Rajapakse: “we will talk autonomy not separatism with Tamils”
Colombo (AsiaNews) – The Sinhalese government “is ready to discuss autonomy with the Tamils but not separatism” and is ever more committed and resolved to “preserving the honour and prosperity of the united country”.
This was the thrust of an address to the nation delivered by the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse on occasion of celebrations marking the 59th anniversary of national Independence, which took place yesterday across the country amid tight security measures.
The President, Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickremanayake, the ministerial cabinet and the leaders of the three armed forces participated in military parades in the capital. The National Guard also participated in the parade for the first time.
In his address, Rajapakse said: “It is our duty to protect the lives and property of the Tamil and Muslim people, and to bring security to the future world of our children but this does not mean ceding to blackmail. The government is willing to discuss autonomy not separatism.”
The President continued: “The most reliable weapon against terrorism is to do justice to the innocents. We are not ready to give in to the bloodthirsty demands of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).”
The firm government position is a “commitment to safeguard national dignity and not to betray it. I emphatically state before you of my total commitment to ensure the honour and prosperity of this blessed land by decisively defeating separatism.”
The armed struggle between the LTTE rebels and the government dates back to 1983. The Tamils want a new state in the north and east that would be separate from Colombo to counter continued discrimination by the Sinhalese who make up 70% of the total population.
More than 80,000 people have been killed since the start of armed conflict and millions of people have been displaced, forced to leave areas torn apart by the conflict.
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31/07/2009
20/04/2006
