Don't vote PA or UNP in Ampara - TULF

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 October 2000, 18:45 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) has appealed to the Tamil voters of the Digamadulla (Ampara) electoral district not to cast their votes to the People's Alliance (PA) or the United National Party (UNP) at the forthcoming general election.

"Both these parties blaming each other have failed to find an acceptable solution to the Tamil national question and are not deserving of the support of the Tamil people", says the Secretary General of the TULF Mr.R.Sampanthan in a statement issued Friday.

The statement further states:

The rejection of the Nomination Paper submitted by the TULF in the Digamadulla district has placed the supporters of the TULF and the Tamil voters in a very difficult position. The rejection of the nomination papers of the TULF was due to an act of sabotage perpetrated in the present difficult circumstances.

The TULF appeals to the Tamil voters in the Digamadulla district not to support either the People's Alliance or the United National Party. Both these blaming each other have failed to find an acceptable solution to the Tamil nation question and are not deserving of the support of the Tamil people.

The Tamil people, particularly Tamil youth have not received their legitimate entitlement in either economic or employment opportunities under the Governments of either the United National Party or People's Alliance. Tamil youths have been severely discriminated against in the matter of employment. The rights and freedoms of the Tamil people have been violated by both Governments and extending support to either party would be an acknowledgement that the Tamil people do not mind being treated as inferior citizens.

The Tamil voters of Digamadulla must however ensure that their votes are not misused and impersonated by others. The TULF would therefore request the Tamil voters in Digamadulla district while observing the above guideline to exercise their franchise according their own judgement, in a manner that would best serve their interests in the Digamadulla district.

The TULF would take all steps to ensure that the interests of the Tamil people of Digamadulla are protected and promoted at all times, states Mr.Sampanthan in his statement.