No alliance with any party in the parliament election; yes with Muslim Congress: Sampanthan

The Tamil National Alliance’s Parliamentary group leader Mr. R. Sampanthan, after the Presidential election results, met the media persons and shared his free thoughts. Some questions happened to be speculative in nature; and he did not hesitate to answer. When he was shot a question in case Sri Lanka Government invites the TNA for talks, what they will do, Sampanthan said: ‘certainly we will go for talks.’

This captured our interest. When Asian Tribune contacted and asked Sampanthan, a question in the reverse: In case the Sri Lanka Government failed to invite the TNA for talks, will TNA come forward to talk with Government?

The TNA leader Sampanthan dismissed the question as ‘speculative’ and queried how Asian Tribune can ask such a speculative question. And he also said, “You have no right to think on behalf of the Government.”

It was unfortunate a person of Sampanthan caliber failed to comprehend that it was the bounden rights of a journalist to question a leader to make the readers understand all eventualities of an issue.

The TNA leader in the first instance had answered a speculative question … “In case if Sri Lanka Government invites … Following his response Asian Tribune asked the question “in case Sri Lanka failed to invite whether you will come forward to negotiate?” It was just a follow up of the first speculative question; probably Sampanthan has failed to comprehend.

Sampanthan further alleged that by inviting all the 22 TNA Members of Parliament, the Government was involved in insidious acts of enticing and and dividing the TNA.

He pointed out that their Party has a political leadership and all negotiations have to be conducted with the political leadership only.

When asked about his future political alliance in the forthcoming parliamentary election, he said, “We are not proposing to form alliance with any party. We will certainly cooperate to a maximum extent with like-minded parties such as Sri Lanka Muslim Congress with whom we have a perfect understanding. Tamils and the Muslim people are beginning to develop a common understanding. To strengthen this understanding we will certainly be working towards forming an alliance with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. But beyond that we have no intention whatsoever to form any other alliance. That will be a matter the party leadership will take eventually.”

Given below is the full text of the interview with R. Sampanthan, Parliamentary Group leader of the Tamil National Alliance:

R. Sampanthan: Tell me what you wanted to know?

Asian Tribune: We read that in one of your press conference reports, where you have said that you are willing to talk with the Government?

R. Sampanthan: What do you say?

Asian Tribune: Your press conference was reported in some media which said that you are willing to talk with the Government?

R. Sampanthan: Well, I was asked a question. What do you proposed to do if the Government wanted to talk to you? We said we certainly will. That was my answer. What else you want to know?

Asian Tribune: Last time, when the Secretary the ruling party invited you all on behalf of the government and sent letters to all the 22 TNA Members of Parliament you all did not respond to that invitation?

R. Sampantha: There is no reason for the Government to send letters to all the MPs. We belong to one political party. The party has the political leadership. The Government should talk only with the political leadership.

Asian Tribune: And not with all the 22 Members of the Parliament?

R. Sampanthan: Yes not with all the 22 Members of our Party which amounts to trying to buy over party members, and also amounts to induce them and enticing them. Talking with 22 MPs will induce them with government’s insidious efforts.

Asian Tribune: In case if the Government did not come forward to invite you all do you think that you should initiate talks on your own.

R. Sampanthan; You are speculating. I do not wish to answer your question. I can’t answer. You have no right to think on behalf of the Government.

Asian Tribune: You have already responded to a speculative question which was asked in the Press Conference. Our question is simply of your response to the earlier speculative question. Furthermore, as a journalist we have every right to ask question in the interest of the reading public to understand and come to terms with the prevailing as well as future political situation in the country.

R. Sampanthyan: You may be a journalist, but you have no right to asking questions on speculation. What we will do. All these things are speculation I can’t speculate answer those questions.

Asian Tribune: You have no right to dictate what a journalist should ask and what a journalist should not ask. You are interfering in the rights of a journalist. This is a free country. We treasure human rights and the freedom of speech. Furthermore the question we asked is a normal question which we used to ask not only from the leaders of political parties, but also from heads of states.

R. Sampanthan: I am not prepared to answer questions of our people simply based on speculation:

Asian Tribune: If that is your position… It is OK by us. Anything else you like to say.

R. Sampanthan: Yesterday, I was asked a straight question by the journalist and I have been very frank in my interview yesterday. I am normally quiet, frank. I was asked a question by a journalist: If the government invite for talks? I mean they may think that we opposed President Mr. Rajapaksa and for that reason they want to know our position. Anyway if the government invites me there are many matters we want to talk about with the government.

Asian Tribune: Are you going to contest all alone or are you going to tie up with any other party?

R. Sampanthan: We are not proposing to form an alliance with any party. We will certainly cooperate to a maximum extent with like minded parties such as Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, with whom we have a perfect understanding. Tamils and the Muslim people are beginning to develop a common understanding. To strengthen this understanding, we will certainly be working towards forming an alliance with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. But beyond that we have no intention whatsoever to form any other alliance. That will be a matter the party leadership will take eventually.

Asian Tribune -