"Main candidates lying" -Hisbullah

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 December 1999, 15:08 GMT]
A Deputy Minister in the People's Alliance (PA) government has categorically said that people could expect an East Timor type of situation in the island if the present war continued for another few months. He further stated that no one could stop the intervention of the United Nations to conduct a referendum to decide the fate of the country.

Mr.M.S.M.Hisbullah, Deputy Minister for Posts, Telecommunication and Media was addressing a public meeting at Aariyamapathi in the east of the country recently.

He added that the two leading contenders for the Presidency of the country, Chandrika Kumaratunga of the PA and Ranil Wickremasinghe of the United National Party (UNP), have been saying that they would bring peace to the country if they win the election.

"Both are telling utter lies. The voters are in a quandary to decide who can be trusted," said Mr. Hisbullah.

Referring to Ranil Wickramesinghe's claim that he would start talks with the Liberation Tigers once elected to power, Mr. Hisbullah said, "talking with the LTTE is not important. It is important what is he going to speak with them".

"The Liberation Tigers have been fighting for a cause for the last fifteen years. That cause should become the basis for the talks with the LTTE. This should be borne in the minds of those who now say they are prepared for talks. Otherwise the LTTE will not participate in any talks", Mr. Hisbullah said.

"To achieve peace, you must talk with the LTTE. But empty talks will not help to bring peace to the country," he continued.

Mr. Hisbullah posed a question to the UNP Presidential Candidate, Ranil Wickramesinghe, on whether he was prepared to table his proposals to find a political solution to the ethnic problem.

He further said "Sinhala chauvinists will never grant the Tamils their rights, and the government cannot win this war."

"The present government captured 110 km area by sacrificing over 5000 troops for the last three and a half years. But the LTTE recaptured 115 km areas in two and a half days", reminded Mr. Hisbullah.