Pongu Thamil calls for IA with 'adequate' powers

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 September 2003, 19:11 GMT]
At the Pongu Thamil event held in Vavuniya Wednesday, the participants made a declaration emphasizing Tamil people's aspirations, and said that to restore the people's normal life, an interim administration (IA) with adequate powers should be established. "The IA should include powers to deal with Land, Finance, Police and Judicial services," the declaration said.

"Such an administration should be handed over to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who have been chosen by the people as their sole representatives, " said the declaration.

The full text of the Pongu Thamil declaration follows:

"Despite the passing of one and a half years since the signing of the Ceasefire agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, normal life for the people has not been restored.

"The peace talks are stalled. There are clouds of war again. We, the Tamil-speaking people, want to change the situation. We are gathered at the Pongu Thamil event today from every corner of the Vavuniya district to proclaim to the world that we cannot allow the continuing delay in restoring our normal life.

"We want to live in our own homes. Sri Lankan military personnel should go back to their homes.

"To restore our normal life, an interim administration (IA) with adequate powers should be established. The IA should include powers to deal with Land, Finance, Police and Judicial services. Such an administration should be handed over to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who have been chosen by the people as their sole representatives.

"The LTTE should never accept anything less than an IA with such powers.

"The international community should urge the Sri Lankan government to provide such an IA. The North and East are traditional homelands of the Tamil people. The Sri Lanka Army should leave our lands.

"The people can lead a normal life only when the Sri Lanka Armed forces withdraw from our lands. Permanent peace can be achieved if the talks are based on the recognition of Tamil people’s aspirations: distinct nationality, traditional homeland, and self-determination."

(To view the full Pongu Thamil picture gallery click here)