TMVP, Karuna groups organize demonstration in East

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 October 2008, 14:02 GMT]
Paramilitary-cum-political parties, the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) and the Karuna faction, which operate along with Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the Eastern Province, have announced that a demonstration will be held 26 October, and have issued notices to the public in Eastern Province including NGO staff, school children and other public and private institutions to participate. The groups have warned the public of severe consequences if they fail to join in the demonstration.

The demonstration will call for the disarming of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and will condemn the upsurge of the people of Tamil Nadu in favour of Eelam Tamils, civil society sources in Batticaloa said.

The demonstration is orchestrated by the Sri Lanka government to hoodwink the International Community that democracy prevails in the Eastern Province, and in addition justifying the induction of Karuna into Sri Lanka's political process as a member of parliament, the sources alleged.

The two groups have instructed the public to come to Batticaloa Hindu College playground Sunday with placards and banners.

Arrangements are being made to bring people in buses from other parts of the province to participate in marches from Vaakarai, Vaazhaichcheanai and Chengkaladi north of Batticaloa and from Ka'luvangchchikudi in the south.

Sinhalese people too are to be brought to participate in the Sunday demonstration.

The two groups with EPDP have planned to hold similar demonstrations in the East and North of the island.