Decision will only aggravate situation: Anandasangaree
July 31, 2011 09:58 pm
The proposal to reduce the number of seats in Parliament for the Jaffna District will only aggravate the situation, says Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) President V. Anandasangaree in an open letter addressed to the Commissioner of Elections.
“Due to displacement, people have settled in various places in the South and have just started returning to their homes. When the voters list, on which you propose taking action, was prepared most people had not returned to their houses.” he elaborated regarding the district’s low voter base in the recent election.
“Before Kilinochchi was carved out of the Jaffna District, it had eleven electorates. The number came down to nine at one stage and no one took serious note of it due to the adverse situation prevailing in the North, at that time.”
“Your decision to bring the number further down from, nine to six, is totally unacceptable.” Anandasangaree further stated.
Following is excerpts from the letter:
“Since steps are being taken to have a general census, a delimitation commission can follow as provided in the former constitution and the decision can be left in the hands of the commission.
“Above all your proposal will only aggravate the situation and will distance finding a solution to the ethnic problem.
Therefore I strongly urge you to recommend to the Government to have the status quo maintained till absolute normalcy is restored and the unauthorized settlements are withdrawn. The best and the most reasonable solution is to maintain the status quo and to recommend to the Government for sealing of the number at 225 until next delimitation takes place following the census.”
