2nd lead:

Votes only for policies and symbol - TNA

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 February 2004, 15:00 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance leaders in Trincomalee resolved unanimously on Monday to contest the general elections on 2 April 2004, only on the basis of their coalition and its policies instead of their candidates.

The district leaders of constituent parties of the Tamil National Alliance- (TNA) Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) and Eelam People Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), met Monday in the east port town and unanimously decided to face the general election without any divisions among them with the sole aim of ensuring victory for the TNA. They agreed to canvass for the party and not for individuals in the forthcoming general election. Mr.R.Sampanthan, the TNA parliamentary group leader, presided at the meeting.

Parliamentarian Mr. K.Thurairatnasingham was also present at the discussion. Mr.V.Logeeswaran of the TELO, Mr.S. Shanmuganathan of ACTC and Mr.P.Ragunathan of the EPRLF and several TNA activists participated in the meeting Monday.

ACTC Vice President and Trincomalee district branch President, Mr.S. Shanmuganathan, said this year too Tamils in the Northeast should be asked to vote for the symbol Rising Sun of the TULF as in 2001. The LTTE is the sole representative of Tamils in the Northeast and there is no dispute on that, said Mr.Shanmuganathan. EPRLF (Suresh wing) Trincomalee leader Mr.P.Ragunathan said, ''We should strengthen the hands of our national leader, Mr.V.Pirapaharan, and show the international community that all Tamils are behind him in regaining the lost rights of Tamils in the country.''



The TNA's Trincomalee leaders are seen with parliamentarians Mr.R.Sampanthan and Mr.K.Thurairetnasingham ( third and fourth from left ) at the conclusion of the meeting held Monday.



TELO district leader Mr.Logeeswaran said that his party would work hard to ensure two parliamentary seats in the Trincomalee district in the forthcoming general election. Mr.Sampanthan requested TNA local heads to submit their lists of candidates whom they want to be nominated in the final list, which is to be submitted on the nomination day. He said another meeting would be held on February 12 to study the lists of candidates submitted by local TNA leaders. It was unanimously decided at the meeting that all TNA candidates should appeal to voters to vote for the party, without canvassing individually, sources said.

 

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