JHU tells JVP: CFA already dead, meaningless to demand abrogation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 February 2007, 12:42 GMT]
The ceasefire agreement CFA) signed by Ranil Wickremasinghe, the then Prime Minister and Velupillai Pirapaharan, leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) five years ago on 22 February 2002 had already dead with the capture of Mavilaru by the Sri Lankan security forces last year. "Hence there is no point in demanding the government to abrogate the CFA,"said Venerable Omalpe Sobitha Thera, general secretary of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU).

"A Prime Minister who had no powers under the Executive Presidential System of the government signed the CFA with the LTTE five years ago contrary to the constitution," said Omalpe Sobitha Thera, who carried out a fast-unto-death campaign in 2005 for 17-days against the P-TOMS.

JHU is now a constituent of the UPFA government and its lay member Patali Champika Ranawake is holding ministerial portfolio.

Omalpe Sobitha Thera had recently stepped out from his Parliamentarian post to pave the way for Champika Ranawaka.

"Holding agitation and fasting campaigns to force the government nullify the CFA is meaningless at a time when the military has successfully ousted LTTE from the east and have launched aerial attacks on LTTE targets in Killinochchi and Mullaitivu in the north," Venerable Omalpe Sobitha Thera said.

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and its front organizations National Bhikku Front (NBF) and National Patriot Movement (NPM) have been holding fasting and agitation campaigns in Colombo and Kandy demanding the government to abrogate the CFA immediately.

"Political parties, which demand the abrogation of the CFA, have been working with hidden agendas to establish their identities and enhance their popularity among the masses," said the Thera.