EPDP Condemns & Blamed LTTE on Assassination of Maheshwaran

(January, 02, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) “We are deeply saddened and shocked to hear the assassination of our dear friend Mr. T. Maheshwaran at the dawn of the New Year when all the people of this country belonging to every community with different faiths were engrossed in religious performances hoping for peace and harmony to prevail in the ensuing New Year,”according to press statement realsed by the EPDP, a pro-Government Tamil political party.

“It may be that some of his ideas and views are not acceptable to every one of us, but he needs to have the freedom of expression and right to expression. This right we always have held in high esteem. Even at the time we were involved in the armed struggle, this was our prime concern, and since then we have been consistently agitating to take it forward,” it’s noted.

“But unfortunately, a situation has arisen in our country to pay least regard to the freedom of expression and right to expression, resorting to silence them by the gun, and Mr. Maheshwaran has today paid the supreme price for it.

“The Tigers have been in the habit of destroying those refusing to pay them obeisance, criticizing the government and to put the blame on their opponents for such dastard acts, in the manner of killing two birds with one stone.

In the previous general election Tigers forced out Mr. Maheshwaran from Jaffna on the condition that he should not contest the General Election, but he made it a point to contest from Colombo District. At this election an attempt to his life was made by the Tigers, but he was fortunate to escape with injuries.

“We strongly condemn these killings; it is necessary that we put a full stop to all the killings forthwith and create an environment where people could move without fear. Obtaining a political solution to the Tamil Speaking People as well as silencing the freedom of expression can never be attained at gun point. These are lessons history has instilled in our minds, the party statement added.