|
|
|
Saturday, October 11, 2008 - 11.44 GMT |
Time for LTTE to lay down arms and enter
democracy
– President tells APC |
|
|
|
President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the
All Parry Conference today repeated his call
to the LTTE to lay down arms and surrender.
He said: “I wish to once again very clearly
call on the LTTE to lay down their arms and
surrender. They should act in this manner
and enter the democratic political process.
Our aim should be to ensure the democratic
political rights of our Tamil brethren.”
The President had summoned the Al Party
Conference to apprise its members of the
current developments with regard to the
operations to eradicate terrorism, establish
peace and restore democracy throughout the
country.
“However difficult it may be, it is my
belief that the efforts to find political
solutions to political issues should be
continued. It is my belief that there are no
military solutions to political questions.
The people have elected us to realize their
aims and aspirations. It is our duty to
ensure to the Tamil people of the North the
same democratic rights as enjoyed by the
people min all other parts of the country.
Military operations have become necessary to
eradicate terrorism from the country and
enthrone democracy throughout the land,” the
President said.
The leader of the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai
Pulikal (TVMP) Muralitharan Karuna Amman,
who was present at the APC today, said he
had been with the LTTE for more than 22
years; and with his experience knew that
when the LTTE came forward seeking peace it
was always to further strengthen itself. On
earlier occasions, incumbent governments,
possibly by mistake, had encouraged the LTTE
by giving it arms and money.
“He recalled his own participation in
several rounds of talks with the Government
held under international sponsorship. They
had come to an understanding to accept a
federal system as a solution. However, Anton
Balasingham, without consulting Prabhakaran
had issued a statement stating that they
were willing to consider a federal system.
When he discussed this with Prabhakaran he
rejected the idea of federalism. He wanted
the talks dragged for at least five years
till the LTTE obtained enough arms to
strengthen itself further.
That was when he decided to leave the LTTE.
It was called a renegade for talking this
decision, which was done after he had
explained to Prabharakan the futility of the
armed campaign they were engaged in where at
least 80,000 people had lost their lives.
He emphasized that it was necessary to
defeat the LTTE militarily. This was
necessary in the interests of the people of
the North, who have already rejected the
LTTE, but controlled by the military power
of the organization.
He said the President had brought about many
important changes in the East with free and
fair elections and that all communities in
the East were today participating in the
development process there.
Here is the text of
the President’s statement:
“I welcome you all with all respect, and
thank you for being present at this meeting
at such short notice.
“We have today reached an important juncture
in the difficult path of eradicating
terrorism from our motherland and ensuring
the dawn of peace. We seek this peace for
all the people of our country. Similarly,
what we look forward to is a peace that will
ensure to all citizens, whether in the
North, South, East or West equal rights and
privileges, to be enjoyed in freedom and
dignity.
“The political parties gathered here are
those that have the highest regard to the
democratic system, ands have great
confidence in it; it is satisfying that they
all value democratic thinking and follow the
principles of democracy. We are also
encouraged by the fact that all of these
parties comprise those who take great pains
to achieve the economic, social, cultural
and political aspirations of our people.
“I wish to emphasize the importance of all
of us have come together so as not to betray
the people in their eager search for
democracy and peace, away from the path of
violence.
“However difficult it may be, it is my
belief that the efforts to find political
solutions to political issues should be
continued. It is my belief that there are no
military solutions to political questions.
The people have elected us to realize their
aims and aspirations. It is our duty to
ensure to the Tamil people of the North the
same democratic rights as enjoyed by the
people min all other parts of the country.
Military operations have become necessary to
eradicate terrorism from the country and
enthrone democracy throughout the land.
“You will recall that in January this year
the All Party Representative Committee
presented a set of proposals. It is the
expectation of the government to carry these
proposals forward and implement them.
Especially, in the context of our
Constitution not being properly implemented,
such the full implementing of these
proposals cannot be done immediately. They
should be done step by step. Already this is
being implemented well in the Eastern
Province. At the same time, the military
operations are continuing in the North, to
free the people there from the yoke of
terrorism and ensure them of their
democratic rights and freedoms.
“There should be a proper environment to
fully implement the proposals of the All
Party Conference and the All Party
Representative Committee. The current
military operations are being carried out to
build that required environment. They are
not intended to harass the ordinary people,
or cause harm or hardship to them. Our
policy in this regard is very clear. It is
that we continue with these operations to
free another group of our own brothers and
sisters from the cruel grip of terror.
“I wish to state our satisfaction that the
entire machinery of government led by the
respective Government Agents, is carrying
out fully coordinated work together with the
International Red Cross and the United
Nations to ensure the welfare of the
civilians who are faced with some hardship
and have been temporarily displaced due to
the current military operations in the
North.
“I wish to state that all hardships faced
temporarily by our brothers and sisters in
the North will be brought to an end in a
short time. Similar to what we did in the
East, we will soon make arrangements to
bring normalcy to the lives of our fraternal
citizens in the North, and provide them the
opportunity to elect their own political
representatives to the constitutionally
established political institutions.
“You are aware that we are taking action to
properly implement our Constitution.
Similarly, the local government bodies and
provincial councils are being strengthened.
What the All Party Conference should do now
is to discuss and agree on measures towards
stabilizing this political process, and
discuss the further measures necessary to
achieve peace. This should be done in a
manner that is fair by all communities. Such
measures should help in raising the living
standards of all communities. Also, we
should build an environment in which every
citizen will be able to live in peace and
satisfaction.
“Finally, I wish to once again very clearly
call on the LTTE to lay down their arms and
surrender. They should act in this manner
and enter the democratic political process.
Our aim should be to ensure the democratic
political rights of our Tamil brethren.”
The representatives of the parties present
supported the President initiative to end
terrorism and restore peace in the country,
and also the measures being taken to ease
the temporary hardships faced by the people
of the North due to the ongoing military
operations.
Representatives of the following parties
were present: Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Lanka
Sama Samaja Party, Communist Party of Sri
Lanka, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, Jathika
Hela Urumaya, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, and
Ceylon Workers Congress. Up Country People’s
Front, National Unity Alliance, United
National Party Democratic Group, Eelam
People’s Democratic Party, All Ceylon Muslim
Congress, National Congress, Western
People’s Front, Thamil Makkal Viduthalai
Pulikal, National Freedom Front.
|
|
|
|
Contact Information: Send
mail to