{"id":113192,"date":"2013-11-05T00:32:54","date_gmt":"2013-11-04T19:02:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=113192"},"modified":"2013-11-10T01:07:00","modified_gmt":"2013-11-09T19:37:00","slug":"wigneswaran-tnas-manifesto-and-war-crimes-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wigneswaran-tnas-manifesto-and-war-crimes-investigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Wigneswaran, TNA\u2019s Manifesto And War Crimes Investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Amaravathi<\/a><\/span> –<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Mr. Wigneswaran<\/a><\/span> is widely acclaimed among all ethnic groups as a person of \u00a0\u00a0honour, courage and integrity, and dedication \u00a0to democratic principles and rule of law.<\/p>\n

These were also among the reasons why he was chosen by the TNA as the unity candidate for the post of Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Wigneswaran<\/p><\/div>\n

However, there were obvious warning signs \u2013 his \u00a0assertion that he does not \u201cdo politics\u201d, and his tendency, therefore, to place himself above \u00a0lesser \u201cpolitical\u201d mortals, and to offer freewheeling thoughts on what Tamils should or should not do etc – – most often to Indian news papers with known political agendas.<\/p>\n

For example, in his early interviews \u2013 he sweepingly derided the role of the Tamil Diaspora<\/a><\/span>, and Tamil Nadu politicians — all of which were the opposite of TNA\u2019s declared \u00a0positions \u2013 without \u00a0having had an interchange with those persons.<\/p>\n

More troubling is the fact, based on Google search, that there is no record of his publicly calling for an international investigation of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity by both sides \u2013 which is surprising given his long and distinguished record of upholding justice and the rule of law, and his fearless condemnation of the progressive loss of judicial independence in Sri Lanka, and his knowledge of alleged war crimes that\u00a0 had occurred.<\/p>\n

Whatever his personal views may have been in the past with regard to an independent international investigation, as TNA\u2019s candidate \u00a0for Chief Minister, he had signed on to the comprehensive manifesto of the TNA.<\/strong><\/p>\n

TNA\u2019s manifesto<\/a><\/span> issued in on September 3, 2013, unequivocally gives central importance to an independent international investigation of alleged violations in \u201c matters of immediate concern for the Tamil People\u201d.<\/p>\n

The relevant part of the manifesto is given below..<\/p>\n

\u201c\u201cMATTERS OF IMMEDIATE CONCERN FOR THE TAMIL PEOPLE<\/p>\n

In addition to continuing to pursue a just and lasting solution, we will actively engage in addressing the immediate and current concerns of our People. We will seek to enforce the recommendations made by the Panel of Experts appointed by the UN Secretary General and the Resolutions adopted at the UN Human Rights Council in March 2012 and March 2013.<\/strong><\/em> The specific matters are as follows:<\/strong><\/p>\n