Sri Lanka: Tamil MPs banned from voting on budget

Sunday, 18 November 2007

Twenty-two Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) have been banned from voting on Monday's proposed budget for the year 2008, according to the party. MPs from the east have received telephone warnings from Pilliayan, the acting leader of the Karuna Group. Meanwhile, MPs from the north had received similar threatening calls from Douglas Devananda, leader of the paramilitary EPDP group.

In all calls, the MPs had been warned not to vote against the budget on Monday. They were also told that the Defence Ministry had given clearance to the paramilitary groups to murder anyone who disobeys their rule.

Mahinda Rajapaksa is the Defence Minister of Sri Lanka. His brother Gothabaya Rajapaksa is the Defence Secretary.

Since the Rajapaksa administration came to power two years ago, two MPs from the TNA have been murdered in Batticaloa and Colombo.

The 2008 budget, the brainchild of the Rajapaksa brothers, is having difficulty gathering support from the opposing Sinhala parties. According to analysts, if the budget is defeated, Rajapaksa will be forced to call fresh elections.

Set as favorite

Bookmark

Comments (6) add comment

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Kaffir said:

Does this make it clear that some of the tamil people who is against LTTE. Whole world knows TNA is the white face of the LTTE. They just do what LTTE leadership wants to do. This is a clear example that every Tamil in the Island is not with terrorists.

By the way, Hundrads of leaders were killed by LTTE So far not only in Sri Lanka even in India..

2007-11-19 01:21:39

Aerial View said:

This is a false report. if TNA members obey to threat of Pillaiyan, they have to disobey Prabhakaran. Whatever it is TNA votes are not much important to win or defeat the Government because JVP power is very higher than all other opposition. This kind of false report are good for people who just read things witout anlysing it.

2007-11-19 11:30:20

James said:

Late President of U.S, Hon. Abraham Lincoln had given the definition for democracy BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, OF THE PEOPLE. Now the definition is modified as BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE POLITICIAN, OF THE POLITICIAN in south East Asia. Sri Lanka is not fit for Democratic ruling system because firstly politicians must be civilised , they must respect on Democracy, corruption and injustice must be eliminated, no freedom of speech and free to live without fear , they must respect Human Rights of People live in the Island. Under the banner of Democracy with executive powers one man ruling system is not Democracy. Parliament of SL is being used for only voting to extend the emergency ruling, voting for the budget and talking gossips. U.S and UK must come forward to realise this fact.

2007-11-20 12:20:40

Vyshnavy said:

Sri Lankan government is the stupidest government. They don't even care about tamil MPs, how are they going to care about Tamils people. Mahinda's looks is so racist and heartless. One of my uncles knew his brother from US, he said the brother is the worse man to be in the politics. The brother is so cruel and have no heart at all.

2007-11-20 19:11:44

SUKIRIYA said:

Who are these TNA Mps? Are they Political leaders that Represent TAmils in North East?

No!! They are only representing LTTE. They all are living in Colombo with luxurious houses under goverment security. While having that they go all over the world and tell LTTE need to support. If they believe LTTE is the party that can do relief tamils why they dont join it? General Civilians who are in North ( Now not east ) are suffering due to LTTE but these politicians who taken Life insuarance from LTTE are begging fopr LTTE.

This time LTTE and TNA may difficult to puppet Rajapaksha Government. Mahinda need to eradicate these TNA ( LTTE ) beggers from Parliment.

2007-11-21 10:33:41

Kumaraguru said:

SUKRIYA: 22 TNA MPs were elected in North and East for Sri Lanka Parliament to represent of the Tamils aspirations and they are telling the truth to IC what is happening in Sri Lanka. You cannot isolate LTTE from the Tamils, they are not aliens. We are not against the Sinhala State, you better live in your land peacefully and let us live with peacefully in our land, and we can live good neighbours. We do not need your Parliament.

2007-12-25 12:17:08

Write comment

This content has been locked. You can no longer post any comment.

SiberNews