Tamil National Alliance (TNA)Memorandum to the Sri Lanka Prime Minister |
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You are aware that the Tamil National Alliance contested the last parliamentary election on the basis of a well defined and definite policy in relation to the resolution of the Tamil question which has been remain unresolved for 53 years since independence. This policy envisages the immediate commencement of the process of negotiations are properly focussed and are purposeful and successful no parallel negotiations should take place with any other Tamil political formation. To facilitate the commencement of such negotiations and to enable the free and full participation of the LTTE at such negotiations on behalf of the Tamil nationality, the proscription imposed on the LTTE in Sri Lanka should be lifted. This policy also envisages- i) The immediate cessation of the war being currently waged in the Northeast. ii) The immediate lifting of the economic embargo currently in force in parts of the North and East; items of food, medicine, educational requirements, fuel and other necessities of life should be made freely available in all parts of the North-East. iii) The withdrawal of occupational restrictions, either permanently or intermittently imposed in different parts of the North-East; those engaged in farming and fishing should be able to carry on their vocation by day or night without any restriction, and all equipment and all other requirements to enable them to carry on their vocation fully and effectively should be freely available and freely usable, in the pursuit of their vocation. iv) The withdrawal of travel restrictions imposed on Tamil people in the Northeast. v) The withdrawal of restrictions imposed on Tamil people from the Northeast and on the Tamils in the upcountry plantation areas in relation to their residence in other parts of the country. vi) The total disarming of all Tamil para-military groups which yet continue to retain arms. The retention of arms by such Tamil para-military groups constitutes an imminent danger to unarmed Tamil political parties and the fundamental rights of the Tamil civilian population in the Northeast, particularly in areas such as the Islands off the Jaffna peninsula. The Tamil voters in the Northeast have very substantially endorsed the policy enunciated in our manifesto and set out above, despite the numerous hardships, restrictions and denial imposed upon them even in respect of the exercise of their franchise. We would earnestly request you to respect the verdict of the Tamil voters in the northeast. We look forward to the early commencement of the visible implementation of the matters referred to above. Signed
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