National humiliation

by Ma Silva

Four Ministers of the Government were reported to have visited the Vanni and met Pooannan a Clerk in the LTTE office and not even Pullidevan or Thamilchelvam. . Now the LTTE issues a statement stating that they did not meet Pullidevan.

Four Ministers of the Government meeting a low level LTTE cadre is a humiliation which the LTTE has inflicted upon this country and those particular Ministers.

We do not give a d`85 about the Ministers not having self-respect but we cannot tolerate them humiliating this country. A question that immediately arises is as to who it was who gave permission to these Ministers to indulge in discussions with the LTTE.

The next question according to the news item was that "they discussed matters arising from the peace process", but the LTTE has slapped them for this by stating that, in the first instance no such discussion that took place and that the statement in the news papers attributed to the Sri Lankan Ministers who went to Vanni is "totally untrue" and that "all our discussions relating to the resolution of the conflict will be with the facilitation of the Royal Norwegian Government in a transparent manner and will be followed up with our official Press Release".

The LTTE undoubtedly is far more sophisticated than our Ministers who appear to have reduced themselves to a group of inconsequential people in the eyes of the LTTE.

Who could it be that arranged this meeting? Is it that they took the initiative themselves or were they asked to do so by another senior Minister? Who could have given them permission to travel by helicopter. For it is well known that only the Prime Minister who could do so. We the people must know An explanation should be given to the people of this country. For we are entitled to one.

It is evident from their press statement that the LTTE has poured scorn on them. The Prime Minister has been made out in a leading Sunday newspaper to be weak and vacillating. This is not good for the country or for the Prime Minister. He should not allow his Ministers to do as they please.

He not only undermines his own authority but gives the impression to the country that he is not in control. Those who know the Prime Minister personally, state that he is a firm and determined person. If this is true he must project such an image of himself.

He must act decisively. It appears that the matter of the parliamentary majority is holding him back. But if he does enter into a regular dialogue with the back benchers in the opposition and also hold regular consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, who is a reasonable man, and also ensure that opposition party supporters are not harassed by the Police, we are certain that he would have the political strength to ride out any storm. He must also focus on priority issues and not indulge in matters of lesser consequence.

We await a response from the Prime Minister who must put his house in to order in his own interest.