Two main Tamil parties of the up country, Ceylon Workers’ Congress and the Upcountry People’s Front representing Tamil estate population have become allies of the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse government.

Arumugam Thondaman, CWC leader and Periyasamay Chandrasekaran, the leader of the Upcountry People’s Front took oaths as Cabinet Ministers before President Rajapakse. Muthu Sivalingam and M.Satchithanantham of the CWC and P.Radhakrishnan of the UPF have become deputy Ministers in the Rajapakse government.

What is unique about the new alliance of these two parties with President Rajapakse government is the timing. These two parties supported Ranil Wicremasinge of the United National party during the Presidential polls. Thereafter, subsequent to Rajapakse’s victory, there were talks of their alliance with Rajapakse but only now has this alliance become possible. I t is the duty of these two leaders to explain to his people their reasons for such alliance with the government particularly at this point of time.

They have become allies of the government when there is a war situation in the country and when President Rajapakse has failed to give a definite direction to solve the ethnic problem. They have joined the government, when the people are frustrated with the policies and the programs of the government.

Since these two leaders have joined President Rajapakse who is continuously appealing to JVP Sinhala hard-liners to become partners of his government, the CWC and UPF can no more say they became allies hoping the President to resolve the ethnic problem.

Although we don’t challenge their right to take political decisions in the interest of the people they represent, we question the timing when violence is unleashed on the people of North-East.

An English translation of the Editorial in Thinakkural, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo.

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