Large crowds attend final TNA election rallies

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 December 2001, 23:25 GMT]
Large crowds attended the final election rallies of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in Jaffna and Trincomalee held Sunday evening. About 15,000 people attended the TNA meeting held close to Nallur Kandaswamy Temple, said sources in the peninsula.

"The TNA and the LTTE would agitate for full-fledged autonomous state for Tamils through peace talks. In failing to accommodate this request we would appeal to the world, especially India, to recognize Tamil Eelam," said Mr.R.Sampanthan, Secretary General of the Tamil United Liberation Front and the chief candidate of the TNA contesting Trincomalee district addressing TNA meeting in Trincomalee.

Mr.Sampanthan continued: "We are at the doorstep of achieving a full-fledged autonomous state or a separate state. The whole world is now waiting for the verdict of Tamils at the forthcoming general election.

The Tamil National Alliance has already declared its stand on future peace talks with Liberation Tigers. TNA now demands that the government in power should lift the ban on the LTTE in Sri Lanka immediately enabling them (LTTE) to participate in peace talks as the sole representative of Tamils in this country. Further, the TNA has clearly stated that no talks should be held with any other Tamil groups parallel to talks with LTTE. The TNA seeks mandate from Tamils at the forthcoming general election supporting its present stand on Tamil national question."

Meanwhile, addressing TNA final election rally in Nallur, Jaffna, Mr. Mavai Senathiraja, former parliamentarian and a candidate of the TNA contesting the Jaffna district, said: "No one including Mr.Douglas Devananda, EPDP leader could stop us for joining hands with the LTTE to achieve Tamils' legitimate aspirations."

He said he has been shifted to a private nursing home because of death threat to him by EPDP armed cadres when being warded in state hospital in Jaffna.

Mr.Senathiraja was seated on the election platform with bandages for wounds he sustained in the attack by EPDP armed cadres last Wednesday at Kayts.

Several others including TNA candidates, former parliamentarian Mr.A.Vinayagamoorthy, K.Gajendrakumar and Jaffna Mayor N.Raviraj attended the meeting.