TNA vs TNA battle begins

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) Leader and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) General Secretary Mavai S. Senathirajah has lambasted Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran for having undermined the efforts by the TNA to urge the Centre to begin a domestic inquiry into alleged war crimes which could be monitored by the international community.

ITAK Leader Senathirajah had pointed out that the proposed internal inquiry in Sri Lanka on alleged war crimes was a part of the international exercise to call for an international probe on war crimes and it was the TNA which first mooted the idea of an internal probe.

Senathirajah had also accused Wigneswaran for not being supportive of the TNA’s Parliamentary Election campaign at a meeting held in Vavuniya on Saturday (5) where a reception was accorded to the TNA Parliamentarians elected from the Vanni DSistrict. He further said: “Certain Tamil politicians including the Northern Chief Minister are trying to undermine the efforts taken by the TNA to hold an investigation into the alleged war crimes in the Island. From 21 to 24 October 2011, on the invitation of the US State Department the TNA leader for four days briefed clearly on the war crimes and the human rights violations clearly to the US Department officials with all the adequate evidence.

It was on the basis of the TNA leader’s details provided on the alleged war crimes and human rights violations the US Government succeeded in bringing out three resolutions against the Rajapaksa regime consecutively for three years from 2012 to 2014 at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva.

On the best interest of the war victims and to seek justice for them the US Government laboured tirelessly in bringing out the three resolutions in Geneva. So the US Government is very much aware about the alleged war crimes committed during the final phase of the civil war in the country. However when an investigation is carried out on a country, it should only be commenced with the consensus of that country.

The UNHRC’s report on Sri Lanka’s alleged war crimes is expected to be released this month. The report will be an extensive one on the basis of the details provided by the TNA leadership and on the investigations carried out by the United Nations so far on the alleged war crimes in the country. “Therefore those who attempt to sling mud on the TNA with launching a signature campaign calling for an international investigation should realize that the TNA was the first to initiate an International investigation and the proposed internal investigation is part of it.” Mavai Senathiraja said. (Ceylon Today)