Anandasangaree writes to Rajapaksa to disarm people for free and fair elections

The President of TULF Mr. Anandasangaree in a letter to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked him to “withdraw all arms from the persons or groups who are not legally authorized to posses arms” on the eve of filing nominations for the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

“Then only there will be proper “Vasantham” in the North and “Uthayam” in the East and the people of these areas will enter into a new-era with most of their rights, be they fundamental, human or democratic, restored fully,” he said.

Mr. Anandasangaree drew the attention of the President Rajapaksa to the condition of the minority communities in Sri Lanka today. They are facing the worst crisis not specifically in one field but almost in all fields that concern the humans. While all other minority communities have a fair amount of representation in Parliament only the Tamils of the North and the East have no proper representation, he pointed out.

“Our problems have got accumulated over a period of several years. Thuggery, intimidation, fraud and large scale impersonation at all elections since 1989, resulted in the failure of the people to elect the representatives of their choice. It is the threat of arms that elected the people’s representatives these 20-30 years not only to Parliament but also to almost all other Democratic Institutions.

“If the government is really serious about restoring democracy at all levels in the North and the East, it should take action, well ahead of the last day for submission of nominations for the forth coming parliamentary elections, to withdraw all arms from the persons or groups who are not legally authorized to posses arms. Then only there will be proper “Vasantham” in the North and “Uthayam” in the East and the people of these areas will enter into a new-era with most of their rights, be they fundamental, human or democratic, restored fully,” he said.

Elaborating further, the TULF leader said, then only they will enjoy the freedom of electing their representatives of their own free will. This will not only grant relief for the people after three decades but will also increase the credibility of the government which is at stake atleast in the North and the East are concerned.

He also urged the President that he should endeavor to conduct free and fair election and avoid promoting any group that has no clean back ground.

- Asian Tribune -