TMVP to contest future polls

Ranil Wijayapala in Thirukkovil

THIRUKKOVIL: The Tamil Makkal Vidudalai Pulikal (TMVP) will contest elections in the future to have their representation in Parliament to attend to the eastern people’s grievances, TMVP Ampara district political leader Iniya Bharathi said.

Bharathi appointed the Ampara district political leader after the assassination of Sinthujan due to internal problems in the TMVP, said they are expanding their activities in the Eastern province to contest future elections.

“We don’t believe that we can solve our problems through an armed struggle. We believe in the democratic path to find solution to our problems,” Bharathi said.

Addressing journalists at the TMVP political office in Thirukkovil, along with Padiruppu, Ampara political coordinator, Bharathi said they have solved differences within their organisation.

“It was an internal matter relating to a disciplinary inquiry against same members engaged in financial irregularities,” he said.

However, he said they will not lay down arms till the LTTE threat is removed.

“The LTTE is the only threat we are having at the moment,” Bharathi added.

He said the TMVP is willing to accept a solution to the North and East problem within the parameters of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Bharathi said they are willing to work with the government to address the grievances of the Tamil people in the east and to represent their views through the Government if the government agrees to have peace talks with the LTTE.

“If peace talks take place before an election, we like to make our representation up a third party,” Bharathi and Jeevendram added. The TMVP Ampara district political leader totally rejected accusations against them over child conscription and abductions in the East.

He said the LTTE engaged in killing TMVP cadres in the East to show the outside world a false internal conflict within the TMVP. He said the LTTE presence is still there in the east despite 80 percent of the East under Security Forces control.

“We will expand our political activities in the newly liberated areas too, for the benefit of the eastern Tamil population,” he added.