EPRLF calls for united front over PA package

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 February 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) sent out an invitation today to all Tamil groups for a discussion towards establishing a 'Tamil National Council' representing all of them. The letter of invitation was signed by the EPRLF leader, Mr. Suresh Premachandran.

It says that all the Tamil parties should agree on a common position on the package rather than responding to it individually as they have done so far; and that they should establish a common delegation to remove the drawbacks in the (PA) package and to work towards a meaningful and practical solution.

It is this common delegation that should have the authority to hold talks with the government says the EPRLF leader.

The invitation said, among other things,

"I believe that all the Tamil parties will accept that we did not start our struggle for rice, dhal and employment opportunities although our people need them. In 1977 the TULF and after it the militant organisations began their struggle on the basis that the Tamil people can live with respect and in safety only in a separate state. But in this situation where our objective is in disintegration, we should get complete autonomy for the Tamil people within united Sri Lanka. The solution should give meaning to our 20 year long struggle and the losses, sorrows and sufferings which came with it."

The move by the EPRLF follows concern among the ex-Tamil militant groups about the possibility of the government holding the provincial council election for the northeast in June this year.

Government sources, however, say that the elections to the Northeastern Provincial Council (NEPC) may not be held this time as well.

A Tamil party source said that they do not want to take a chance because the government is yet to officially say that the NEPC election will not be held in June.