28 March, 2024

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Northern Provincial Council At Peace – For Now

It was a relief to many that the Northern Provincial Council representatives for whom the people of the North had voted overwhelmingly, had reached a settlement today over their infighting over the sacking of their own four ministers for alleged corruption.

R. Sampanthan had  made a trip for talks with Chief Minister C. Wigneswaran. Working round the clock, Sampanthan first met with his team and CVW with his. Ultimately a deal was sealed. The motion of no confidence by the Federal Party section of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) against the Chief Minister will be withdrawn by the FP. For Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran’s part, the two Ministers cleared by the Inquiry, namely Balasubramaniam Deniswaran (Minister of Fisheries, Transport, Trade and Commerce, Rural Development, Road Development and Motor Traffic) and Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam (Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine) will remain in office.

Wigneswaran and Sambanthan

Although the latter two were cleared, CVW insists that files have gone missing and the clearance was because witnesses did not show up. He had insisted that they should go on leave so that new inquiries are not interfered with. Now after the deal, however, he has relented saying they may stay on but without interfering in any new inquiry. Initially Sampanthan had said he had no authority to give such an undertaking but that disagreement appears to have been ironed out.

Hatchets are buried for now, but for how long? Analysts say there are really no grounds for unity when the Tamil Congress’ Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam only wants vengeance against his grandfather’s nemesis, the Federal Party. Said a Federal Party Central Committee member, “Although the Federal Party is the only party negotiating for devolution and getting at least some army occupied lands released, Gajendrakumar is shouting against the FP claiming it has no principles. Suresh Premachandran of the EPRLF is resentful that he lost at the last elections and his brother Sarveswaran was not made a Minister in the NPC. PLOTE’s Tharmalingam Siddharthan should be grateful to us that we moved him from the Vanni where he had no chance of winning to Jaffna where he won by getting his father’s FP vote. But he is ungrateful.”

The next disagreement will be over whom CVW will replace the two sacked ministers with. Analysts say the FP would like trustworthy FP members while the Chief Minister will want Suresh Premachandran’s brother Kandiah Sarveswaran and Ananthy Sasitharan, both of whom stood by the Chief Minister in this mêlée.

Another bump on the road ahead is the allegation from the Chief Minister’s supporters that the two who were cleared are really guilty and got away because witnesses did not turn up. Tenders for Italian equipment for which a commission of 30% was asked for and declined, it is claimed by supporters of the CM, was paid when the dealer agreed to supply Chinese equipment with Italian labels for the tendered price. The rub from the FP’s point of view is that any new inquiry with new witnesses may lack credibility and be seen as a witch-hunt. One can go on holding inquiries until there is a guilty verdict, argued a Federalist.

A group of nonpartisan Tamil professionals met in Jaffna to discuss their concerns that this disunity would be bad for the Tamils as it is the time to negotiate with the government in strength. But at the same time, some felt that the problem is festering with likely bumps all along the road with no end in sight because of the inherent personality and policy differences masked only by the TNA label. It is therefore better, they argue, to be rid of the chief minister and the three partners of the FP, and move on alone even if with reduced strength. They underscore their point citing a group of 20 who went to discuss matters with the CM only to be told that he plans to form a new party on the framework of the Tamil Makkal Peravai. Recall that the TMP demonstrated on Friday (16th) for the CM, protesting the no-confidence motion him and causing untold misery to the public.

The CM has done further harm to his cause by holding talks last week with Douglas Devananda for support  when it seemed that the no-confidence motion was likely to be moved. It was an anticlimax for someone trying to be V. Prabhakaran’s successor, praising him during the PC elections at a time when the TNA was trying to make-over from its radical past.

Prof. R. Sivachandran, once a member of the Federal Party Central Committee, points to the lack of principles in the CM and disclaiming any support for him. Prof. Sivachandrn says the basic problem is lack of democracy in the FP where nothing is done by the constitution. Nominations are handed out arbitrarily. He says he has been removed from the Central Committee while he was the Chief Organizer for Velanai where he braved Douglas Devananda’s thugs, but has never been told he has been removed and if so why and under what articles of the FP constitution. It is this lack of democracy, he asserts, that has led to all this turmoil including bringing CVW into the party without consultation. He recalls that at the last parliamentary elections, CVW refused to campaign for the FP.

Adds Prof. Sivachandrn, “I am sad that after all our struggles, our deaths, and our ongoing problems over occupied lands and Sinhalese settlements in our homelands paid for by the government, we are engaged in a prestige issue and making our youth tend towards extremism once again.”

Countered a retired Jaffna Tamil, “The only extremism is from the CVW side. But certainly when the corruption started with the Chunnakam ‘Oil in the Ground Water’ business, no one took a stand, not the Chief Minister, not Mavai Senathirajah. The CM’s office even helped arrange for the experts who gave false reports claiming the water to be pure. These basically gave former Minister Ainkaranesan a free hand. Now both sides are pretending to be stalwarts against corruption!”

Since Colombo Telegraph published Mr. R. Sampanthan’s letter to CM C.V. Wignesawaran yesterday, for balance we give the latter’s reply of 17th as well as all exchanges between them:

17-06-2017

Hon’ R.Sampanthan

Leader of Opposition and Leader, TNA

My dear Sam,

I acknowledge with thanks your email of 16.06.2017

I had already informed you of the sequence of events. The point you are making is a defense available for the person to be charged.

Double jeopardy is a procedural defense available (non bis in idem).

But here we are not dealing with Court cases. We are trying to find out whether any conduct prejudicial to our public has been committed and if so what steps need to be taken. 

The earlier inquiry discharged those charged due to absence of the complainants. Not that the complainants did not want to come for the Inquiry, but the Committee could not accommodate their free dates.

One of the complainants made an open statement in the Council on 07.06.2017 that if given an opportunity the charges could be proved.

Even if the earlier charges were to come under the Double Jeopardy doctrine there are new charges made by members of the public which were handed over only a few days before 14.06.2017, the day I made my submissions to Council. The need to have an inquiry is therefore clear. I am glad you have accepted in your last sentence holding that further inquiry should not be hampered.

Re – Mavai he did not say that no action should be taken against the Ministers. He promised to discuss and come back to me but he did not.

I was informed there is a fear among the officers and staff that if they come out with the truth at an Inquiry they would be physically dealt with. Hence there was a need to prevent access to the Ministers and their Staff to their respective offices. Without withdrawing their salary nor perks, I forbade their entry to their working places pending inquiry in the best interests of Natural Justice and good governance principles.   

Re – remedial action you and I discussed the way out. I informed you that I have no objections to the two Ministers making a request in writing to allow them to continue to function as Ministers undertaking not to disturb the course of justice during the new Inquiry to be set in motion. But there seems to be some hesitance on the part of the Ministers in making such a request in writing. Today the three leaders of TELO, EPRLF and PLOTE met me. They said if you could give an assurance that the two Ministers during the fresh inquiry to be held would not in any way disturb the course of Justice nor interfere with nor threaten the witnesses nor tamper with evidence they would also support you in view of your request to take remedial action and due to your concern to avoid disunity and disturbance in the functioning of the NPC. I am prepared to accept your assurance buttressed by the three leaders of the constituent parties of the TNA and agree to the Ministers being allowed to function. I might mention that there is a need on your good self’s part to prevent unwarranted action on the part of the ITAK including the recent release to the electronic media apart from the document presented to the Governor.

As far as I am concerned all action taken by me was in the best interests of our people. But it appears the ITAK is functioning independent of you which is most unfortunate.

The state of the document said to have been given to the Hon’ Governor has not been communicated to me by you yet.   

I look forward to meeting to you tomorrow in Jaffna to discuss above and resolve issues in the best interest of our communities and NPC.

Thank you     

Sincerely

Justice C.V.Wigneswaran

Chief Minister

Northern Province

Sampanthan’s letter to Wigneswaran:

18.06.2017

Justice C.V. Wigneswaran

Chief Minister – Northern Province

My Dear Wignes,

Thank you for your letter dated 17.06.2017.

I shall only deal with the issue before us, whether any punitive action is justified at present against the two Ministers who have not been found guilty by the Board of Inquiry appointed by you. It is this punitive action taken by you against the said two Ministers, despite their not having been found guilty by the board of inquiry, which is the cause of the present crisis.

You have suggested, as per a proposal of the Leaders of the other three constituent parties of the Tamil National Alliance who met you, that I give an assurance on behalf of the two Ministers in regard to their conduct pertaining to any inquiry and that if I did so they would support my view that remedial action should be taken in regard to the said two ministers.

I do not understand how it can be suggested that I guarantee the conduct of these two Ministers pertaining to the inquiry, and I certainly will not give any such guarantee. I am only trying to be helpful to resolve a crisis in the Northern Provincial Council consequent to action taken by you which I have already stated is in violation of the principles of natural justice. I will however certainly advise the said two Ministers that they should not impede an independent legal inquiry.

I do not think that this matter should be delayed any longer and that you should act very early.

You have referred to the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and the need for me to influence the functioning of that party. The current President of the ITAK is  Mr. Mavai Senathirajah and the current Secretary General is  Mr. K. Thurairajasingham. The Central Committee of the ITAK meets regularly.

I am a senior member of the ITAK and its one time President.

The ITAK and the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) led by Thanthai Chelvanayakam, are the only political organizations to which I have ever belonged.

When it was decided by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) that you would be the Chief Ministerial Candidate for the Northern Province, and when this was conveyed to you, you told Mr. Mavai Senathirajah in the presence of all the Leaders of the TNA that you would need his political advice and guidance in the administration of the Northern Provincial Council. You may perhaps ask yourself whether this was fulfilled. Mr. Mavai Senathirajah is a Leader who has experienced much suffering and, made several sacrifices on behalf of the party and our people. People of this worth cannot be sidelined.

You can however have my assurance that I will always endeavor to be a positive influence on the functioning of the ITAK.

The remedial action you need to take, needs to be taken without delay.

Sincerely,

R. Sampanthan

Leader of Tamil National Alliance

Wigneswaran’s letter to Sampanthan:

19.06.2017

Hon. R.Sampanthan

Leader of Opposition and Leader, TNA

My dear Sam,

Yours of even date in reply to mine of 17.06.2017 to hand. Thanks. I am also in receipt of a note given by Bishop Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam and Srila Sri Somasundra Thesika Gnana Sambanda Paramachchariyar Swamy this morning. Let me first explain a few matters in your letter.

There was no punitive action taken against the two Ministers concerned. They are entitled to draw their salary and use their vehicles etc.

It is in order to give protection to the Witnesses that it was said that they should take leave while the Inquiring Committee sat. There are new charges too against them.

I understand your inability to give guarantees with regard to the conduct of the two Ministers. But I am glad you have undertaken to advise them that they should not impede an independent legal inquiry. It is to ensure the independent legal inquiry and to commit the two Ministers that I designed the formula of taking leave for one month.

You are a Senior Member of the ITAK. You are the leader of the TNA. You have undertaken to advise the two Ministers not to impede an independent legal inquiry. The two Religious Dignitaries have insisted that the two Ministers must co-operate by not interfering with the course of justice.

Added to these Hon’ Selvam Adaikalanathan, Hon’ Dharmalingam Sidharthan and Hon’ Suresh Premachandran have also undertaken last night in the best interests of the Tamils to speak to the Hon’ Ministers, to make sure they will not interfere with the course of justice nor interfere with nor threaten witnesses nor tamper with evidence etc. In the light of these undertakings, I will not insist on the conditions relating to leave.

Thank you.

Sincerely

Chief Minister

Provincial Council

Northern Province

Copy:

Rev. Srila Sri Somasundra Thesika Gnana Sambanda Paramachchariyar

Swamy Peedathipathy Nallai Aatheenam

Rev. Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam, Bishop

Hon’ Mavai Senathirajah, Leader ITAK

Hon’ Selvam Adaikalanathan, Leader, TELO

Hon’ Dharmalingam Sidharthan, Leader, PLOTE

Hon’ Suresh Premachandran, Leader, EPRLF

Mr. K. Kanag Iswaran, President’s Counsel

.

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Latest comments

  • 3
    0

    Much to the discomfort of some interested parties, CM NPC and TNA leader have established that NP is a different cup of tea. Will the other eight CMs learn something here?

    • 1
      2

      Minister C. V. Vigneswaran can you tell me if a Municipal Councilor takes taxpayers money and paves a private road in colombo does it make it a public road!!?

      These are the kind of Municipal councilors we have in colombo and they are Tamil too…

    • 1
      5

      Good, at last two scoundrels have ended the problem. had Our Thalaivar , our eternal leader been alive, he would have whiped asses of these two fagots. Tamils should follow the path set by Thalaivar。 now i can see even in CT, few Eelam Tamils make a reference to Thalaivars sacrifices for we Elam Tamils. Those ungrateful basterds do not deserve to be citizens of Tamil Eelam. Tamis quest is for Tamil Eelam.

      • 3
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        Eelam manifesto———–Where are you typing your manifesto, Vella Mullivaaikkaal? —————————————–“Those ungrateful basterds do not deserve to be citizens of Tamil Eelam. ” ————-Not to worry, Tamil Eelam was dead on arrival around the evening of 14 May 1976. ————–You must be one of the few who had forgotten the funeral.

        • 0
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          This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/

          • 2
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            Eelam manifesto——————-Brilliant. Thanks and please keep typing.

      • 4
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        ‘Thalaivar’ sacrificed not himself alone but entire Tamil community.

        He allowed EPDP DD, a criminal, to fame by boycotting 1994 general election.

        He boycotted 2005 Presidential Election and allowed the fraudster and master of corruption to be elected only to annihilate the ethnic and religious minorities. Now entire N-E provinces are suffocated by the occupying defence forces.

        He was also behind chasing Muslims from Jaffna and alleged to have assassinated the leader of a neighbouring country that alienated the freedom movement in the whole world.

    • 2
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      by different you meant agreeing not to punish each other for wrong doing?

  • 4
    2

    Tweedledum and Tweedledee
    Agreed to have a battle!
    For Tweedledum said Tweedledee
    Had spoiled his nice new rattle.
    Just then flew down a monstrous crow,
    As black as a tar-barrel!
    Which frightened both the heroes so,
    They quite forgot their quarrel.’

    • 2
      4

      Better learn the proper rules of poetry writing before putting pen to paper. Well tried though.

      • 2
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        Rich, the poetry is a nursery rhyme. You have not grasped what SJ was trying to convey. Tweedledum and Tweedledee are characters identified with people who look and act alike.

      • 2
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        Poor Rich
        Sorry baby, you should tell this to Lewis Carroll. I took the lines from A in W, assuming that the more literate readers at least have read it.
        BTW
        Can you educate the readers of CT about “proper rules of poetry writing “.
        Poetry has changed a lot in the past two centuries, but Carroll wrote to traditional meter and rhyme.

        • 2
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          “”Can you educate the readers of CT about “proper rules of poetry writing “.” professor is a hard-ass-poetry is like a painting – add words! KP&SJ the two fascist frogs can’t get out of nursery potty W.S because heaven is so small for them- poetry is a machine like Toilet (you badly in need at kanja uru porriki nadu) . T.S. Elliot -The waste land- Eliot employs many literary and cultural allusions from the Western canon, Buddhism and the Hindu Upanishads unlike W.C.- “May (north) is the cruellest month”, “I will show you fear in a handful of dust”

    • 0
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      SJ,

      Thank you for the poem.

  • 7
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    Northern provincial council election was held due to pressure by India. If not there would never have been a Northern provincial council even under this government. There has been interference by the Governor even under this government. From the time this government came to office, there were efforts to undermine the council. Unfortunately Chief Minister played into their plan. Chief Minister though has a clean sheet and no baggage to carry, he has no organisational experience, because as a judicial officer he was barred from taking part in associations and clubs. This is patently clear in the way he had been doing things. Also his advisers seem not to have shown him the correct way. Chief minister was a reluctant entrant to the office, but once he came in whether on his own or through his advisers tried to strengthen his grip on the council. Without doing this by his astute and efficient performance, he chose to curry favour with extremist elements thinking that once they are kept happy his position is safe. This was manifested in his passage of Genocide resolution to placate the extremists, which other than a populist move was totally unwarranted and unproductive. This was not to the liking of the Indians who did not want Northern provincial council to create any problem for the government. Also Chief Minister fell foul of Prime Minister who was gunning for him. Probably Chief minister was aware of the trickery of Prime Minister and wanted to distance him. These two factors were working overtime to get Chief Minister out, and what resulted is this confusion. Fortunately for Chief Minister, people seemed to be with him and nothing could be done to oust and hence this honourable compromise. Sumanthiran due to his stand on this matter castigating chief minister has lost his popularity with Tamil population. When even Sinhala fair minded persons are congratulating the chief minister for his bold stand to dismiss corrupt minister, the behaviour of those trying to oust Chief minister is deplorable.

    • 0
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      Dr GS,

      Instead of dismissing a minister the CM wanted to dismiss all the ministers.

      • 3
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        You are wrong. He did not dismiss anyone. He asked the two ministers who were found guilty to resign and sent other two ministers who were charged but not found guilty on compulsory leave. You send people on compulsory leave only when you feel that their presence in position may be detrimental to the disciplinary procedure. In the case of the two minsters, once they were exonerated no further action should have been taken, but you can warn them that they will be under surveillance. By the way there is news that one of the advisers of the chief minister has been reported to the fraud bureau for financial misappropriation. Punishing of culprits is a healthy sign and it is an example for others to follow.

      • 1
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        LW,

        That is not very accurate; for one thing, it seems CVW wanted the two ministers who were supposed to have been cleared, go on leave because there allegedly was some interference by them in the investigations. I don’t know the veracity of such claims, but if true, the CM had a valid point there.

        Anyway, despite claims by many expatriates, I don’t think that in reality, an alliance of CVW, Gajen Ponnambalam, Premachandran and others will get enough votes from the people to win against the ITAK. We will wait and see.

        • 0
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          Agnos,

          I was surprised when the TPC managed to organize the hartal. It was not a complete success but they have more power than I had thought and hoped they have.

          Unfortunately I know many educated people who still believe in the CM.

  • 5
    0

    All these honourable men who are ministers should act honourably.
    CVW telling the two ministers to take a month’s leave and not interfere in inquiries about them was quite in order.
    Now they have been asked to ‘carry on’ but not disturb any inquiry, and this is quite in order.
    The tragedy is that Tamils are divided into many parties, as many wish to be “leaders”.
    This ‘division’ among Tamils is taken advantage of, by the Governor – who ‘takes’ orders from/ by the armed forces – he cannot enforce justice for the citizens.

  • 0
    0

    “Northern Provincial Council At Peace – For Now”

    before fighting starts again.It is the DNA.Damn science has let the cat out of the bag and now we all know the reason.Million dollar question is when will the internal fights become insufficient to satisfy the urge to gouge and fighting with the sinhalese begin again.

  • 1
    2

    Please Clean North East politically, physically and socially.

  • 0
    1

    CT Jaffna Desk,

    “Missing files, witnesses not heard, old charges, new charges, Chinese equipment with Italian labels”********************** Am I the only one who has not seen the details of the inquiry? Was the report not leaked to the NPC opposition and media? Where can I find the details? RTI request to the CM?

  • 2
    2

    Hon’ Suresh Premachandran, Leader, EPRLF????

    Honorable? Is this used even for former MPs?

    • 1
      3

      LW
      Is it right to call dishonourable people Hon. so-and-so even if they are MPs?

      • 2
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        it’s always been the english practice to give everything the wrong name. the patchwork language.Why is it that doctors call what they do ‘practice’?

        • 1
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          You are mostly right, but do not complain about the word ‘practice’.
          That is the correct term.
          They practice on us human guineapigs.

          • 0
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            SJ: If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?
            “”They practice on us human guineapigs.”” then go elsewhere and that is common practice in the UK- if you don’t like your GP keep moving- it’s all within the law and policy. The point is at Lanka the people are known as Buruus and gobble anything that is western as the gospel truth but do not try to see it in the local context and how it could be applied- lazy professors looking for scholarships and VIP treatment.
            please do not defend the indefensible patchwork language to prove importance in courts of law in the west, it is being annulled very frequently The english pirates always used the wrong word (reef knot- pirates knot). shakespeare was a simple man and died a simple man He never attempted to define anything. good luck.

            • 1
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              Have you ever understood T-i-C humor?

  • 2
    1

    /A group of nonpartisan Tamil professionals met in Jaffna to discuss their concerns/

    Really? Do we still have active but nonpartisan people in Jaffna?

    The Chief Minister won the largest number of votes, not because he was popular. He was barely known in the Peninsula. He was named by TNA, and that was strong enough to draw that many votes.

    I would be worried if Suresh Premachandran is given even an inch. So, Sarveswaran may have to be kept away.

    I though C.V.K. Sivagnanam was going to be stripped of his Speaker position. I very much like that to happen. He is a destructive influence.

    Chaos, I bet.

  • 1
    1

    One of the greatest opportunities was missed to end selfish opportunist politics in the North not to mention the culture of racism and separatism promoted by by-gone Tamil Politicians!

  • 0
    0

    George Bernard Shaw that laughing iconoclast in his Preface to Androcles and the Lion famously remarked that you cannot possibly follow either Tweedledum or Tweedledee without bringing the Empire [NPC!] down with a crash on their heads.
    Hon.Sampanthan now turning 84 would not have read Shaw,but the seasoned politician that he is would not want his Preface[The Northern Provincial Council] to go down infamously!

  • 0
    3

    Did they Bury the Hatchet because of Ganeshan?…….Ganeshan , the all powerful Yahapalana Minister of Reconciliation told the Colombo Media that he is preparing to go to Jaffna to sort out this scuffle among the Vellalas ……….. He further said that the NPC was created to develop the North, implying that it is not for the Colombo Vellas to have it as a Federal Eelaam for Weekend Visits….., He is a smart politician like his brethren in Tamil Nadu…. The participants of the melee among the TNA, ELO, EPRLF TNF and the other fringe players are all Vellalas………….. They are all trying to grab the votes of the Jaffna inhabitants who are mostly low caste and low class Tamils, who make up 40 percent of the inhabitant population……..Ganeshan who has the best credentials for looking after the low caste Tamils from his ex motherland will be a natural fit there……………. With his clean record he can easily push aside the NPC ministers even, who have been on the take after Vellala Wiggy was appointed by Sambandan…………This must be frightening the hell out of even the Vellala Kid Abraham, who is vying for the TNA leadership with the impending Federal Eelaam which Dr Ranil is working O/T to deliver before the Yahapalanaya ends in 2020 or sooner………..

  • 4
    0

    It is a flagrantly preposterous and far-fetched accusation to say that Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam is trying to wreak vengeance against FP. It is absolutely impertinent remark solely intended to hide from the people the grave blunder they have committed against the CM. Unless GGP appeared for those four accused of sedition and tried in the Trial-at-bar case in 1976, the fate of the FP would have been a big question. GGP flew from abroad to defend the four which included Amirthalingam even ignoring the advice of his doctor and in spite of his deteriorating health He showed such a great magnanimity. on the contrary it is the FP which has been doing the anti-GGP and his descendants. This article is apparently try to make out CM as if a child born only yesterday. That is why he is dancing to the tune of others. It is crystal clear that the FP has lost confidence among the Tamil people. As a lame excuse they would do every thing by hook or by crook. What they have done to alleviate the hardships of affected people or in the field of political matters other than off and on bombast? How long do they intend to cheat the people?

    • 1
      1

      Let us not confuse GGP’s shameful betrayal in joining the UNP government which deprived the Hill Country Tamils of citizenship and then the right to vote with his patching up with the FP after he was reduced to a political non-entity.
      The case against Amirthalingam et al. was thrown out on a technicality. GGP was a good lawyer, but not the only one capable of arguing the point. (But I agree that it was a lesson in humility for Amirthalingam.)
      GGP was not keen on the Vaddukkoddai resolution, but played ball to avoid being called a traitor. That was a blunder. But SJV did worse: he allowed himself to be bullied into asking for Tamil Eelam.
      There is more to Tamil politics than the family feuds of the FP & ACTC clans.

    • 1
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      sshan

      “It is crystal clear that the FP has lost confidence among the Tamil people. As a lame excuse they would do every thing by hook or by crook. What they have done to alleviate the hardships of affected people or in the field of political matters other than off and on bombast? How long do they intend to cheat the people?”

      It is clear to everyone that TNA was voted as the sole representative in the last two general elections and others including GP was voted out.

      GGP was a master of cheats and was duly taught lessons by the Tamils. His unreasonable pretence of ’50:50′ and ensuing treacherous parliamentary support to disenfranchising a section of the Tamil electorates.

      As to the alleviation of hardships and finding a political solution no Tamil leader or party or alliance could do anything because of the Mahavamsa mindset of the successive governments of Sri Lanka. TNA is far from perfect but there is no other alternative available under the circumstances.

      The CM is good in interpreting the laws and deliverance of verdicts but has antagonised many up and down the country. Dirty politics is not judiciary and dividing Tamils by imposing strict discipline will not yield results. He is isolating himself more and more by allowing himself to a party to passing provocative and unproductive resolutions in NPC.

  • 2
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    The Trial-At-Bar in the late seventies was the high point of Tamil unity when GGP defended Amirthalingam and others for Sedition.Both GGP and SJV died shortly before the General Election and Amirtalingam,who was not even an MP took over the Leadership of the TULF. Kumar Ponnambalam who was aspiring to contest the Election in 1977 was refused nomination by the FP and Amirthalingam.That was the high point of pettiness and meanness .Actually, the FP since then has been a Cabal!

    • 1
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      Pygs
      AA did the dirty to SC Chandrahasan too. By claiming KKS for himself in 1977 on pretext that he will never return to Vaddukkodai which rejected him, he ensured that Chandrahasan will claim succession to his father.
      Then came the Vaddukkoddai seat which fell vacant following the death of T Thirunavukkarasu in 1982. SCC and KP eyed the seat, but AA offered it to Kuttimani (then in prison and did not swear in) and then Neelan Thiruchelvam, born and bred in Colonmbo 7.
      It was a cabal by the 1960’s but less obviously so than after 1977.

  • 0
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    The self-styled TNA-vigilantes of the Thanga ilk must “catch a corner”. These carpet baggers are denting the cause.

  • 0
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    when will the Tamils unite?>>>>when there is one last Tamil standing in Sri Lanka. The last Tamil standing as the Chief Minister of the Tamils of NE or even PM of Tamil Eelam and die in glory as the leader of the now defunct Tamils of Sri Lanka

    • 0
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      villagers want a nation and implicate the world- buruvas like the southern brothers.

    • 0
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      Rajash “when will the Tamils unite?>>>>when there is one last Tamil standing in Sri Lanka. ” —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–When they get rid of the Castism and Racism of the higher castes against the lower castes, and then can see clearly that the problem lies with the Para-Indian Sinhala following the distorted Buddhism called Sinhala ” Buddhism”, that is an insult to the Buddha. Remember that Mahawamsa is an Insult to the Buddha.

      • 0
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        Amarasiri
        Tamils will not unite even when only a Tamil is left on earth.
        Judging by the confused stuff that I see written by Tamil nationalists on these pages, the chances are that the last one will have a severe split personality.

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      Rajash————-“when will the Tamils unite?” ————Aren’t you asking heaven on earth? The stupid Tamils and the stupid Sinhalese share the same self destructive genetic defect, these two people are famous for destroying, have done over many years, their in ability to identify, negotiate and resolve differences. …………………… If you want to start the third world war give the Panthera leo Sinhalas and Panthera tigris Demelas a small project that could benefit the poor people. Sit tight and watch. Then tell me what had happened.

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    SJ.
    The General Election of 1988/ 1989 had Amirthalingam contesting the Batticaloa District. The man was defeated well and truly. Possibly,Rajadurai who was wronged by having to contest along with Kasi Anandan had his supporters not voting with Amir.
    Worse still; He persuaded Sambantamoorthy,who was Chairman DDC AND ON THE RESERVE LIST to make way for him to enter Parliament which he did through the Back-Door!
    If there was one man who led the Tamils to the present state[not a separate state!] all fingers will point in the direction of Amirthalingam!!

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      Pygs
      AA erred more than others, I agree. But I look at political events mainly in general terms. What made it possible for such a leader to take over the FP/TULF?
      There has to be a fundamental flaw somewhere.
      *
      AA–CR rivalry goes back a long way, something like 1952.
      CR was not quite politically literate. But as a public speaker he (along with Mashur Maulana) outdid AA in terms of public appeal.
      The argument in 1977 was that there was a chance for two Tamil MPs for Batticaloa. But the purpose of fielding Kasi Anandan was to subvert CR.
      CR, personally very pleasant to deal with, jumped ship in 1978 out of bitterness.

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    There is a new twist:
    A Group of concerned Canadian citizens of Sri Lankan Tamil origin are engaged in the process of submitting a formal complaint through lawyers to the Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID) of the Sri Lankan Police about alleged misappropriation of funds by Northern Province Chief Minister Canagasabapathy Visuvalingam Wigneswaran and his “adviser” Nimalan Karthigeyan Rasiah.
    *
    CT please forgive citing this source:
    http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/53785
    *
    The charges levelled may not be accurate, but the account raises questions that CVW has to answer, I mean to the Tamil public.

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      It will be fun to have Wiggie sent on gardening leave (full pay and use of vehicle of course) until the Canadian connection is investigated.

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      SJ: ” ……….A Group of concerned Canadian citizens of Sri Lankan Tamil origin are engaged in the process of submitting a formal complaint through lawyers to the Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID) of the Sri Lankan Police about alleged misappropriation of funds by Northern Province Chief Minister…….”
      This “concerned group” may know that self-styled Terrorism Expert Rohan Gunaratne (of Singapore) was successfully sued for defamation in Canada – the expert is not able to travel to Canada to meet up with his friend dbsj. The “concerned group” must take action in Canada or shut up.

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        KP
        There was a rather awkward response by the CM’s spokesperson in today’s Tamil Daily mirror. That worried me.
        The questions I have are simple:
        1. Was money collected at events in Canada honouring CVW?
        2. Who received the money?
        3. Was CVW aware of the transaction?
        4. If he was aware, why did he deny knowledge of it when questioned by the leader of the Opposition Thavarajah in the NPC assembly in late May?
        5. If he was truly unaware, will he promptly inquire into the matter?
        *
        He may not have handled the money. But money was collected and it is unlikely that he was unaware of it.
        Distrust of the person who raises an awkward question in the public interest is no reason to ignore the question.

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          SJ,

          Just to add some questions:

          Where is the money that apparently was collected in Canada?

          If the money was brought to SL was it declared on arrival according to the exchange control regulations?

          If I remember correctly the ministers for health and education also visited Canada. What happened to the money they possibly collected there? The minister for health was in the UK also.

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    SJ.
    AA-CR rivalry began in a big way only in the 60s,when Mrs.AA was also a Jail-Bird along with the aforesaid two-some.

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      Pygs
      That was Tamil male chauvinist gossip of the time. Mr & Mrs A were not among the most popular people in Panagoda.
      I think that it is rather unfair, although I am no defender of puritan moral values.

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    “Kumar Ponnambalam who was aspiring to contest the Election in 1977 was refused nomination by the FP and Amirthalingam.That was the high point of pettiness and meanness .Actually, the FP since then has been a Cabal” – This is a crude attempt to revise history. In the 1977 elections Kumar Ponnambalam was first offered the Vaddukkoddai constituency earlier represented by Amirthalaingam who moved to KKS represented by late SJV Chelvanakam. Kumar Ponnambalam refused and insisted on Jaffna, an electorate once represented by his infamous father. Then he was offered Point Pedro and Kumar turned down this offer as well. This is the real story. Ironically, Vaddukkoddai and Point Pedro were won by the TULF. At Vaddukkoddai Tamil Congress candidate Thirunavukkarasu won with a big margin. The problem with Ponnambalam’s family is their ego and arrogance. This prevented Kumar Ponnambalam from ever entering parliament. Today, Gajendrakumar walked out of the TNA at the behest of Tamil Diaspora and formed a new party. In trying to market the old Tamil Congress to the people, he failed in 2010 and again in 2015 losing deposits!

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    I agree with the analysis of Dr.Gnana Sankaralingam, but not his irrational conclusion. The architect of the crisis is none other than Chief Minister Wigneswaran, an upstart in politics. He got elected on the ITAK platform and very soon he started distancing himself from the ITAK and in the process fell into the hands of demagogues like Shivajilingam. Premachandran, Ananthi and few others. Wigneswaran lost the purpose for which the provincial council was created and commenced dabbling in politics. He was cheered all the way by politicians like Gajendrakumar and Premachandran both rejected by the electorate.
    It was not Wigneswaran, it was the section of the ITAK /TNA which demanded an inquiry into allegations of corruption and bribery against former Agricultural Minister P. Ayngaranesan. Finding Wigneswaran dilly-dallying over the demand for an inquiry, a unanimous resolution was adopted which called for an inquiry against him. A reluctant Wigneswaran wilfully included the remaining 3 ministers to face an inquiry. The inquiry commission found Ayngaranesan and Gurukularajah guilty, but found the other two not guilty. Those who are in the know of NPC inside politics, the target of Wigneswaran was Dr.Sathiyalingam, the hard working, young Minister of Health. This is the real reason why Wigneswaran is keen on a new inquiry which might take another year. The ITAK was not opposed to the resignation of the two Ministers found guilty, nor opposed to the second inquiry, but vehemently opposed to the two Ministers going on compulsory leave before inquiry. This is the last straw that broke the camel’s back. It was obvious the Chief Minister was gunning for Dr.Sathiyalingam. Sending public servants on compulsory leave is different from dispatching Ministers on compulsory leave. Is there any precedence the Prime Minister sending any of his Ministers on leave?

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    When Wigneswaran visited Canada in January this year, at a news conference a reporter asked him why he has appointed Ayngaranesan as acting Chief Minister when he is facing corruption and bribery charges. Wigneswaran answered “Ayngaranesan is only facing an inquiry. He is not guilty because of that factor. Till the findings are known, he must be presumed not gaily! But he refused to apply the same principle in regard to Dr. Sathiyalingam and Deniswaran, a lawyer.
    The idea has got into the head of Wigneswaran that he can do whatever that pleases him. Unfortunately that is not the case. He has to consult the party that appointed him to the post of Chief Minister. Unless in the case of Prime Minister , the appointment of the Chief Minister is on the recommendation of the party secretary that holds a majority of votes in Council. In fact, instead of a no-confidence motion the Secretary of the ITAK could have written a letter to the Governor to remove Wigneswaran and appoint another nominee for the post.
    The mistake lies with R.Sampanthan who insisted on Wigneswaran’s nomination to the post of Chief Minister without knowing his background and his experience. It was an honest mistake, nonetheless it was a costly mistake. R.Sampanthan never expected Wigneswaran will behave like a bull in a China shop! It is the erratic and irrational behaviour of the Chief Minister that is deplorable and not the ITAK. If Wigneswaran is an honourable man, he should have resigned his post when 21 out of 38 members expressed no confidence on him.

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    Well said, Thanga! Its true that Hon. C.V has become a puppet of notorious Suresh et.al. and he has forgot all the past. The post of C.M was not God given. It was through the hard work of the Sampanthar, Maavai & others and in that process, how many obstacles they confronted. He was very new to the Jaffna voters and the trust that was vested on the ITAK leaders got transferred as votes to C.V. Of course, he too had some integrity and had a reputation of being Supreme Court Judge. Though he is not corrupted monetarily, the power given by the leaders of ITAK and people have done so. Its absolutely shameful act by him to have stooped so low.

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    Thanga, You seem to be having a peeve against CVW. Was it because he ignored you on his visit to Canada. It appears that he seems to have known your trait to suck up to people with authority! As regards to your, ‘The idea has got into the head of Wigneswaran … ‘, how did you manage to see into his head? No particular party appointed him to the post of Chief Minister. It was the will of the group comprising TNA. Further, it was the decision of the voters. So don’t overvalue your opinion over that of the electorate. Your questioning even the decision of Hon. R.Sampanthan, speaks volumes of your audacity. Even though Maavai and others resented the autocratic decision of Sampanthan, made out of true dedication to the cause of Tamils, CVW obliged out of sheer love for the Tamil people, not out of any desire to mingle with the wolves!

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