International community should protect Tamils right to vote - TNA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 February 2004, 15:36 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will appeal to the international community to exert pressure on the Sri Lankan government to ensure voters in the Liberation Tigers controlled areas in the northeast province to exercise their franchise in the forthcoming general election without any interruption, TNA's leader and former parliamentarian Mr. R.Sampanthan said in a meeting of TNA candidates in Trincomalee, sources said. Mr.Tilak, LTTE Trincomalee district political head also participated in the meeting.

Some powerful forces are working to prevent voters living in LTTE controlled areas from voting during the elections. R.Sampanthan, Leader of TNA

Mr.Sampanthan was addressing the first meeting of the TNA candidates contesting the forthcoming election in the Trincomalee district after handing over the nomination list Tuesday.

"Some powerful forces are working to prevent voters living in LTTE controlled areas from voting during the elections. These forces would like to see a reduced strength of parliamentarians who will represent the will of the Tamil Nation. We will take all efforts possible to thwart such attempts, especially we will bring pressure upon the international community to help our people exercise their right to vote," said Mr.Sampanthan.

The forces behind the prevention of voters in LTTE held areas at the last general election couldn't give the same reason this year because of a ceasefire now in existence, said Mr.Sampanthan.



LTTE Trincomalee district political head Mr.S.Thilak addressing the meeting attended by Trincomalee TNA candidates. Seven candidates led Mr.Sampanthan are seen seated



All the seven candidates of the TNA Messrs R.Sampanthan, K.Thurairetnasingham, S.Gowri Muhunthan, S.A Sahul Hameed, S.Shanmuganathan, K.Ragunathan and V.Vigneswaran and activists of TULF, All Ceylon Tamil Congress, Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) and Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF Suresh Wing) participated in the meeting.

TEEDOR Trincomalee district head Mr.S.Tharman presided.