Sangaree denies forming a new party

TULF President V. Anandasangaree yesterday denied press reports that he had taken the initiative to form a new Political Party with a group opposed to the LTTE.

"I admit having met with Leaders of some Political Parties a number of times, when I felt that certain issues must be discussed with other Tamil parties. This has become necessary because Tamil Members of Parliament representing the North and East, had failed on a number of occasions to express their views courageously even on matters of importance," Anandasangaree said in a release.

He added: "Whenever TNA Members failed in their duty I have issued statements after discussing with leaders of other Tamil Political parties. I have condemned the killings of Police Officer Charles Abeywardena and five Tamil students at Trincomalee and the Pungudutheevu incident.

After consulting the other party Leaders, I condemned the killing and burning of the Jaffna University student with his tractor at Kudathanai recently for illicitly transporting sand. Even university students did not condemn this murder of their colleague.

We met whenever a need arose. Our last meeting was several days back to protest to the Commissioner of Elections and the President against the holding of elections to Local Bodies in the North and the East, where we are convinced that what happened during the last Parliamentary Elections will be repeated.

I have nothing to do with any new party that may be formed, but I will continue to meet leaders of other parties who agreed with me to condemn actions which affect the Tamil people with which we don't agree.

There is no need at this moment to form an anti-LTTE front with other parties. I do not know Karuna. I have never met him. The news that he may join us is spread with mischievous intentions".