), the main constituent of the Tamil National Alliance Thursday issued a strong appeal to the United Front National Government to lift the ban on the Liberation Tigers immediately.

The following is the press release issued by Mr.Sivasithamparam:

"The UNF government is making all arrangements for the talks between the LTTE and the government. Various ministers are making statements about the talks.

"Most important matter about the talks is the lifting of the ban on the LTTE in Sri Lanka. That is the immediate step the government should take.

"The LTTE has made it perfectly clear that they will not come for talks unless the ban is lifted. This is a very reasonable request because the LTTE is going to speak on behalf of the Tamil people as their sole representative. The LTTE cannot be expected to participate in the talks except on the basis of equality.

"Therefore the ban on the LTTE must be lifted immediately. On behalf of the TULF, I urge the government strongly the ban must be lifted."