LTTE: no change in polls position

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam said yesterday that there is no change in their position on today's Presidential election from that taken last Friday, TamilNet reported.

Denying newspaper reports that the LTTE was now actively encouraging people to vote in the Presidential elections, head of the LTTE's Peace Secretariat, S. Pulidevan, said: "The issue was discussed at length by the LTTE and the TNA (Tamil National Alliance) last week and the conclusion was the Tamils cannot place our trust on either of the parties or their candidates."

The Daily Mirror newspaper on Wednesday said the LTTE "has reportedly decided" to fully encourage the people of the North and East (to vote)".

Pulidevan dismissed the report as "unfounded" and "erroneous." "Our leadership came to a firm decision on this matter last Friday after extensive discussions and the LTTE's position has not changed since then," he told TamilNet.

Meanwhile, the TNA also dismissed the report which hit the newsstands yesterday morning. R.Sampanthan, TNA Parliamentary Group leader on Wednesday afternoon issued a press release in this regard.

The press release : "Our attention has been drawn to various contradictory reports that have appeared in the media regarding the position of the Tamil people in the North East at the impending Presidential Election.

The position of the TNA was clearly enunciated to the Media at the conclusion of the meeting with the LTTE in Killinochchi November 10. There is no change in the position made absolutely clear to the media pertaining to the Tamil people in the North-East."