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Jaffna ‘Crusaders’ explain election gambit
View(s):The former LTTE cadre contesting from the Jaffna District in next month’s elections as an independent group called the Crusaders Democratic Front served in the terrorist group’s intelligence branch as well as in low-level positions.
They surrendered to the security forces after the end of the war in 2009 and were rehabilitated and allowed to return to their homes. They now say they wish to work within the democratic framework to win rights for Tamils.
The group’s spokesman, Ganeshalingam Raveendran (Thulasi), spoke to the Sunday Times:
What is your main reason for contesting the elections?
We were rehabilitated by the government. We have not been blocked from contesting an election as our civil rights were not taken away. As a Sri Lankan citizen, anybody can contest in the election. In 2001, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) obtained 22 seats in parliament but now this number is reduced to 12. Initially we worked to strengthen TNA. [TNA MP] Mavai Senathirajah and [TNA leader] R. Sampanthan should have invited us to join them and contest the poll but they didn’t do that. So we are contesting on our own.
Your group wanted to contest with the TNA but that was rejected. What are the reasons given by the TNA?
We approached the TNA when the seat allocation meeting was going on in Vavuniya. They kept us waiting for a while and then told us that they are in discussions with the international community and if they allow us to contest with them it would be difficult for them.
What are your main campaign themes?
If people give us a chance we can develop our areas and make the people more economically self-sufficient. We have experience in agriculture while being in the LTTE. We would like to use water from the Iranaimadu tank for this purpose. We will also put an end to the influx of illegal drugs into the peninsula as well as a stop to sexual harassment of women. We also want to address the problems of missing persons and the resettlement of IDPs.
There are allegations that the former president’s group is backing your group to split the TNA vote. Any reaction to this?
The former president is not in power now. Power is in the hands of the Maithri-Ranil-TNA coalition so how could Mahinda Rajapaksa influence us?