The TNA has called upon Tamils to vote for Fonseka on January 26th

The TNA held a press conference in Colombo to announce its decision

We reproduce here two news stories from the “Daily Mirror” and “The Island” regarding the TNA press conference

TNA: SF realised need for solution

By Kelum Bandara

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which officially announced its support to Opposition Common Candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka yesterday said that he had realized the need for a political solution to achieve durable peace in the country.

The TNA has not struck any written agreement with Gen. Fonseka to support his candidature but had reached an understanding only with him. Meanwhile, the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, an ally of the TNA, has also decided to stick to the party’s decision in this regard despite its earlier decision to boycott the poll.

Addressing a packed news conference in the Parliamentary complex, TNA leader R. Sampanthan said his party’s decision to not to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa was based on his performance during his last four year tenure.

Mr. Sampanthan that his party took a unanimous decision at a meeting held on Tuesday evening to support Gen. Fonseka. He said that 18 members attended this meeting. Mr. Sampanthan said that this decision was taken after a series of consultations with people in the constituencies concerned, youths, senior citizens, intellectuals and well-wishers.

The TNA leader pointed out that the party discussed, at length, issues such as the resettlement of the displaced civilians, the dismantling of the High Security Zones, the need to evolve a political solution with both the main candidates, the establishment of social infrastructure in the war affected areas and employment for youths. He noted that Gen. Fonseka responded to the TNA demands in a more acceptable manner than President Rajapaksa.

“Gen. Fonseka, in fact, understands that there should be a political solution for durable peace in this country. Our unanimous view was that we cannot agree to the President receiving a mandate for the second term based upon his performance. We held discussions with him on a political solution. We are most disappointed with the manner in which he deals with the issue,” he said.

Referring to the dismantling of the Highs Security Zones, Mr. Sampanthan said that 100,000 persons had lost their places of residence to make way for one such zone in the Valikamam area of Jaffna. He said that the residence of MP Mavai Senathirajah was also within this zone.

“In Sampur, 1500 persons have been denied their traditional places of residence due to the establishment of a High Security Zone. We expressed our views. We want to restore the social order that prevailed before 1983 when the war began. We cannot live under military rule,” he said.

Asked why the TNA decided to support Gen. Fonseka who led the war, the TNA leader said, in the war, the President was the Commander-in-Chief and Gen. Fonseka the Army Commander. He said that Gen. Fonseka had raised a valid point as to why a Tamil or a Muslim could not become the head of state in Sri Lanka if Barack Obama, as a black person, were able to become the US President.

“We have never heard a similar statement coming from our President,” he said.

The TNA also commented on the APRC and found fault with the President for inviting it. Citing it as a mere charade, the party said it could never expect the President to work out a power devolution formula. Mr. Sampanthan also criticized the President for the de-merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces after 18 years of its merger in 1987 based upon the Indo-Lanka treaty.

Asked how he trusted Gen. Fonseka when there is allegation that all the Sinhalese leaders had deceived the Tamil community, he replied, “Then, what is left for us to do. Some leaders made efforts in the past, but the others did not support them. Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga could have done something had then Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe supported her. Mr. Wickremesinghe could also have done something had Chandrika supported him during his time. None of these leaders saw eye to eye.”

Asked how the Tamil people view the end of the war, he said that they feel happy about the absence of violence.

“At the same time, they are unhappy about the failure on the part of the Government to work out a political solution. They never believe that they can get it through the present President,” he said. (Daily Mirror)

TNA backs Fonseka

by Zacki Jabbar

The Tamil National Alliance yesterday asked the Tamil people to vote for General (Rtd) Sarath Fonseka at this months Presidential Election, because President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been bluffing them, for the last four years.

Parliamentary Group leader of the TNA, R. Sambandan, flanked by heads of the ITK, ACTC, EPRLF and TELO, said at a news conference in Colombo, that they have lost confidence in Rajapaksa because he has been engaged in a time buying exercise and did nothing to resolve the problems and grievances of the Tamils.

Asked if Fonseka had given them any written gurantees, he replied in the negative.

Sambandan said that before deciding to support Fonseka, they had spoken to Rajapaksa on several occasions, but his replies convinced them that he was not serious about easing the sufferings of the Tamils, nor offering them a political solution.

Questioned, if that meant that they trusted Fonseka to implement his promises, Sambandan said, "Let’s put it this way. General Fonseka understands the ground situation and has acknowledged the need for a political solution to restore normalcy and permanent peace in the country.

In contrast, the President has been saying, we will see, for far too long."Citing an example, he said that Fonseka had agreed to dismantle the High Security Zones in the North and speedily resettle the IDPs without jeopardizing national security, but Rajapaksa in contrast was saying nothing.

"The HSZs were established because of artillery fire from the LTTE. There is now no need to retain such zones, because the war is over," he said.

"100,000 Jaffna Tamils have been shut out of their villages because of the HSZs. One of our parliamentarians has not been able to visit his birth place for the last 20 years. In Trincomalee about 1,500 families are unable to return to their homes. When I told President Rajapaksa this, he treated it very lightly," he said.

The APRC, he said, was another farce being enacted by Rajapaksa after excluding the TNA, which has 22 members in Parliament. A report by 11 persons in the APRC was presented to the President and was gathering dust. (The Island)