“I would kindly request you to take steps to confine the military to the barracks now itself and remove the biggest obstacle to the conduct of a free and fair poll on the 21st of September 2013.” R Sampanthan the Parliamentary Group Leader of the TNA wrote to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.
We publish below the letter in full;
9th September 2013
HE Mahinda Rajapakshe,
President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,
President’s House,
Colombo 1.
Your Excellency,
Provincial Council Elections to the Northern Province
I write with reference to the above Elections due to be held on the 21st of September 2013.
Sampanthan
You are aware that we and many others have consistently raised the issue of the heavily militarized atmosphere in the Northern Province, which is not at all conducive to the holding of a free and fair election. What has been objectionable even before the announcement of the polls is not only the presence of the military but the fact that they without invitation engage with the civilian population in many exclusively civilian matters. This involvement has continued even after the Election was announced and has also strayed well into election related activities. The rumor that the military has nominated some candidates on the Government Party, i.e., UPFA list is fuelled by soldiers pasting posters promoting those candidates and guarding such posters from being torn down even by election officials. There was at least one instance when we made a written complaint that the army was distributing building materials to the voters at Navanthurai, Jaffna, with hoardings of some candidates kept in the background. A photograph showing a candidate physically participating in this event with the army was published in a newspaper. The election officials who visited the scene found the allegation to be true but were not able to stop it. These are only but a few glaring examples of the blatant manner in which the military is now engaged in the election campaign for the Government Party, UPFA. It is also a matter of record that at least three of our candidates were threatened by the army on the day we submitted our nominations.
In this background and otherwise, it is clear that there cannot be a free and fair election if the military continues its interfering presence in the Northern Province. It has thus become imperative for me to ask you to relegate the army and the other security forces to the barracks immediately and leave the maintenance of law and order in the hands of the Police. There is real apprehension that the military involvement will increase in the coming days and will serve to dissuade voters from going out and casting their votes on Election Day. It is rumored that the army is already discouraging the local populace from voting on the 21st.
Therefore I would kindly request you to take steps to confine the military to the barracks now itself and remove the biggest obstacle to the conduct of a free and fair poll on the 21st of September 2013.
Yours truly,
R Sampanthan
Parliamentary Group Leader, TNA
President, Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK)
selvam kumar / September 10, 2013
Mr Sambanthan is right. mahinda rajapakse must withdraw his troops in the north and have a fair eletion in the north. The army is terrorising the voters not to vote and threatning in other form. Let the police do the job. UN must interfere in this election and see the election is being run smoothly without the singalese terrorist army interference .
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Raqibul Mahamood / September 10, 2013
Definitely Army should be confined to the barracks. But, you want instead Thamil barbaric cannibal terrorists like LTTE?
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RajasH / September 10, 2013
I thought LTTE has been wiped out in Jaffana. Are you saying that all Tamils are terrorist and they shoud be gradually wiped out and that is the agenda of the GOSL?
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kris / September 11, 2013
Pure LTTE supporter hiding under the name of politics this sambathanathan should be confined to barracks
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David Blacker / September 11, 2013
Selvam, Mr Sampanthan hasn’t asked for the SL Army to be withdrawn from the North. Why are you putting words in to his mouth?
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Native Vedda / September 11, 2013
David Blacker
FYI
TNA wants army out of Jaffna
August 4, 2013
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says contrary to claims by the military, thousands of troops are still in Jaffna.
TNA leader R. Sampanthan said that while the army claims there are only 13,000 soldiers remaining in Jaffna, in reality the figure is over 100,000.
He said that there are 15 army divisions in Jaffna and in each division there are some 10,000 soldiers.
The TNA leader said that his party had mentioned this even in parliament but it was never denied by the government.
He noted that while the army has vacated some private homes and land in Jaffna more remains to be handed over to the rightful owners.
Sampanthan said the government must keep its promise to the UN and the international community and withdraw the army from Jaffna. (Colombo Gazette)
http://colombogazette.com/2013/08/04/tna-wants-army-out-of-jaffna/
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David Blacker / September 12, 2013
I am referring to what Sampanthan has said in the above statement which Selvam has misquoted. Try and pay attention. The TNA may want the SL Army out in the long term, but Sampanthan is talking about the election period. Only an idiot would think that the SL Army could be withdrawn in such a short time; hence his request for a confinement to barracks.
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Dinuk / September 10, 2013
Asia’s Robert Mugabe – Mahinda Rajapassa – embolden by the support of that clown in the Commonwealth – Kamlesh Sharma – is showing his TRUE colors in the northern Province because he know that he will loose.
The Rajapassa military dictatorship beneath a the FACADE of DEMOCRACY is evident to all in the northeast and will soon be evident in the South too!
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / September 10, 2013
Please also advice some of your platform speakers, including MPs to moderate their words. They are undoing what you are apparently trying to achieve. Moderation in words and acuity in a workable program are the need of the hour. Some of the words spoken during the on- going election campaign are doing much more harm to the Tamil cause than the presence of the army. Do not permit those who are campaigning on behalf of the TNA to lay booby traps in the path of Justice Wigneswaran. He will have a monumental task to make the 13 th amendment to work to deliver even a mouse and this task should not be made even more difficult by thoughtless words uttered by short sighted cretins.
Please also set an example to change the nature of politics in Sri Lanka. The south is waiting with an abated breath to see what the TNA and the Tamils will do with a NPC they control. Answer them with a positive and principled but determined approach, both in the prelude and the aftermath of the elections.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Rohan / September 10, 2013
“Some of the words spoken during the on- going election campaign are doing much more harm to the Tamil cause than the presence of the army. “… such as…?
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RajasH / September 10, 2013
please ignore Rajasingham Narendrans verbal diahorrea
he is akin to jim softly
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Ajith / September 10, 2013
You are talking nonsense Narendran. You don’t put forward your programs to convince the extremist Sinhala buddhist racists. They will be only happy if you say you are slave to them.
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Sivathasan / September 10, 2013
Dr.R N
After Mao the deluge. Some powers prophesied and others wished. But Deng the leader lying in wait, changed the tide. He was less than five feet tall but was a giant of a man, said Lee Kwan Yew. The CM in waiting in the North is already that.
In the last two months he has swum in the currents,cross currents and undercurrents, adequate to get the feel of it. Now he is steeled and tempered enough to overwhelm any onslaught and to deliver. It was said of Mahathma Gandhi that he was too smart even for Tammany Hall. So it may be with Justice W. Let us be optimistic.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / September 11, 2013
Mr. Sivathasan,
The TNA will win overwhelmingly, because of both Justice Wigneswaran’s candidature and the lack of rapport/ trust between the other contesting parties and the population. This will happen despite the presence of the army and whatever it may do. This is not a issue to be overly concerned about. In a perverse sense the presence of the army reassures the Sinhala majority that a repeat of Tamil militancy is not possible, despite the words of some Tamil politicians. Also according to surveys the majority of the population is not averse to the presence of the army. An accommodating, mutually beneficial and friendship-based relationship has evolved between the people and the army over the years, unlike what the relationship is made out to be. There may occasional problems and attempts by governmental politicians to misuse the army. However, from what I have seen, it is not a big problem warranting serious concern.
I have been in Jaffna for extended periods and have read what is published in the Tamil papers there. Some of the utterances of the leading lights in the TNA are unnecessary, counterproductive and hence undesirable. The TNA has to convince the Sinhala people that its intentions and objectives concern the rights of Tamils and do not in any way threaten them. The support of the Sinhala people is essential to squeeze concessions out of the government re: the implementation of the 13th amendment in both letter and spirit. The thoughtless and emotive words of some the TNA politicians are providing fodder to the Sinhala extremist fringe, which has the capacity to make a mountain out of a mole hill and plant seeds of suspicion and fear among the Sinhala people. Of course these utterances will warm the cockles of the Eelamites locally and in the Diaspora. However, they would not make it any easier for the vast majority of the Tamils here and Justice Wigneswaran as the CM in -waiting.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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kris / September 12, 2013
Absolutely these extremist LTTE supporters don’t know how to behave collectively , they should realise after 30 years if they can’t get elam by force they will not going to get that in future therefore should learn to live with majority sinhalase
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Manoj / September 10, 2013
Exactly!
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I am no muslim / September 12, 2013
There is a Sinhala saying which translate as ‘even mouth lies, tongue doesn’t lie.’
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K.A Sumanasekera / September 10, 2013
Vellala Wiggy hasn’t even scored yet. But Sambandan wants the Military to be locked up in the Barracks.
Just imagine what Sambandan will demand, the day after Vellala CM takes his oath of allegiance to the Republic of Srilanka?.
How can the poor ex captives getting free Takaran and cheap Indian cement be a violation of Election regulations?.
What about the poor ex captives who were used as Sand Bags by Sambandan’s God Son. and now living in houses built by Soldiers?.
Does Sambandan want them locked up in their houses too, on the Polling day?.
Vellalas even in Jaffna wouldn’t que up to get free building materials. Would they ?.
So what is the issue?.
Surely Sambandan and Sumanthiran can put up a TNA / Candian Diaspora Stall and hand out more up market Colorbond Al sheets and may be better quality Chinese cement if they want to even out the issue or rather make better a offer ..
With the Dollars collected recently , funding shouldn’t be an issue. Would it?.
And it is a sure fire win win for the Diaspora and the ex captives even if Vellala Wiigy get bowled out or stumped by the leaders of the ex captives who are in the hunt too..
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Thiru / September 10, 2013
Are you a you karava? Why don’t you get at the govigamas instead of harping on velaalas?
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Native Vedda / September 10, 2013
Thiru
I suspect he must have fancied a Vellala girl and got beaten up by her father.
Did the girl elope with a highly qualified, handsome, rich Govia?
We should be sympathetic to KAS, the hurt is lingering on.
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K.A Sumanasekera / September 11, 2013
Dear Native,
My intelligence operatives tell me that the Vellala chiks in your neck of the woods prefer handsome Sinhala boys because they are cool in comparison to their own..
I am not surprised having seen the make up and the attire of your two big time Vellalas here.
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Native Vedda / September 11, 2013
K.A Sumanasekera
I don’t see any difference between stupid Sinhala boys and stupid Tamil boys.
The difference is between you and the highly qualified, handsome, rich Govia.
I see the sadness in you. Get over it.
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Peace Lover / September 11, 2013
i say K A Sumanasekera r u having another inferiority complex this time with the vellalas ? why may i ask? did anyone hurt u feelings mate?
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Probono Publico / September 12, 2013
ado sumana what machan im hearing stories that you got slapped by a vellalah girl when you were a gawky teenager and tried to woo her hence your always after the vellalas like some old broken record!
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Kossa / September 10, 2013
You sound like kurakkan crackers and smell like gal arrak…
Mr. Sumanthiran has not said anything wrong and yes, the government and the military, especially the army cum “kossas” are getting the way of national issues..how can soldiers with 5th grade education and officers with barely passes in O/levels understand the depth of this issue? It is the government that brought disrepute to our army! Some of these General characters do not seem to realize they too are ruining an institution! What do they care! They are thinking diplomatic posting…of course, only if the host country does not prosecute them for war crimes!
Some of the mid career officers that returned from diplomatic postings in embassies own two Toyota Allions etc. where does this come when the salary is about 70,000/=?
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Safa / September 10, 2013
Where is the Elections Commissioner, Paffrel and Independent Monitors? Due to the actions of these miscreants the intergrity of the entire election process can fall into question. Army intervention in a civilian election process is the last thing we should have. Smacks of military dictatorship.
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RajasH / September 10, 2013
absolutely right.
cant see any army in colombo or the south guarding government posters
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Cyril / September 10, 2013
Get lost you bloody tamil
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Native Vedda / September 10, 2013
Cyril
Good request.
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RajasH / September 10, 2013
you bloody sinhala modaya f… off
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hannah.rajaratnam / September 10, 2013
It is the voice of the Tamils.To the southern friends.Here lies the courage and determination of a people who still seek JUSTICE to a way of a peacefull life.
Well done sir.others on this thread just woke up you have seen and been in this scenario for many years.You have the right to spek out loud and clear.
Thanks for sending the letter to MR President.Lets see what will be the outcome of your letter.
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hannah.rajaratnam / September 10, 2013
Sumanasekere – a very poor understanding.
It is simply – you will like hand outs.The Tamils don’t whether ex captives or not.They had their lands and homes.You simply hounded them out and plundered their lands.So?
Understand this sir- If Sambandan did not have the support from the Tamils on this issue he will not be asking the President to ‘order the army to their barracks now.
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K.A Sumanasekera / September 11, 2013
Sorry Hannah,
Didn’t know that the voters in Navanthurai whom your boss Sambandan was referring to are Sinhalese.
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Lankan / September 10, 2013
Mahinda Rajapakse has no powers its only Gotha who can call the army back to the barracks. If Mahinda goes against Gotha there is a possibility that there will be a army coup headed by Gotha.
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Thondamanaru / September 10, 2013
SAMPANTHAN, WHAT IS THE HULAPPU ?????????????
We do not want you speaking onbehalf of Thondamanaru…….people
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hannah.rajaratnam / September 11, 2013
Thandamanaru- what does Hulappu mean ? Are you the MP for Thondamannar?
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kris / September 11, 2013
Three hundred thousand (300,000) people who saved from prabakaran and TNA will not vote for the TNA and those people don’t want Army to be confined to the barracks , they want the protection from Army , Army saved their life not TNA. TNA supported Praba , people know that ,TNA supported the LTTE to drag their infant kids from their houses , innocent tamil people still can remember that
TNA trying to get rid of Army and force and intimidate those people to vote for them
Tamil People- if you can remember how you suffered in Nanthikadal by taking you all there by forced by Praba and TNA , DON’T VOTE FOR TNA
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hela / September 11, 2013
Sampanthan is talking about rumors.
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Karikalan / September 11, 2013
Army should be removed from any social place
pls invest on good system that will look for country security
First of all solve the ethnic issue which will assure no conflict in future
My Sinhala friend you know how bad when we had Army presence in JVP time
Pls get together for better society in SL
Don’t forget there is a government organization called “Police” (with regional language police can solve all such issues by maintaining patriotism in SL)
We are in last 20 of best country list
Don’t we should see how to move forward?
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Bandara / September 12, 2013
It is clear evidence that Militory and dictatorship rules prevails in our Mother Land shame for all Sri Lankan. Basically 3 men show is going on under the banner of democratic
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hannah.rajaratnam / September 12, 2013
It is Ok Sumanasekere,Thanks.
I didn’t know either.Perhaps they were brought to colonise Navanthurai.
Sambandan knows best.
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hannah.rajaratnam / September 12, 2013
Kris- seems you are still singing the same GOSL tune of 2009.Now a different tune is being sung by the Tamil people.You should listen to it.
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kris / September 16, 2013
Doesn’t matter which tune end of the day poor uneducated tamis suffer
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george jilmart / September 13, 2013
Sumanasekera- your comments reek of ignorance and confirm that your ancestors have descended from the trees. The culture you are proud of is the culture of the savage.
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