Referring to the report of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who faces elections in a fortnight, promising to initiate a transparent, judicial inquiry probing allegations of war crimes against the Sri Lankan army, DMK President Kalaignar said that it was a ploy by him for getting the votes of Tamils in the Presidential election slated to be held on January 8 and having all along stubbornly rejecting such probe demand from all over the world, it was nothing by donning double role by Rajapaksa.
In a statement on Dec 25, Kalaignar said Rajapaksa announced Presidential election on Nov 20 following which the dates for filing nominations and the polling were announced. An amendment also was made to the Sri Lankan Constitution for amending the restriction for contesting only twice. Though 19 had filed nominations the contest was mainly between the two belonging to the main political parties of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s United People’s Freedom Alliance’s candidate Rajapaksa and the opposition United People’s Freedom Alliance’s candidate Maithripala Sirisena, supported by Ranil Vikramasinghe and Chadrika Kumaranatunga. The election symbol of Rajapaksa was ‘betal leaf’ and that of Sirisena ‘swan’.
Instead of India maintaining neutrality in this election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished victory for Rajapaksa, raising storm of protests all over the country. Sirisena was Health Minister in Rajapaksa government till last month and some more Ministers had extended support to him thereby removed by Rajapaksa. Moreover, it is said that former Sri Lankan Commerce and Industries Minsiter Rishad Badiyudeen and All Ceylon Congress Party M.P. Amir Ali would campaign in support of Sirisena.
Sri Lankan Tamils were contemplating to vote for whom to protect their lives and Rajapaksa has come forward to offer some new promises to garner the votes of Tamils. Rajapaksa, who faces elections in a fortnight, promised to initiate a transparent, judicial inquiry probing allegations of war crimes against the Sri Lankan army. He made the announcement while releasing his election manifesto. Rajapaksa, who has refused to cooperate with the ongoing U.N.-mandated probe into rights abuses, said: “If any rights have been violated [during the war], justice will be ensured through a transparent domestic judicial mechanism.”
Though during his campaign in Tamils’ areas Rajapaksa wanted them to forget the past, he has not come forward for alliance with Tamil parties. Both the main contestants fear losing majority Sinhala votes if they extended support to Tamils. Both sides have not announce any decision to help Tamils resettle in North East.
The same Rajapaksa in the past assured to implement the recommendations of LLRC report and the 13th Amendment. The TESO conducted struggles of international probe into war crimes there and his letters were handed over to the UNO in New York and UNHRC in Geneva in person by DMK Treasurer Thalapathi M.K.Stalin and former Union Minister T.R.Baalu. There were demands from many more parties in TN for an independent probe. But Rajapaksa rejected all such pleas. On the contrary, if now he offered to conduct probe for getting the votes of Tamils, it amounted to praying to sun after losing eye sight and donning double role, Kalaignar said.
In a statement on Dec 25, Kalaignar said Rajapaksa announced Presidential election on Nov 20 following which the dates for filing nominations and the polling were announced. An amendment also was made to the Sri Lankan Constitution for amending the restriction for contesting only twice. Though 19 had filed nominations the contest was mainly between the two belonging to the main political parties of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s United People’s Freedom Alliance’s candidate Rajapaksa and the opposition United People’s Freedom Alliance’s candidate Maithripala Sirisena, supported by Ranil Vikramasinghe and Chadrika Kumaranatunga. The election symbol of Rajapaksa was ‘betal leaf’ and that of Sirisena ‘swan’.
Instead of India maintaining neutrality in this election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished victory for Rajapaksa, raising storm of protests all over the country. Sirisena was Health Minister in Rajapaksa government till last month and some more Ministers had extended support to him thereby removed by Rajapaksa. Moreover, it is said that former Sri Lankan Commerce and Industries Minsiter Rishad Badiyudeen and All Ceylon Congress Party M.P. Amir Ali would campaign in support of Sirisena.
Sri Lankan Tamils were contemplating to vote for whom to protect their lives and Rajapaksa has come forward to offer some new promises to garner the votes of Tamils. Rajapaksa, who faces elections in a fortnight, promised to initiate a transparent, judicial inquiry probing allegations of war crimes against the Sri Lankan army. He made the announcement while releasing his election manifesto. Rajapaksa, who has refused to cooperate with the ongoing U.N.-mandated probe into rights abuses, said: “If any rights have been violated [during the war], justice will be ensured through a transparent domestic judicial mechanism.”
Though during his campaign in Tamils’ areas Rajapaksa wanted them to forget the past, he has not come forward for alliance with Tamil parties. Both the main contestants fear losing majority Sinhala votes if they extended support to Tamils. Both sides have not announce any decision to help Tamils resettle in North East.
The same Rajapaksa in the past assured to implement the recommendations of LLRC report and the 13th Amendment. The TESO conducted struggles of international probe into war crimes there and his letters were handed over to the UNO in New York and UNHRC in Geneva in person by DMK Treasurer Thalapathi M.K.Stalin and former Union Minister T.R.Baalu. There were demands from many more parties in TN for an independent probe. But Rajapaksa rejected all such pleas. On the contrary, if now he offered to conduct probe for getting the votes of Tamils, it amounted to praying to sun after losing eye sight and donning double role, Kalaignar said.
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