TULF’s Trinco branch wants action against Anandasangaree

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 July 2003, 16:20 GMT]
In a strongly worded resolution adopted at the meeting of the Trincomalee district branch of the Tamil United Liberation Front, the main constituent of the Tamil National Alliance, the TULF branch said Wednesday that “appropriate action” should be taken to “ensure that the policies and principles of the TULF are upheld at all times,” and that “irresponsible statements made by a single individual” are not regarded as the position of the TULF.

The decision was made in the wake of statements made by the TULF President, Mr.V. Anandasangaree, critical of the TULF’s stated stand on the removal of high security zones and the proposed establishment of an interim administration for the Northeast, political sources said.

Mr. Anandasangaree had reportedly said that if the Sri Lankan armed forces were to be asked to relocate their camps to positions in which the camps were located earlier, the armed forces would be entitled to ask that the territory of the former Elephant pass army camp be returned to the armed forces.

The resolution went on to say that the statements by Mr. Anandasangaree are “suggestive of a failure on the part of the [TULF president] as an individual to adequately recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people, to resettle in the lands owned by them, and in which they have lived, earned their livelihood, and fostered their social, economic and cultural well being for centuries.”

“There can be no analogy whatsoever,” between the exercise of the legitimate fundamental right of the Tamil people to resume normal life in their own lands, and the control of territory comprising the Elephant Pass army camp, “a purely military installation in a desolate area, which is entirely a military issue between the Sri Lankan government armed forces and the LTTE,” the resolution said.

The full text of the statement issued Wednesday by the Trincomalee district branch of the TULF, signed by the Secretary of the branch, Mr.S.Sriskandarajah, follows:

“The Trincomalee district branch of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) met at Trincomalee on 13 July 2003.

“After a lengthy discussion, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted.

“1.That the Trincomalee district branch will meet on 27th July 2003 to elect the new office bearers of the Branch.

“2. That the cordon and search operation presently being conducted by the security forces in Trincomalee were causing great discomfort and humiliation to the Tamil civilian population. Such cordon and search operations are without legal sanction and constituted a serious infringement of the fundamental human rights of the Tamil civilian population. It was decided to urge the government to take effective action to stop such cordon and search operation immediately as the continuance of such operations would have an immensely harmful impact on the peace process.

“3. The following statements have been attributed to President of the TULF Mr.V. Anandasangaree: a) ‘ that if the armed forces were to be asked to relocate their camps to positions in which the camps were located earlier, the armed forces would be entitled to ask that the territory of the former Elephant pass army camp be returned to the armed forces’, and b) ‘that it is unjust for the Tiger movement meaning the LTTE to ask from an unstable government, something ( referring to the demand for an Interim Administration ) which that government cannot do’

“ The above statements came in for severe criticism and condemnation at the meeting of the Trincomalee district branch of the TULF.

"These statements, which are clearly inconsistent with the well-defined and clearly stated positions of the TULF on these matters, have caused dismay and disappointment, amongst the vast majority of the Tamil people.

"The above statements are suggestive of a failure on the part of Mr.V. Anandasangaree as an individual to adequately recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people, to resettle in the lands owned by them, and in which they have lived, earned their livelihood, and fostered their social, economic and cultural well being for centuries. There can be no analogy whatsoever, between the exercise of this legitimate fundamental right of the Tamil people to resume normal life in their own lands, and the control of territory comprising the Elephant Pass army camp, a purely military installation in a desolate area, which is entirely a military issue between the Sri Lankan government armed forces and the LTTE.

"An interim administration for the Northeast is a demand which former governments of both the United national Party and peoples’ Alliance have accepted, and is a commitment made by the leadership of the present government prior to the general elections in December, 2001. Such an interim administration has been accepted by both the present and former governments as a pre-requisite to a final solution to the northeast conflict. Moreover, an interim administration in the Northeast, with adequate authority, is absolutely essential to effectively undertake the enormous tasks that have to be fulfilled in the Northeast to restore normalcy, particularly in the lives of the long suffering Tamil people.

"It is unacceptable that in such a situation, Mr.Anandasangaree should make a statement which is tantamount to finding an excuse, for an interim administration not having been set up so far, and which is totally inconsistent with the clearly defined position of the TULF on the question of an interim administration. These statements have called into grave question, the credentials of Mr.V.Ananadasangaree to speak on behalf of the TULF on matters relating to the Tamil national question

"The Trincomalee district branch of the TULF in these circumstances, urges that appropriate action be taken to ensure that the policies and principles of the TULF are up held at all times, and that irresponsible statements made by a single individual are not regarded as the position of the TULF on such matters"