Tamil political parties on Wednesday accused President Chandrika Kumaratunga of trying to destabilise the UNF government.

The following is the full text of a joint statement issued by the TULF, ACTC, TELO and EPRLF (Suresh Wing).

“After the General Elections, held on 5th December, 2001 and the installation of Ranil Wickremesinghe MP as Prime Minister in keeping with the mandate of the electorate, significant developments have taken place in regard to the peaceful resolution of the Tamil question.”

“A ceasefire has held for over twenty two months and several rounds of talks have taken place between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam representing the Tamil people. The LTTE has responded to the Government’s proposals for an Interim-Administration and talks are due to commence shortly on the basis of the proposals put forward by the two sides. An Interim Administration will give the Tamil speaking people of the North-East adequate self-Governing opportunities to rebuild and reconstruct the devastated North-East, to resettle hundreds of thousands of displaced people and to provide the urgently required Socio-Economic development in the North-East.”

“The security situation in the country today, is infinitely better than the security situation that prevailed in the country prior to the general Elections held on 5th December, 2001. The current situation presents a much better opportunity for a permanent, honourable and acceptable solution to the Tamil question, than ever in the past.”

“The current attempts to destabilise the present Government, can have an immensely harmful impact on the peace-process. It can also dissipate the good-will and support extended to the peace-process and the country as a whole by the International Community.”

“The Alliance of Tamil parties comprising the Tamil United Liberation Front, the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation and the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (Suresh Wing) strongly urges the President to refrain from action that would destabilise the peace process and bring about, a situation of uncertainty in regard to the peace process.”

“The Alliance of Tamil parties also emphatically states that a duly elected President who owes her office to the democratic verdict of the people at the Presidential Election, is duty bound to respect the verdict of the people at the Parliamentary Elections held on 5th December, 2001 and the violation of democratic rules of Governance will inevitably lead to a situation of chaos and anarchy in the whole country.”