http://www.ceylontoday.lk/16-5320-news-detail-give-up-confrontational-politics.html Give up confrontational politics
Date:2012-04-29 07:05:00
Embrace realistic thinking KP tells Tamils By Our Political Correspondent One time LTTE key financier Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) has said Tamil political parties should shy away from confrontational politics and embrace realistic thinking in overcoming issues faced by the Tamils. Pathmanathan made this observation during an opening ceremony for a home for the orphans in Mulliyawalai in the Mullaitivu district on Friday. The orphanage and several other post-war development activities have been initiated by NERDO (North East Rehabilitation Development Organization), initiated by him with the donations mainly received from the Tamil Diaspora abroad. Pathmanathan speaking at the ceremony of the `Barathy Home’ orphanage in Mulliyawalai said Tamil politicians in the country and certain fractions of the Tamil Diaspora are using the innocent Tamils in the North and the East as scapegoats for their political gains. He said this is not the time to play around with the lives of thousands of innocent civilians who are striving hard to come out of the miseries they had undergone in the past. “All of us have made mistakes in the past. But we should not make the same mistakes again and play around with the lives of the innocents,” he said. “The war has created thousands of widows and orphans in the North and the East and in the country at large. A significant number of them have been maimed. So we must be sensible and humane with regard to the issues we come across in the post-war conditions. Confrontational attitudes in politics are not going to take us anywhere. We must have a realistic approach in dealing with our issues. As far as the Tamil politicians are concerned they must take a common stance in solving the issues instead of having fragmented opinions,” Pathmanathan said. Fifteen individuals from the Tamil Diaspora who are supporting NERDO from London, Canada, Australia and France were also present at the event. `Barathy Home ‘has been set up on a 25 acre land in Mulliyawalai to house the destitute female children. Another home called `Sencholai’ will also be opened in the Mullaitivu district shortly, according to Pathmanathan . The NERDO has also initiated various programmes such as for vocational training for war widows in Point Pedro in the North. NERDO is a non- governmental organization funded mainly by the Tamil Diaspora abroad and certain philanthropists in the country. The government is only providing with the logistical support,” Pathmanathan said.