Comrade
Vickramabahu Karunarathne in a press statement
appeals to vote for umbrella for unity on the basis of the right of
self determination to oppressed nations.
Below is the full statement;
Nava Sama Samaja Party, Tamil National Liberation Alliance and
Socialist Party have together submitted nominations for the
parliamentary elections under the Left Liberation Front and the symbol
Umbrella.
We stand for unity on the basis of the right of self determination to
oppressed nations. NSSP stood for a solution based on equality,
autonomy, and the right of self determination to Tamil nationality
since 1974. We have faced repression and death in the course of our
struggle. Today we are happy to be in a front with Tamil leaders who
never succumb to the pressure of either the Sinhala chauvinists or to
that of global powers including Indian rulers.
Together we are
contesting 19 districts and due to technical mistakes our papers were
rejected in three districts, Gampaha, Galle and Badulla.
We appreciate that you have supported us financially and other wise, in
previous occasions. But
today we need funds to conduct a
strong election campaign. All other, all island parties, UNP, JVP etc
support the war efforts of the government. We campaign for the removal
of the emergency pact and the release of all political leaders. Several
political prisoners are contesting in our lists.
Please contribute generously to our election fund.
When we say Election
result rigged, Ranil says Mahinda is his president — Bahu
(23-02-10)
“When we took to the streets against the
presidential election result, Ranil Wickramasinghe meets Mahida
Rajapaksa at his residence to accept him as the president in order to
evaporate radicalisation of anti government protests.” comrade
Vickramabahu Karunarathna said in a news conference yesterday.
“Today, we see that the opposition does
not pose any major political threat to the policies of the government,
racism and war. Sinhala racism and the war are the main weapons that
the government uses to intimidate workers, peasants, minorities,
journalists and other oppressed so that Rajapaksas can stay in power.
UNP and JVP are not ready to fight against the politics of the
government; instead they try to become more racists than government’s
racism.” comrade Bahu said.
He further
said that alternatively, Left Liberation Front and the Tamil National
Liberation Front have come together to fight against the global
capitalist agenda and the racism of this government.
Comrades MK
Sivajilingam speaking in the same premises said that the Tamil National
Liberation Front, TNLA would contest the upcoming general election with
the Left Liberation Front under the umbrella symbol as comrades in the
Left Liberation Front have been standing for the rights of the Tamil
speaking people for the last 35 years.
Comrade N. Srikantha challenged the TNA
leadership for a public debate on the Indian issue and vowed to prove
that they are puppets of Sonia Congress.
Election result is
the biggest ever unpatriotic crime
– Bahu
Common
Left Candidate comrade
Vickramabahu Karunaratne called the declared result of the presidential
election in Sri Lanka as the biggest ever betrayal of the country.
Addressing a media
briefing in Colombo on Sunday, comrade Vickramabahu said that the
result has been manipulated using sophisticated computer technology to
show the world that the Sinhala electorate is totally racist and
against any agreement, while the Tamils are not prepared to work
alongside the Sinhalese. He said that the spread of variance in the
declared result appears unnatural.
He charged that the
result was achieved by a ‘daylight conspiracy’ specifically targeting
the Tamils of the North East combined with a ‘midnight conspiracy’.
“The midnight conspiracy was launched by
state officials who manipulated the result while the daylight
conspiracy was visible in the intimidation of Tamils.”
He called the
manipulation of votes a ‘Blanquist’ conspiracy run by a select group of
officials.
Shivaji calls
to stop dissolving parliament
Tamil
Presidential Candidate comrade MK
Shivajilingam speaking at the media briefing said that bombing in the
North East and filming those queuing to vote discouraged people from
voting. The small number of internally displaced who were allowed to
vote officially could not get to their polling stations due to lack of
transport.
He said that the
response comrade Vickramabahu and he received during the election
campaign
against war and racism throughout the whole island is not reflected in
the result. “Sinhala and Tamil people displayed their willingness to
work together for a solution,” he said. He added that some who never
ran an election campaign have got a higher number of votes.
Comrade Vickramabahu
explained that by not displaying the proper mandate, the government is
trying to portray that there is no room in Sri Lanka for any forward
thinking ideology that upholds freedom and democracy.
“This is the biggest
ever unpatriotic crime against the country,” he said.
Comrade Shivajilingam
MP
called upon the opposition led by General Sarath Fonseka to request
courts to stop the government from dissolving the parliament until the
disagreement on the result is resolved.
“There is no point in
going to a parliamentary election until we are certain about the real
mandate,” he said.
Both Comrades
Vickramabahu and Shivajilingam said that they are willing to
be part of any protest against this conspiracy against the voting
public.
We will get a
substantial vote to fight both reactionary camps – Bahu
Common
Left Candidate comrade
Vickramabahu Karunaratne of the Left Front contesting under the Table
symbol in his Election Day address said that he is confident of
obtaining a substantial vote that will enable to mobilize against both
camps.
In a video address
comrade Vickramabahu said that the combined votes Tamil Presidential
Candidate MK Shivajilingam who represents Tamil Liberation along with
him who represent the left and the proletariat will get a vote for a
“progressive liberationist force prepared to fight back”.
He emphasized the
need to build a force that will fight against global capital and
Sinhala chauvinism represented by Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sarath Fonseka.
“If we can mobilize
a progressive liberationist force prepared to fight back, it will
enable us to play a big role in the coming period regardless of whoever
becomes the president,” he said.
comrade Bahu
explained how both Rajapaksa and Fonseka are reactionaries fighting to
be agents of global capital in Sri Lanka with the aid of Sinhala
chauvinism.
While pro capital
politicians like Rohitha Bogollagama together with Sinhala supremacist
JHU and Wimal Weerawansa are fortifying the Rajapaksa camp, comrade
Vickramabahu pointed out that the Sinhala extremist JVP along with
Buddhist monk politician Dambara Amila Thero have joined Ranil
Wickramasinghe who tows the western agenda to reinforce the Fonseka
camp.
“We need to fight
both camps that are equally reactionary,” said Bahu.
In order to do so,
comrade Bahu emphasized the need of voting on the 26th of January
presidential election for him and Shivajilingam to combine both Tamil
liberationist and left wing forces in the fight for democracy, self
rule and self determination.