Act with responsibility, PNM tells UNP

The Patriotic National Movement in a press release yesterday charged that the UNP was trying to make petty political capital in the face of killings perpetrated by the LTTE in the North and East.

This is clearly proved by the UNP statements blaming the JVP and JHU for these killings without condemning the LTTE for them.

The release said it is clearly evident that the LTTE conducted a unilateral war from the day it signed a Ceasefire Agreement with the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in February 2001, the release added.

It was first directed against Tamil informants of the Army Intelligence Units. Thereafter, the leaders of political parties to the LTTE and their unarmed membership and the Army and Police Intelligence Officers and members beware the targets of the LTTE.

Subsequently, the LTTE assassinated Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar to prevent the spread of anti-LTTE views internationally through diplomatic sources. Now these planned attacks have reached a peak to dilute the authority of security forces in the North and East including Jaffna.

The security of the State had been weakened from the day the Ceasefire Agreement was signed. While security forces were presented from using loaded guns in the North and East, it allowed the LTTE to spread its control in cleared areas and make preparations for the present claymore mine attacks.

The UNP while conveniently forgetting this, was trying to blame the JVP and the JHU for the current LTTE attacks.

The UNP has today taken the audacity to make the foolish and irresponsible suggestion that Peace Talks should be started forthwith without haggling about the venue.

Have UNP leaders thought as to why the LTTE was insisting on Oslo as the venue. It was because the LTTE wanted to break the travel ban imposed by the European Union, the release said.

In this situation the UNP should try to act in a responsible manner if it is a true national political party.

The Patriotic National Movement would therefore call upon the UNP to act with responsibility in the face of the national crisis without trying to safeguard the LTTE by blaming other parties.