Results of the Local Authorities Elections Held in the North East

Statement made by R. Sampanthan, M.P., March 29, 2011

29 / 03 / 2011

STATEMENT MADE BY R.SAMPANTHAN M.P, PARLIAMENTARY GROUP LEADER TAMIL NATIONAL ALLIANCE (T.N.A), AND PRESIDENT ILLANKAI TAMIL ARASU KADCHI (I.T.A.K), ON THE RESULTS OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES ELECTIONS HELD IN THE NORTH EAST

The Tamil National Alliance (T.N.A) –The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (I.T.A.K) has been elected to power in every one of the predominantly Tamil populated Local Authority areas to which elections were held recently in the North East. In the predominantly Tamil speaking Local Authority areas in the North East, with a sizeable Tamil population, the T.N.A – I.T.A.K has performed creditably.

The Tamil people have thereby continued to endorse clearly the political goal of the T.N.A – the I.T.A. K, that there should be an acceptable durable and reasonable political solution to the Tamil question, based upon the sharing of powers of governance, which will ensure that the Tamil speaking people can live in security and with dignity, in the areas they have historically inhabited, and which will also ensure the fulfillment of their legitimate political social economic and cultural aspirations and rights, through their own initiatives, and without depending upon the mercy of others.

The Local Authorities election results affirm the results of the Parliamentary elections held in April  2010 and puts the democratic verdict of the Tamil people in favour of an acceptable durable and reasonable political solution beyond any semblance of doubt.

The democratic verdicts of the Tamil people should be respected and recognised in a country which claims to function on the principle of democratic governance.

 These democratic verdicts of the Tamil people, are in consonance with the verdicts they have continuously delivered at all elections since 1956 – for over half a century. The failure to give due recognition to these democratic verdicts delivered by the Tamil people since 1956, was the primary reason, for the commencement of violence and the outbreak of an armed struggle. This armed struggle has come to an end but the whole country – the Tamil people in particular, have paid a big price. It is widely believed that in the final stages of the war concluded in May 2009, innocent non-combatant Tamil civilians in large numbers paid a very heavy price. This issue is now in the public domain.

The Tamil people do not want a return to violence in any form.

Continuous and callous disrespect and disregard of the democratic verdicts of the Tamil people, would only demonstrate that the Tamil people continue to be governed without their consent, and against their free will, and without being granted any access to powers of governance, in an authoritarian and dictatorial manner. Such authoritarian and dictatorial rule, in violation of the democratic, political, fundamental, and the human rights of the Tamil people, must necessarily come to an end, and we do think that the time has arrived for this end to be brought about.

The T.N.A on behalf of the Tamil people is currently engaged in a process through which it is hoped that an acceptable durable and reasonable political solution can be evolved. The T.N.A has pledged to work with commitment to achieve such an acceptable durable and reasonable political solution.

We appeal to the Tamil people and to all political forces within the Tamil polity, to firmly resolve to be united in the achievement of this objective. The strength of the democratic verdicts of the Tamil people should be accepted by everyone

We extend our sincere appreciation to the people and to all party workers who contributed towards the achievement of these results. We convey our warm congratulations and best wishes to all who have been elected to the several local authorities, and appreciate their cooperation and unity.

R.SAMPANTHAN M.P

Parliamentary Group Leader

Tamil National Alliance (T.N.A)

President

Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (I.T.A.K)