By Colombo Telegraph –
“On behalf of those parties opposed to the governing UPFA in the Eastern Province, we TNA (ITAK) stake the claim to form the Eastern Provincial Administration together with the SLMC and UNP. Given the sordid track record of the government and its various activities to disturb the communal peace and harmony in the Eastern Province, the formation of a provincial government by the said three parties would be in the best interests of all the Peoples who live in the Eastern Province.” says Tamil National Alliance.
TNA
Issuing a statement TNA further says “the ruling UPFA violated all norms of democracy and good governance in a polls campaign that was marked by a well documented pattern of gross abuse of the state apparatus and resources. The UPFA utilized all governmental resources to influence the result. It also intimidated opposition parties’ candidates, bribing, unduly influencing voters and even spreading false propaganda to the effect that the TNA leader had announced the withdrawal of the ITAK from the contest. ”
Meanwhile issuing a statement former deputy mayor of the Colombo municipal Council and elected member of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Batticaloa District provincial Council member M. Azath S. Salley says “UNP has decided to give unconditional support to the TNA. TNA is willing to concede the Chief Minister’s post to the Muslims. The SLMC must accept this and show the world that we can work together without the support of the government. This is a great opportunity for both tamil and muslim communities to work together. The aspirations of both communities will be met by this move. The SLMC should heed to the voice of its voters.”
We below reproduce the TNA and M. Azath S. Salley’s statements in full;
ITAK OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON EPC ELECTIONS
The elections to the Eastern Provincial Council have concluded and the results have been announced.
The ruling UPFA violated all norms of democracy and good governance in a polls campaign that was marked by a well documented pattern of gross abuse of the state apparatus and resources. The UPFA utilized all governmental resources to influence the result. It also intimidated opposition parties’ candidates, bribing, unduly influencing voters and even spreading false propaganda to the effect that the TNA leader had announced the withdrawal of the ITAK from the contest.
Azath Salley
Despite this UPFA campaign of terror the people of the Eastern province have reiterated their support and confidence in the TNA (ITAK) and we are pleased that we won two of the three districts securing the majority vote in both the Trincomalee and Batticaloa Districts and a substantial vote in the Ampara District.
The elections took place in an environment where a large number of Tamils yet continue to be displaced and a larger number of Tamils have fled and continue to flee the country due to the policies of the Rajapakse Administration. We sincerely thank the Tamil speaking people for the support and solidarity that they have demonstrated at this election, despite the ruling UPFA violence and intimidation. The ruling UPFA barely secured 6,200 votes more than TNA in the wholeEasternProvince, largely on account of its abuse of state resources.
The political parties opposed to the UPFA in the EPC have won this election. The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) has won 11 seats, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has won 7 seats and the United National Party (UNP) has won 4 seats. The parties that opposed the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), the governing party at the Provincial Council election have a very clear majority in the new Council, just elected.
On behalf of those parties opposed to the governing UPFA in theEasternProvince, we TNA (ITAK) stake the claim to form the Eastern Provincial Administration together with the SLMC and UNP. Given the sordid track record of the government and its various activities to disturb the communal peace and harmony in theEasternProvince, the formation of a provincial government by the said three parties would be in the best interests of all the Peoples who live in theEasternProvince.
We wish to state that the member of the Provincial Council with the best ability to command the support of a majority of the members of the Provincial Council and thereby become Chief Minister should be chosen by the members of the Provincial Council of the said three parties. The choice of such a member will be communicated to the Governor shortly. We wish to point out to the Governor that the UPFA and the National Freedon Front (NFF) together do not and cannot command the support of the majority of the members of the Council.
R Sampanthan MP. Mavai Senathirajah MP President, ITAK General Secretary, ITAK
9th September 2012
Related posts;
“Blue Brigade” Have Asked For The Polling Cards Of Voters – Sampanthan Wrote To President Rajapakse
Percy / September 10, 2012
This fellow Sally is talking as if his party has won the Eastern Province Election!! How hilarious! The UPFA has got more than double the votes his communal party received. These communalists in the TNA, SLMC and their
pandankarayas in the UNP got their just desserts from the voters of the Eastern Province.
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Lanka Muslim, UK / September 10, 2012
The UPFA is itself unable to have control of the EPC because on its own because the number seats that it got this time has been reduced. The UNP and the SLMC contested the last elections jointly. This time they have got eleven seats between which number is more that what they got last time. The TNA, which did not contest the last election has got eleven seats this time and has drawn to its side a significant number of Tamil votes which went to the UPFA last time. In all the UPFA’ in the EP has been reduced. So is it not clear that who ‘got their just deserts’. If is the UPFA that got it. Not only in the EP in NCP and the Sabragamuwa too the UPFA has got less votes this time. So is it not also clear that the people are getting away from the UPFA. If the UNP was stronger it would have got more which would have reduced UPFA votes further. So while a majority numbers of Tamils and Muslims have rejected the UPFA because of its communal policies and in the other two PCs Sinhalese voters are moving away from the UPFA because of its corruption and violence.
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Native Vedda / September 10, 2012
Percy says:
“The UPFA has got more than double the votes his communal party received.”
The UPFA is an alliance of racist parties if you care to look back their formation and existence over the past 63 years of history. It is well known fact that there is no chance of winning or forming a government without out and out racism.
If the majority is happy to vote for the racist parties what is stopping the minorities forming an racist alliance?
As the country is populated by stupid people the country deserves to elect stupid racists to power. I am sure being a stupid person you will never learn to stop throwing stone from a glass house.
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Rohan / September 10, 2012
Unholy alliance !! Might not work in the long run. However, the loser is the UNP. Now, the Sinhala majority in other areas will think that UNP is all about supporting the cause of the LTTE as that is what they think the TNA does. Mark the end of UNP !!
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Saman / September 10, 2012
Stupid Rohan, rather it is the UPFA which is trying desperately to form an unholy alliance with the TNA! That is why despite TNA, UNP and SLMC claiming to form an alliance administration, the collectively defeated UPFA is desperately hoping and begging SLMC to join with them for forming their unholy Rajapaksha familial rule! That Dallus joker is running all over the place uttering that hope! Their empty and perverted comments notwithstanding, this UNP, TNA and SLMC alliance is one that is most awaited and hitherto lacked in the country. This is a turning point in the future of Sri Lanka, the reconciliation amongst different ethnicities, friendship and understanding building and carving out a niche and a foothold for forming a future UNP government accepted and blessed by India and the international community. Despite the empty ranting of mara pappy bootlickers, it is the international that decides the future of this country. To point out how international plays a decisive role in the governance of this country one can cite the very election results: MARA regime hoodwinked the stupid masses and stole their vote by importing a piece of rotten bone saying it is “kapilawasthu relics”! What nonsense, this is no sacred bones but swine bones which the people worshipped as if they would worship lord Buddha thus sacrificing their lives to a despotic rogue king. These stupid masses have not yet learned their lessons, but surely they would learn and return with answers to MARA happy goons!
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Silva / September 10, 2012
Percy, what a perverted analysis of the poll results which is typical of mara-happy bootlickers! UPFA did every corruption, malpractice, crime, misappropriation, influence, bribing and violation of the rules and regulation to plunder the election in all the provinces. If the government is so sure and confident of winning and favorable opinion of the people, then why do they conduct staggered elections which are a clear indication of how much they fear the elections? They conduct elections one by one using all the state resources and illegal means concentrating everything they have in their possession including thuggery, illegal weapons and other prohibited means because they know if an all island election is held at once they will definitely be defeated. To cover this fake, defeat and crime lunatics like Percy are writing utter rubbish bullshit thinking we the readers too are donkeys like them!
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John Wayne / September 10, 2012
UNP and TNA should have run on a joint platform and got the two bonus seats in the East and formed the Eastern provincial govt.. now all this posturing is useless — the UPFA is the clear winner..
If Sajith was heading the UNP they could have joined TNA because he was not an LTTE sympathizer and does not have the baggage of Ranil. Sajith can make strategic decisions and alliances so that the party and country wins without all the bad history… Hope that Sajith can now take over the UNP and give Rosy and others a chance to turn around the UNP. Sajith and Rosy as party leader and Deputy with Karu and Ranil as advisors would attract the votes..
Meanwhile when will Sambanthan and the absentee landlords of TNA realize that Batticaloa Tamils are not interested in a merger with northern province after being colonized by Jaffna Tamils for so long, and Sambanthan should focus on ensuring development in the North..
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Jegath / September 11, 2012
“Batticola Tamils” you wish mate, you wish..Divide and rule eh??Too old,too slow and very ineffective when played on Tamils, specially after Mullivaikal..
Next time, try to understand the how a mind of a tamil works..
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Native Vedda / September 12, 2012
Jegath
is proud:
“Next time, try to understand the how a mind of a tamil works..”
Very foolishly of course.
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Senguttuvan / September 10, 2012
Mr Sampanthan told the country and the world a fortnight ago what was in store from this fascist Govt. The intimidation, harrassment, vote-rigging, violence Sampanthan warned were all there – in plenty. The fact is the TNA/ITAK polled far more than the UPFA’s 200,000 but the Govt went hell for leather to subvert the actual results against the TNA/ITAK. The current Election Commissioner is a far more fairer and neutral official and it hoped he will not allow justice to be denied in this instance. The two monitors are reluctant to declare their own report in this dangerous environment. The Rajapakse regime were hell bent to show the world they command the confidence of the Tamil-Muslim people in the East. The TNA/ITAK were certain the people will vote overwhelmingly for them. Against the Govt’s 200,000 the TNA, SLMC and UNP have poplled over 400,000 votes.
The world community and the UN should step in and ensure the will of the people (at least that part that was permitted against all odds) of the area prevails here.
Senguttuvan
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Naga / September 10, 2012
Look at the hypocrisy of Sampanthan and TNA. When Eastern Province was delinked from the North East Provincial Council and elections were held for the Eastern Provincial Council these fellows said contesting the delinked Eastern Provincial Council elections will be a treachery to the North East Tamils. They boycotted the elections and continued to argue for the amalgamation of the two provinces. When the Eastern Provincial Council elections were announced they decided to contest the election saying this is a god given opportunity to demonstrate to the internaional community the unity of the North East Tamils. Majority of the Tamils did not heed their call. Less than 50% of the Tamils voted in the Eastern Provincial Council election. In the Batticaloa district where the Tamils are a majority, they lost the Kalkudah electorate and won a sizeable majority only in the Paddiruppu electorte. In the Trincomalee district, they managed to win only in the Trincomalee district. They won in none of the electorates in the Ampara district. It is true that a majority of the Tamils voted for TNA but that was because the Eastern Tamils did not have a neutral Tamil alternative party to vote for. Pillaiyan’s party was aligned to the government and given the history of Pillaiyan’s party many Tamils did not want to vote for that party. Despite that Pillaiyan himself was able to win over 20,000 votes. That was no mean feat given the fact that the whole TNA propaganda machinery was at work describing him and his party as Tamil traitors. TNA played the communal card with its propaganda that a vote for Pillaiyan’s party will be a vote to enthrone a Muslim as the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province. Now this very same Sampanthan and TNA say they are prepared to make a Muslim the chief Minister of Eastern Perovince if SLMC comes forward to join hands with them. This hypocrit Sampanthan who incites racism among the Tamils and who went to bed with the LTTE murderers who massacred the Muslims and Sinhalese now wants to form the administration in the Eastern Province with the Muslims and Sinhalese for the good of all the three communities.
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Upasaka Mudalige / September 10, 2012
The First Three Respondent must be bat Belayas of Corrupted Maharajah’s.
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Karthelis / September 10, 2012
It is likely that the SLMC will stay with the Govt It has nothing to gain by joining with the TNA or Ranil and Co.
The Govt should take note of the fact that the majority of the minority is not with them. Obviously something wanting in their policies.
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Lanka Muslim, UK / September 10, 2012
The TNAs position is unprecedented in the political history of Sri Lanka. The SLMCC, which claims to be in a king making position to accept the TNAs offer. Such a Council in the East as envisaged in the TNAs plan will be a constructive move towards reconciliation and the East is the best for it as the three communities could work together setting an example to the whole country. Yet, as the whip is in the hands of the master divide and rule tactician the result could be positive to TNAs efforts.
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N .Wimaladasa / September 11, 2012
TNA should getting OUT Myth of Eelam politics is a very crucial matter;it has been a long time is cancer of national politics had been undermine RIGHT OF TAMIL PEOPLE’S DEMOCARCY AND NATION SOVERIGNTY & TERRORIAL INTERRIGITY OF SRI LANKA.
Its gotten much more extreme Tamil terrorism under LTTE, lost rights of Tamils people’s democarcy since 30 years RULE of TERROR by LTTE IN NOTRH AND EAST PART OF ISLAND.
TNA has to leran lessons of past a long time elecation have just been public realtion extravaganzas,where people are mobilized every four yeras in PC to get push a button and then revatlized democacy in East and North.
Government of IN THE CENTER ,there are a lot of ways go to overcome LTTE terrorism,responability has been undermine by TNA last 30 years.In certain way reach as far as organizing for CONSTITUTIONAL conventions and traditional mobilizing system of changing power by elecation should reached to Esat and North.We are still not anywhere near such move.
East & North is radically undemocratic due to LTTE terrorism of anarcahsit in long years.It is impossible to imagiine a that in done by TNA is democratically.Accountability and respoansbility of TNA politiacl Transpantace is much needed not BY WORDS, BUT BY DEEDS politics of democary, the unique mode of denied Separtaism Terrrorim and Secessionism.
Go futher more, TNA should enter into NOT RACSIM POLITICS, SHOULD JOIN NATIOANL SECULAR DEMOCRAY OF CLSSSES ALLIANCE OF PART AND PARCAEL OF JIONTLY WORKING WITH VITAL INTERSTED OF STATE OF SRI LANKA. THERE IS OPPOUNITY TO RUN AND RULE AS RESPONSABILE PARTY OF TNA TO TAKE RAIN OF POWER IN NORTH & EAST.
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Jegath / September 11, 2012
Yeah yeah you could write all day this b.s under the guise of a person truly caring for the eelam tamils but nobody will give a damn..what you think us readers as fools or what?
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Jegath / September 11, 2012
UNP is sinhala chauvinist party, coalition with them means TNA has agreed to integrate itself into a unitary nation, which is contradictory to its leader Sampanthan’s brave statement made during ITAK convention “We will fight for a non-unitary solution”, TNA is not fighting but doing party politics.
Party politics is for people who enjoy liberty, eelam tamils are far from it..
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N .Wimaladasa / September 11, 2012
Personally against ethier side of racsim in Sinhalses or Tamils had been divided by politics of SLFP UNP FP,TULF & TNA and JVP people of Sri Lankan ,since 1948.What I mean is we should end this division of racsism basis politics of Island.
As a whole it will benfit for certain expoliation classes and foreing york of Hegemonism.Both classes are to expolited and superssed rights and exploited labour power of massess.It has no place in the History!
This is high time to SRI LANKAN get out of vicious circular RICH CLASSES vital interest POLICIES.
THE RACISIM BASE POLITICS ARE DIFFERCE FROM PEOPLE’S ORINTED POLITICAL-ECONOMY AND SOCIAL OF DEMOCRACIC POLITICS.DEMOCRATIC POLITICS DENIED AND REJECTED RACISIM AND EXTERMEISM OF ALL TYPES CHAVANISM.
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shankar / September 12, 2012
Is it time for Sampanthan to go?He is leading the tamils to a place called nowhere.The old coot is past his use by date.An investigation should be done by the TNA as to why more than 100000 tamils did not vote at all.That is the reason TNA cannot form the government in the east.They don’t have the pull factor among more than 100000 tamil voters who just waited at home in a crucial election.
A rejuvenation of the TNA and UNP is needed and for that to happen their leaders should go paving the way for new leaders and new policies.
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Lanka Muslim, UK / September 12, 2012
Why blame Mr. S. for that number of Tamils not voting? In the elections the voter turn-out is just over 50%. That is almost half the number of voters did not vote. That not voting number includes all three communities. In all three Provinces the UPFA got much lesser votes than at the last elections. One reason for this situation is that although of percentage those who voted for the UPFA last did not vote for it this time because they have lost trust in the UPFA. But still they did not vote for the UNP because they have no trust in the UNP too. The Tamils and Muslims voted for the TNA and SLMCC not because they love these two parties but because they do not have trust either in the UPFA or the UNP. It is to the credit of Mr. Sampanthan’s leadership that the TNA to have mustered at least that support for the TNA.
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shankar / September 13, 2012
Lanka Muslim,You ask”why blame sampanthan for tamils not voting”.If they had voted and TNA had won handsomely,sampanthan would have taken full credit for that no?So why not blame him when the opposite occurs.If you don’t blame the leader for an election defeat,then who do you blame?The weather gods?
As for your contention that there was only a 50% turnout,first get your facts right.In Ampara it was 66.1%.In batticaloa it was 64.3% and in trincomalee 66.8%.You can see that in batticaloa which is predominantly tamil there is 2% less than the other 2 districts.Furthermore UPFA got 64000 votes in batticaloa,against the TNA’s 104000.So for mahinda to get nearly two third of the votes that the TNA got in batticaloa,coupled with the fact that so many did not bother to vote too,is a indication that the tamils are not comfortable with the TNA.
Sampanthan is i think the only one left of the old mob of the TULF of the amirthalingam era.Having him as the leader is like driving with the morris minor in the 21st century and saying if it runs why should we change it.These old diehards do not change and will go to their graves with their ideals,values and principles intact.They will never adapt to a new environment and in the modern 21st century we need leaders who are futuristic and can understand the modern world.
You also say the tamils voted for the TNA because they do not trust either the UPFA or UNP.Therefore you say credit must be given to sampanthan.A strange way to allocate credit for getting votes by default.That is like taking credit for winning a court case due to a technicality or something.Furthermore as i pointed out to you the UPFA got two thirds of the vote that the TNA obtained in batticaloa,a predominantly tamil district,so your contention that tamils did not vote for the UPFA is all wrong.
Sampanthan is old and has health problems too.Let not the tamils make the same mistake that the UNP did by not sacking the leader after defeat after defeat.After these first few defeats the tamils should sack this old man,and embark on the western way of producing results or let someone else do the job.We are a community that can ill afford the luxury of any more time lost.
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Senguttuvan / September 19, 2012
I belive Tamils who did not vote in the EP on Sept 08 were those who feared for their life and limb from the threats and intimidation set upon them. This was exactly what the Govt and its Tamil goons in the area wanted anyway.
As to Mr Sampanthan, those Tamils who think he is too old and spread other negatives about him have a right to hold their views. But there are many more who believe he is the right man, at the right time for the right challenge. Neafrly 90% of them voted for him recently. As to age, I think it is better to have a wise old man than some leaders in their 30s in the South who know not whether they are coming or going. Some of them are there as Ministers merely to rave, rant and sleep in the road to please their bosses – insulting donors and donor agencies and then pleading their visa applications to the US/EU are not refused.
Senguttuvan
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