{"id":35537,"date":"2014-11-29T15:03:00","date_gmt":"2014-11-29T20:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=35537"},"modified":"2014-11-29T15:31:31","modified_gmt":"2014-11-29T20:31:31","slug":"tamil-national-alliance-adopts-watch-and-waitpolicy-on-2015-presidential-poll-to-avoid-2010-election-fiasco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=35537","title":{"rendered":"Tamil National Alliance Adopts “Watch and Wait” Policy on 2015 Presidential Poll to Avoid 2010 Election Fiasco."},"content":{"rendered":"

By<\/p>\n

Arthur Wamanan
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"TNA031414\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The highly anticipated stance of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on the upcoming Presidential polls and the Common Candidate of the Opposition will only be revealed after the main candidates publish their respective manifestos.<\/p>\n

The TNA has been quiet ever since the announcement of the common candidate and had not expressed its opinions publicly. It had, however, has stated that it would back a candidate who was agreeable to their demands and conditions, which means that there are possibilities that they would back Sirisena in the elections. This would also mean that there are possibilities of discussions between the TNA and Sirisena in the near future.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The constituent parties of the TNA held discussions on Wednesday (26) with regard to the position that needed to be taken at the upcoming polls and with regard to Sirisena\u2019s candidature. However, the meeting ended with an agreement by the members to wait and monitor the progress made by the Government and Opposition candidates.<\/p>\n

Undecided<\/strong><\/p>\n

General Secretary of the TNA and Leader of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), Mavai Senathirajah stated that the party would adopt a wait and watch approach this time around without coming to any hasty decisions.<\/p>\n

The past few days has seen quite a few changes in the political realm following the defection of former Health Minister and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) stalwart, Maithripala Sirisena to the opposition. Several Parliamentarians, Provincial Councilors and supporters of the United People\u2019s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) have openly expressed their support to Sirisena.<\/p>\n

With some more time to go, many are expected to cross over from the Government to the Opposition and vice versa.<\/p>\n

Mindset of the Tamil people<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, the alliance faced a setback when two of its members extended their support to the Government. TNA Pradeshiya Sabha member in Seruwila, K. Sivalogeswaram crossed over to the Government on November 25. Three days later on Friday (28) TNA PS member in Alayadivembu crossed over to the Government.<\/p>\n

However, what has been prominent during these developments is the silence of the TNA. While many politicians from the Opposition and the Government have pledged their support to Sirisena, the TNA has maintained silence over the issue.<\/p>\n

The TNA\u2019s decision to back former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka in 2010 created a slight confusion among the Tamils here and abroad, simply because he led the army, which the TNA accused of human rights violations during the final stages of the war.<\/p>\n

Regardless of the stance of the TNA, the fact is that the alliance has had a successful run in the North in particular post war.<\/p>\n

Therefore, their decision on the common candidate is sure to evoke a considerable response from the Tamils in Sri Lanka and abroad. What needs to be understood here is the mindset of the Tamil people, especially in the North. On the one hand, the solution to the ethnic question is yet to be reached. They were the ones, who received the brunt of the conflict.<\/p>\n

The past five years have been a slow journey for them since they had to rebuild their lives from scratch. The development activities in these areas are yet to reach many parts of the interior villages. However, Government officials in the area say that the people have access to basic facilities and needs. Every election in the country targets the votes of the minority. The votes of the Tamils and Muslims have been a deciding factor in the past.<\/p>\n

Ceasefire agreement<\/strong><\/p>\n

The perfect example is the 2005 Presidential election where the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe lost to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by 180,786 votes. That was the time the LTTE controlled Kilinochchi, Mullaithivu, and parts of the East. Its Leadership had ordered the people to refrain from casting their votes at the polls. The story could have been slightly different if Prabhakaran had allowed them to exercise their democratic rights.<\/p>\n

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the LTTE and the then United National Front (UNF) Government on February 22, 2002, had its positives and negatives. However, while it lasted, the people in the Wanni enjoyed the peaceful environment that the MoU brought with it. However, the peaceful environment did not last long and war eventually broke out resulting in the defeat of the LTTE.<\/p>\n

Nine years down the line, the LTTE is no more, the war is no more. Efforts to find a durable solution through dialogue failed after numerous discussions. The Government wants TNA to come to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) whereas the TNA does not want unless an agreement is reached at the bilateral talks with the Government.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a crucial juncture for the TNA since their previous decision to back a common candidate backfired.<\/p>\n

Courtesy: he Nation<\/em><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Arthur Wamanan The highly anticipated stance of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on the upcoming Presidential polls and the Common Candidate of the Opposition will only be revealed after the main candidates publish their respective manifestos. The TNA has been quiet ever since the announcement of the common candidate and had not expressed its …<\/p>\n

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