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Put demerger on hold, says TULF

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) president V. Anandasangaree has urged Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to put the de-merger of the north-east province on hold on the plea that it would only strengthen the Tamil Tigers.

In a letter to Mr. Rajapaksa, the TULF leader said while he would not get into the merits of the merger, de-merger now would only make the Tamils and the Muslims of the eastern province desperately go behind the LTTE, forgetting its ruthless recent past.

"If you are serious about all our people irrespective of their ethnicity enjoying all rights like others, please stop further action on the de-merger and maintain the status quo.

"Having failed these 50 years to find a solution in a unitary state, the only option left is a federal solution within a united Sri Lanka. The international community welcomes it and the local Tamils too. The LTTE is also fully aware that the international community will oppose separation tooth and nail and that the LTTE should agree to a federal solution," he said.

The letter said such de-merger now could be compared to the passing of the 6th Amendment to the Constitution by President J.R.Jayewardene (which resulted in the TULF members losing parliamentary membership) at a time when there was a major backlash in the country and the TULF members were not in Parliament.

He argued that Mr. Jayewardene's move only helped take over the leadership of the Tamils from the moderates to the Tamil militant groups.

Commenting on the Supreme Court ruling the merger as "null and void", Mr. Anandasangaree said action could have been taken and rectified through Parliament particularly after the United National Party pledged support to keep the merger in tact.

The military said two soldiers were killed and another three injured in an alleged LTTE claymore mine attack in Chavakachcheri in the north.

A police sub-inspector was seriously injured when the Tiger pistol group opened fire at him in the Settikulam, Nelumkulama area.

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