No solution under a unitary state: TNA
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) does not believe in a power sharing arrangement under a unitary state, TNA MP Mavai Senathirajah said yesterday.
“Under a unitary rule, it is not possible to find solutions to the national question,” he told a news conference held at the Jaffna Press Institute. “Power sharing under a unitary system is questionable in today’s context of domination by Buddhist extremists.” Mr. Senathirajah said the United National Party (UNP) had released a copy of a draft constitution for a unitary system of governance. He said Mr. Sumanthiran was reported to have accepted it but that was his own personal view. “The TNA will meet shortly and announce its official stance with regard to the UNP-proposed draft constitution,” Mr. Senathirajah said. “We submitted a proposal regarding a power sharing arrangement about a year ago but up to now we have had no response from the Government.” He said if war displaced people were to be resettled it was imperative for the Army to vacate the lands belonging to the Tamils. “Government is telling the international community that the war displaced people have been fully resettled. I reject this statement. More than 100,000 people are living with relatives, friends or in welfare camps and are still to be resettled,” Mr. Senathirajah said. “More than 80,000 refugees are living in India. We are requesting the Indian government to guarantee their resettlement in their own lands.” Mr. Senathirajah said the Tamils were badly affected by the long drawn war and now we have to struggle against the government, which is intent on wiping out the Tamils. (S. K. Prasath and Sumithy Thanagarasa) |