We have to question leaders who support LTTE - Sangaree

UK: Peace is knocking on the door and an Indian model will be the ideal option to resolve the ethnic crisis, said TULF Leader V. Anandasangaree in London on Monday.

Anandasangaree was addressing the Parliamentary seminar on the theme “A way forward to peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka” organized by the London based Campaign for Peace & Unity in Sri Lanka (CPUSL).

Highlighting the fact that there are 67 million Tamils across the Palk Strait, most of whom are supporters of a single nation in Sri Lanka, Anandasangaree pointed out that there still were some leaders who supported the LTTE’s claim for a separate nation.

“We have to question leaders who support the LTTE and their demand for a separate state. I have time and again posed the question: When you live in a federal state happily and peacefully, why are you advocating a separate state in Sri Lanka ? ,” he added.

“I have been advocating a settlement which will bring in sustainable peace. Settlement is possible if major political parties, UNP, SLFP, JVP and the hierarchy of the Buddhist clergy accept my proposal.

Even though you may say that there are better federal models available in Canada and Switzerland, I feel it is necessary to accept the Indian model, as India is already involved in the settlement process and they are fully against a separate nation,” he said.

Speaking further at the seminar with a packed audience comprising Members of the British and European Parliaments and a large gathering of Sri Lankans of all communities as well as British academics and media representatives, Anandasangaree mentioned the accelerated child conscription of the LTTE and invited international community to support the peace process.

The speakers at the seminar urged the British Government to take tougher action to crack down on activities of LTTE front organisations and LTTE activists in local councils in the UK that were continuing to fund the LTTE’s war chest and engage in propaganda activities in spite of the LTTE being a listed terrorist organisation in the UK & the EU.

They unanimously acknowledged that any political solution aimed at addressing the grievances of all communities in Sri Lanka should recognise the need for pluralism and that the LTTE was not the sole representative of the Tamil community.

The representatives of the Muslim Council called for the recognition of Muslim community representation in future talks aimed at resolving the conflict in the North & East. They also highlighted the need to fully implement the Official Languages Act as a step towards strengthening national unity.

Geoffrey Van Orden, MEP, explained the resolutions passed by the EU against the LTTE and came out with the details of the fund collection by the LTTE in the UK, Canada and other places. He also said that India appreciated the resolution of the EU against the LTTE.

He elaborated the EU’s policy on terrorism especially on the LTTE.

At the same time he was concerned about the ethnic problem and the devolution package. He hoped there will soon be a package by the APC to resolve the conflict. He also noted the Government’s control of more areas in the East.

He insisted that financial support to the LTTE should be stopped. He expressed his concern about the reconstruction of infrastructure in the East and de-mining.

Another participant Sivakumar, said the majority of the people voted for federalism in the country and so far it has not been implemented. He appealed to all politicians to maintain democracy in a single nation without any violence and terrorism in Sri Lanka.

The seminar was held at the House of Commons and was presided over by the Rt Hon Lord Naseby of Sandy, Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Sri Lanka.

Asiantribune.com