TULF condemns Ponnambalam slaying

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 January 2000, 10:30 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) has strongly condemned in a statement today, the killing of All Ceylon Tamil Congress president, Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam this morning.

TULF sources expressed concern that Mr. Ponnambalam's outspoken criticism of the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunge might have motivated his killers.

The Secretary General of the TULF Mr.R.Sampanthan today issued the party's statement, the text of which follows:

"The TULF is shocked by the news of the assassination of Mr.Kumar Ponnambalam,General Secretary of the A.C.T.C. and strongly condemns this brutal killing. Such killings do not help to stem the cult of violence that plagues the country."

"Freedom of expression is a basic tenet of a vibrant democracy. If Mr.Kumar Ponnambalam's assassination is attributable to the exercise of this fundamental right it would indeed be a dangerous trend, and would seriously erode the right of a citizen to think and express himself with independence."

"We convey our deepest sympathies to Mrs.Ponnambalam, the children and other members of the late Mr.Kumar Ponnambalam's family."