Focus on people’s immediate needs as calls grow for unity
TAMIL PARTIES MULL OVER PRIORITIES...

Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan, Mano Ganeshan, Mavai Senathiraja, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, Prabha Ganesan, Sivajilingam
Former MP Mano Ganeshan said Tamil parties had been vested with the responsibility of winning the confidence of the Sinhala people in order to create a stable environment within the communities. He said that it was very important, as they needed to differentiate the Tamil people from the LTTE.
The Tamil political scene has changed with the absence of the LTTE. Till May 2009 almost all the Tamil political parties and their views revolved around the LTTE. Either they were with the organisation, or against it. The political views and decisions of parties such as the TNA were largely influenced by the LTTE.
The scenario took a turn when the outfit was defeated by the military in May last year. The defeat gave the other Tamil political leaders an opportunity to come to the forefront and address the issues faced by the people, an opportunity, which was deprived due to the presence of the Tigers, who claimed to be the sole representatives of the Tamil people
The post-war political environment has brought many Tamil political parties together, leaving their political differences aside, to assist the war-affected people and address the immediate needs of those who have been resettled.
Tamil political leaders in the recent past have shown great interest in working together towards the betterment of the Tamil people and to address the issues faced by those who were affected due to the war.
Since the end of the war, the focus was mainly on the resettlement of the displaced and providing them with the necessary assistance to get back to normal life as soon as possible.
In the meantime, efforts have also been taken to find a solution to the ethnic question, which brought about the war.
Recently, several Tamil parties have formed a forum to look into the needs of the people who were affected and who have been resettled after the war.
Named as the Tamil Political Parties Forum (TPPF), it comprises several Tamil parties, both in the government and the opposition.
The parties include Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), EPRLF (Pathmanabha group), PLOTE, Tamil National Liberation Alliance (TNLA), Sri TELO and Democratic People’s Front (DPF).
These parties have different political agendas, but decided to form the forum based on a common understanding.
“The forum was formed based on an agreement on a minimum common programme for the Tamil people. We are looking into the issues such as resettlement and the rehabilitation of these people,” said former parliamentarian and TNLA leader M K Shivajingam.
He stated that it was important for the Tamil parties to unite for the betterment of the Tamil people at this juncture.
According to Shivajilingam, the different political views of the parties involved do not have any impact on the progress of the forum, as it had not been set up as a political outfit.
“The TPPF is not a political front. It would not contest in elections. It is a forum where the concerns of the people are expressed,” Shivajilingam added.
In the meantime, measures have also been taken by the government in finding a political solution for the ethnic question.
Tamil parties, however, say that addressing the people’s practical needs needed more focus at this juncture.
The Tamil political scene has changed with the absence of the LTTE. Till May 2009 almost all the Tamil political parties and their views revolved around the LTTE. Either they were with the organisation, or against it.
The political views and decisions of parties such as the TNA were largely influenced by the LTTE.
The scenario took a turn when the outfit was defeated by the military in May last year. The defeat gave the other Tamil political leaders an opportunity to come to the forefront and address the issues faced by the people, an opportunity, which was deprived due to the presence of the Tigers, who claimed to be the sole representatives of the Tamil people.
The role of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) seems to have changed as well in the current context.
The party, which still has the largest number of Tamil representatives in parliament, is of the view that all Tamil parties should work together on a common consensus.
The TNA, which was often looked upon as a proxy of the Tigers, had transformed into a somewhat independent party following the defeat of the LTTE.
TNA parliamentarian Mavai Senathiraja ruled out any possibilities of working with the government.
“The government was to appoint two committees, one to find a solution for the ethnic question and the other, to look into the resettlement and rehabilitation of the people affected by the war. We are yet to name its representatives. However, this does not in any way mean that we are willing to work with the government,” he said.
The TNA is not a part of the TPPF as yet.
An invitation was sent and the party did confirm receiving a letter from the forum. However, a decision has not been taken with regard to the TPPF invitation.
Senathiraja said the party would take a decision this week.
“We will be having our meeting on October 18. We will take a decision on the matter at the meeting,” he added.
“The Tamil parties should unite work together for the sake of the Tamil people. I would say that the Muslim parties too should be included in this effort.”
The war, which raged on for decades resulted in Tamils being looked at suspiciously by the Sinhalese. Though it is not the case anymore, Democratic People’s Front (DPF) leader and former parliamentarian leader Mano Ganeshan said Tamil parties were vested with the responsibility of winning the confidence of the Sinhala people in order to create a stable environment within the communities. He said that it was very important, as they needed to differentiate the Tamil people from the LTTE.
“The armed struggle in the country has ended. The Tamil political parties should try to seek justice and peace for the Tamil people within an undivided country. And it should be achieved in a non-violent manner,” he said.
The resettlement process of those who were displaced is continuing, with a few thousands still remaining in the welfare centres.
The government has also taken steps to ensure the people are provided with basic facilities and livelihood opportunities to get back on their feet.
The recent political developments saw many Members of Parliament, representing the minorities, extending their support to the government in its endeavours to reconcile and develop the country.
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and MPs including J Sri Ranga, Abdul Cader and former TNA MP, Piyasena Appuhamy pledged their support to the government during the debate of the 18th amendment to the constitution along with several other opposition MPs.
Earlier, Democratic People’s Front (DPF) parliamentarian Prabha Ganeshan and P Digambaram of the National Union of Workers Front (NUWF) crossed over to the government.
With the opposition becoming weaker, there are those who believe that the Tamil people would benefit if the political parties work with the government.
Appuhamy, following his crossover, said he would not be useful to the people who elected him, if he remained in the opposition.
He stated that the only way to assist the affected people was to join the government and work with the President.
“There is no point being in the opposition and shouting. It will not do the people any good.”
While welcoming the move by the Tamil political leaders to establish a forum to address the issues of the Tamils, Deputy Resettlement Minister Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan stated that working with the government would help them to allocate more resources to assist the resettled people in the north.
“The government is in a very powerful position. The Tamil political parties should think of working with the government in helping the people. This could result in the people getting more resources and facilities,” Muralitharan said.
Despite the option given to work with the government, Tamil political leaders have chosen the most practical mode to address the issues of the people, as the political agendas of some of the parties prevented from doing so.
Eastern Province Chief Minister and TMVP leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan said the respective party should decide on whether to work with the government or not.
“It is not a question of working with the government here. The needs of the Tamil people have to be addressed. In order to do that, the Tamil parties should get together and speak out on behalf of the people. The Tamil Political Parties Forum is the first step in bringing the parties together for a common programme,” he said.
He also said the unity of Tamil political parties would be affected if their own political motives were brought in.
“The people want their immediate needs addressed. They have lost a lot due to the war and those needs should be addressed. The constitutional changes and political settlements are not in their minds. The people are not interested whether the north and east are merged or not. They want their issues to be sorted. That should be our goal,” Chandrakanthan added.
In the meantime, there are also speculations that there could be a new alliance of the Tamil political parties with the formation of the TPPF parallel to the TNA.
Shivajilingam, who is a member of the forum, did not rule out a possibility of the formation of another Tamil political alliance in the future.
He said some of the parties involved in the TPPF could come to an understanding and form a political alliance.
“There are no such moves at the moment, as the forum is not a political outfit. It consists of parties having various political views. There is a possibility that some of them could forge an alliance to contest in future elections,” Shivajilingam said.
However, there are those who think that it would not be practically possible.
“As far as the TPPF is concerned, it consists of parties from the opposition as well as the government. Therefore, it would be difficult for the parties to come to an understanding and form a political alliance,” said Mano Ganeshan.
Ganeshan also said the involvement of the TNA would further strengthen the forum.
“Though we are part of the TPPF, we have our own observations. Our view is that the TNA also should join the forum.”
The government has taken special steps to ensure that terrorism does not raise its head again. The division among the Tamil politicians was one of the main factors for the delay in addressing the issues of the Tamil people and the national question.
The TPPF recently discussed the possibilities of inviting Muslim parties and parties representing upcountry people.
With the formation of the TPPF, the door has been opened to other political parties representing the minorities to voice their support to the people.