TULF
to consider disciplinary action against its president
The TULF is to appoint a disciplinary committee to probe charges
against its president, V Anandasangaree, in what observers believe
is a move to expel him from the party or from the post.
The move comes
following a controversial no-confidence motion passed by the TULF
last Sunday and in the wake of an LTTE invitation to TNA parliamentarians
for a meeting. The charge-sheet against Mr. Anandasangaree accuses
him of violating the TNA policy that recognizes the LTTE as the
sole representatives of the Tamils.
TULF MP Joseph Pararajasingham told The Sunday Times that the party's
action against Mr. Anandasanagaree would depend on the report of
the disciplinary committee to be appointed soon.
He said the
no-confidence resolution passed last Sunday against Mr. Anandasangaree
was valid and it was moved after repeated complaints from district
organisations that the president of the party was violating the
party policy of backing the LTTE as the sole voice of the Tamil
people.
"When
the TNA was formed, we were signatories to this policy and on this
platform, 15 members, including Mr. Anandasangaree, were elected
to Parliament," Mr. Pararajasingham said. Meanwhile, Mr. Anandasangaree
yesterday charged that party general secretary R. Sampanthan had
deviated from the usual practice and prepared the agenda arbitrarily
for last Sunday's central committee meeting where the no-faith resolution
against him was passed.
"It is
mandatory on the part of the general secretary to consult the president
at all times, but he did not consult me this time," Mr. Anandasangaree
said. He rejected claims that district organsiations had passed
resolutions against him and challenged his rivals in the party to
name these organisations.
He said he
had already responded to all allegations against him at Sunday's
Central Committee meeting when the resolution against him was taken
up. He said that at Sunday's meeting, he upheld an objection by
a member who pointed out that the central committee had no power
to remove a key official.
"At this
moment, Mr. Sampanthan overruled the powers of the president and
asked someone to propose and second the resolution amidst my protest.
There was commotion at this stage and I had no option but to adjourn
the meeting," he said.
Mr. Anandasangaree charged that after the meeting, Mr. Sampanthan
had gone to Mr. Pararajasingham's house where signatures of a few
members were obtained and some signatures were forged.
Meanwhile in
a letter to Mr. Sampanthan yesterday, Mr. Anandasangaree said the
move to convene a central committee meeting on December 14 without
his approval is illegal. |