Nedunthivu residents reject TNA plea to suspend picketing

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 December 2002, 18:01 GMT]
Residents of Nedunthivu island in Jaffna district Tuesday rejected a plea made by Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians to suspend their month long picketing against the presence of members of the para military group Eelam Peoples Democratic party (EPDP) in their village on the basis of the assurance given by the Prime Minister, TNA sources said.

TNA parliamentarians Messrs Mavai Senathirajah and N.Raviraj Tuesday went to Neduntheivu Island and met the picketing residents in front of the offices of the Divisional Secretariat and Pradeshiya Sabha where EPDP members are under siege, sources said.

TNA parliamentarians told the picketers the assurance given by the Prime Minister regarding their agitation. According to TNA parliamentarians, the Prime Minister had told them if the picketing was withdrawn he could take action to remove the presence of the SLN from the area and to reduce the number of EPDP members present.

Picketers rejected the plea made by TNA parliamentarians and stated that they would continue their picketing until EPDP members completely withdrew from their village, sources said.