MoD to probe TNA-LTTE nexus ahead of Geneva HR summit-EU polls monitors’ report used as evidence
Posted on January 29th, 2014
By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy Island
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) would probe the nexus between the LTTE and the five-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA), a senior MoD spokesman told The Island yesterday.
The official said that the investigation would focus on the close relationship between the LTTE and the TNA since late 2001, when the political grouping recognised the LTTE as the sole representatives of the Tamil speaking people. Based on the findings, legal action would be taken against TNA members, the MoD said.
The international community, too, would be informed of the TNA’s pro-LTTE activities during the conflict, the MoD said.
The TNA consists of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), the TELO, PLOTE, EPRLF and TULF.
The MoD official was responding to a recent resolution adopted by TNA-led Northern Provincial Council to urge the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to inquire into the alleged atrocities against civilians during the military offensive against the LTTE.
The MoD official said:
“We intend to investigate senior TNA members including those in Parliament and the Northern PC. The investigation is aimed at ascertaining how the TNA”ˆinfluenced the LTTE strategy leading to war in mid 2006.”
Asked whether the MoD had irrefutable evidence to support allegations against the TNA, the official said that following parliamentary polls in December 2001, an EU Election Observation Mission had revealed that the TNA had been backed by the LTTE to win the majority of seats in the Northern and Eastern districts.
The MoD said some senior TNA representatives had even attended the passing out parades of the”ˆLTTE’s child soldiers. Photographic evidence was available, the MoD said. “We will also inquire into the circumstances under which the TNA on behalf of the LTTE ordered Tamil speaking people to boycott presidential election in November 2005.” The TNA made the announcement on November 10, 2005 in Kilinochchi, the then nerve center of LTTE operations in the Northern Province.
The MoD acknowledged that there hadn’t been a comprehensive investigation into the TNA-LTTE nexus though some military officers felt an inquiry was a necessity. Responding to a query, the MoD said that except for last presidential polls in January 2010 when the TNA backed former army commander General Sarath Fonseka, the alliance had worked closely with the LTTE at the general elections in 2001 and 2004.
January 29th, 2014 at 12:48 pm
Yes MoD, if you have credible evidence- go for it every time and good Luck. Legal action is the remedy for all those making false allegations ( ie Libel)
January 29th, 2014 at 1:10 pm
This is too good to be true. The best news in years.
I take everything MOD says with a LOAD of salt. Nothing happens. Ananthi is still awaiting REHABILITATION. SL govt. is yet to tell Michel Sisson NOT to meddle in our affairs.
But I WISH and PRAY this is true.
TNA = LTTE. There is no difference.
January 29th, 2014 at 1:32 pm
I doubt MR govt. has the back bone to take on the racist Tamil terrorists. This is only a big talk. If there is any credible evidence what did the GoSL do all these years? Too good to be true. Church or Siccon will interfere and that is the end of it. GuLP will laugh all the way to the bank while WW will fast until MR tell him to stop.
January 29th, 2014 at 6:47 pm
This is something long overdue. In order to find culpability of TNA to all the crimes it has done, it is essential to investigate LTTE crimes. As part of the proposed domestic accountability investigation into the war, all LTTE crimes must be investigated. Having found LTTE culpable for war crimes, crimes against humanity, violation of human rights and other crimes, it becomes the basis for pursuing the TNA, the Tamil Diaspora and groups sympathetic to them.
Unless LTTE’s culpability is established first, only limited legal action can be taken against TNA just by association with the LTTE. Such an establishment of culpability can be used as a tool to contain sections of the Tamil Diaspora too.
However, it is difficult to say this is the government policy or if it is another kneejerk reaction to impending UNHRC drama. Leaving out LTTE crimes from a domestic accountability investigation is naive and self destructive.
January 29th, 2014 at 6:47 pm
This shuld have been done years ago, when CITIZENS asked TNA members to be arrested. Any political party with SEPRATION, IDEOLOGY or promotes racial hatred among citizens of Lanka SHOULD be banned.
Even the recent incidents get shuffled around & very little action taken, THAT IS WHY they do what they do FREELY under nose of security forces & GOSL.
Lets hope this will materiailize in some action. In the entime, Australia has been a great friend & time for them to PROSCRIBE LTTE-as a TERROR organization, the same way 32 countries have done.
Thank you all…………….J
January 30th, 2014 at 7:05 am
Please read this:
http://asiantribune.com/node/68405
January 30th, 2014 at 9:36 am
MoD : We are all with you, in this Probe. Long over due Probe here – better late than never. Restore the Law of the Land, Restore the Land and the People.
Enacting the 6-A would be even better – Preventive Care at its best !
January 30th, 2014 at 12:34 pm
Dirt like Nimmi should not be allowed to land in SL. She is yet another Tamil racist terrorist.
February 1st, 2014 at 8:23 am
The TNA is a shape shifter. They contested the North under the ITAK ticket. Now they are back in place as the TNA, with the Vadukoddai Resolution and Thesawalami Laws intact. Is all this legal ?
Enough has been given to a illegal group called the TNA for the so called ‘Tamil speaking’ folk who for for no good reasons ask for Federalism and more and more powers. There are no Caste structures enshrined in the Constitution or the legal systems of Lanka. There is free education and health care for all.
What is really being engineered here is an artificial hype on ethnic grounds, for Colonial ‘divide & rule’ to start again in Lanka. Does Lanka or India or the region want that ?
What a farce !
February 1st, 2014 at 1:19 pm
Fran,
TNA has the same meaning as ITAK (Party for a Tamill Nation). The problem is NOT the name but the TERRORISTS in it and their ACTS.
February 1st, 2014 at 1:38 pm
Lorenzo,
If TNA = ITAK, then take ITAK to courts over Separatist aspirations & remarks to inspire Separatism ! ITAK is the registered political party used by TNA members for polling purposes.
The electoral laws too have to be amended to prohibit formation of strong Alliances after polling for purposes of Separatism.
If such Alliances are formed the party name/s that were used by the Alliance for polling purposes ought to be taken to Courts. Otherwise, there are chances of any country being splintered to pieces by small groups, not only Lanka. How do other Democracies manage ?
Also, the Vadukoddai Resolution is still in place. High time it was removed through a signed document, with signatures of all present day Tamil leaders.