JHU wants TMVP in APRC

Chamikara Weerasinghe

The Jathika Hela Urumaya has decided to suspend its participation at the All Party Representative Committee until the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Party (TMVP) is enroled to participate in its proceedings.

Propaganda Secretary of Jathika Hela Urumaya, Nishantha Warnasingha yesterday said, the Jathika Hela Urumaya has proposed that the APRC includes the TMVP in its deliberations in a bid to find a political solution to the national problem.

The TMVP, a break-away faction of the LTTE led by Pilleyan, swept the board in the Local Government Election held recently in Batticaloa emerging victorious in eight local councils.

Giving their reasons for backing the TMVP into the APRC process, Warnasinghe said, the TMVP has fully given up separatism and have entered the democratic mainstream.

Referring to the Local Government polls held in Batticaloa, he said, people in Batticaloa have exercised their franchise against separatism.

“There were only 31 complaints during the polls, which is exemplary. There were no guns being used against voters or stuffing of ballot boxes,” he said. Commenting on the situation of TMVP possessing firearms, Warnasinghe said, they have clung on to weapons for self defence against possible LTTE attacks.

Referring to the criticism levelled against them by the JVP and UNP for upholding the election in Batticaloa, Warnasinghe said that UNP was responsible for using paramilitary groups to win elections more than any other party, and they used groups like Yellow Cats, PRAA, and Ukussa to suppress the JVP in 1988.

“The JVP clung to weapons during the period between 1988 to 1989. Have they surrendered their weapons,” he asked.

Warnasinghe also said they were against the implementation of the 17th Amendment as it could pose a threat against the steps taken by the Government to defeat terrorism by removing the powers of the President.

The President should have all powers to appoint persons to the public service at this juncture when the Government is engaged in wiping out terrorism.