The Dirge for TNA in its final break- up

A Revolt within the Tamil National Alliance is seriously on the card and it is imminent that the TNA is to break up soon into three to four groups.

At present the former Tamil United Liberation Front MPs , the offshoot of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi is trying to control the TNA which is being strongly resisted by the other groups.

At the last TNA group meeting held at the parliament complex to decide about TNA’s position in the coming presidential election, was postponed sine die, without making any decision, a clever maneuver to preempt the group which wanted to put forward a common Tamil candidate in the forthcoming presidential election.

Following the last meeting held on 11 December at the parliament complex, where 17 TNA parliamentarians participated, but the meeting ended inconclusively without arriving at any decision - a typical Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchchi culture – never to decide conclusively on any serious issues, but meet the consequences as it emerges – a little now and more later.

The Parliamentary leader R. Sampanthan, a former stalwart of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchchi, preempted those agitating for nominating a common Tamil candidate by postponing the meeting without announcing a date for the next meeting and leaving the country for Vienna for an aid conference.

In the meantime, Sivasakthi Ananthan, the TNA MP for Vanni from the EPRLF group has made a statement to one of the Tamil regional news daily Valampuri published from Jaffna, that the TNA parliamentarian M.K. Sivajilingham from the TELO group has come forward to contest in the Presidential election as a common candidate of the Tamils to help the Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa and also alleged that he has obtained money from certain quarters.

Following the allegation of Sivasakthi Ananthan , Sivajilingham has given a hard hitting reply.

He said, “During the height of the war, risking my life I highlighted the plight of the Tamils in India as well as internationally.”

He has questioned, “With such a track record, would I ever think of supporting the Sri Lanka Government?” asked Sivajilingham.

He said, “It was a blatant lie on the part of Sivasakthi Ananthan who is being manipulated by another Tamil politician. I know the identity of the Tamil politician who is remote controlling Sivasathi Ananthan. I challenge him to make such an allegation openly against me , if he dares.”

Sivajilingham further said, “In regard to the deliberate lie uttered by Sivasakthi Ananthan M.P., I have already resorted to a legal action against him.”

The rift in the TNA is widening further with mean allegations being leveled by one MP against the other MPs.

It is now clear that the breakup of the TNA is imminent and expected sooner.

In the case of Sivananthan Kishore, an independent TNA MP from the Vanni district, he has already anounced three weeks ago, that he has decided to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the forthcoming Presidential election.

Participating in the Sakthi TV talk show called “Minnal” – lightening, he openly pledged that his bet is with the winning side – Mahinda Rajapaksa.

It should be noted that Sivananthan Kishore did not participate in the last parliament session as well as in the two-day meeting of the TNA held at the parliament complex in Colombo.

While a group of TNA MPs were continuing with their discussion to nominate one MP to
contest as the common Tamil candidate in the coming presidential election, S. Arulpragasam, the father of Rapper Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, better known as M.I.A., who is a founding member of Eelam Revolutionary Organisationof Student - EROS is in Jaffna seeking the support of the Tamil groups and MPs to contest as a common Tamil candidate in the Presidential election.

Even in the last Presidential election held on 2005, Arulpiragasam came forward to contest, sought the support and endorsement of Late Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the LTTE. Unfortunately Prabhakaran did not respond to his appeal for endorsement.

While Arulpragasam is in Jaffna in a bid to win the support of Tamil MPs, the new EROS leader Prabah has already pledged his support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

- Asian Tribune-