TNA to boycott Independence Day celebrations

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has decided to boycott the country's 73rd Independence Day celebrations.

TNA Spokesman and Jaffna District MP M.A. Sumanthiran announced the decision in Vavuniya yesterday after a meeting of Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi's (ITAK) politburo.

Explaining reasons for the decision, Mr Sumanthiran said the decision was taken in protest against the continued crackdown on Tamils. He also said that it was the TNA's view that the United Nations should reject the new three-member Commission appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to probe into human rights violations and submit recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. 

He added that they also discussed the Government's continued crackdown against Tamils in the North and East. He also alleged that a concerted attempt is being made through Government agencies such as the Department of Archaeology, Mahaweli Authority and the Department of Wildlife Conservation to acquire land belonging to Tamils. Mr Sumanthiran also claimed that the Department of Archaeology is making efforts to change Hindu places of worship in the North and East. 

The TNA Spokesman stated that he was glad that all Tamil political parties have arrived at a consensus which will be communicated to ambassadors of all member states represented at the UNHRC. 

By Romesh Madushanka