THERE IS NO LAW AGAINST COMMEMORATING DEAD LOVED ONES - TNA

November 25, 2013
There is no existing law that prevents the public from commemorating their dead relatives, children and parents therefore the armed forces do not have the authority to implement such laws, Tamil National Alliance MP Suresh Premachandran stated.

The Police Spokesman earlier stated that it was illegal to gather, protest or demonstrate in view of Heroes Day while legal action will be taken against such lawful activities.

However, MP Premachandran claimed that the Heroes Day was not a commemoration of the LTTE but all those who perished in the war.

He said that no one can prevent loved ones from commemorating the dead while adding that even the United Nations recognizes a community’s right to erect memorials for figures they respect. He also questioned as to why the government was imposing restrictions on the Tamil people and not on the commemorations of the country’s assassinated Ministers and armed personnel.

Premchandra added that the actions of the government and the armed forces were undermining the friendship with the Tamil community.

TNA against heroes’ day ban

November 25, 2013

The Tamil National Alliance says it will strongly oppose moves to prevent families in the north from commemorating heroes’ day on Wednesday.

TNA MP Suresh Premachandran told the Colombo Gazette that the while the TNA has no plans to hold any large scale events, the party may have small events in their offices.

The government announced today that any attempt to promote the LTTE directly or indirectly is a punishable offence and will be dealt with under the law.

The announcement came amidst reports some groups in Jaffna were preparing to commemorate ‘heroes day’ which was mainly a day set aside by the LTTE to remember LTTE cadres killed during the war.

Premachandran said that family members of those killed during the war, be it LTTE cadres or civilians, have a right to hold events to commemorate the dead.

He insisted that the government cannot stop such events and doing so will be a violation of the UN convention.

Army spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya, meanwhile, said that promoting and propagating separatist ideology within Sri Lanka directly or indirectly, even by using media freedom, and attempting to commemorate or glorify terrorists that belonged to a proscribed organization would be illegal.

“The LTTE is a proscribed organization in Sri Lanka as well as in several other countries worldwide.  LTTE terrorists have carried out a large number of destructive attacks against people and public institutions/facilities in Sri Lanka. Several heads of states including a President of Sri Lanka and a Prime Minister of India were among their targets. The population representing all ethnicities including Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims suffered three decades of terrorism and violent acts carried out by the LTTE which is known as one of the most ruthless terrorist organizations the world has ever seen,” he added.

The Northern Provincial Council is currently headed by the TNA under Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran. (Colombo Gazette)