‘PLA’ a creation of govt. to rig Presidential Election – Hakeem
by Zacki Jabbar
The so-called Peoples Liberation Army does not exist and was a creation of the government aimed at rigging the forthcoming Presidential Election, SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem alleged yesterday.
He said that the Rajapaksa regime was allegedly planning to use armed Tamil groups under the guise of them being the ‘PLA’ to prevent Tamils and Muslims from voting for General (Retd) Sarath Fonseka, the Oppositions Common Presidential Candidate.
“The PLA does not exist nor is the report that it has 300 members and was planning to recruit another 5,000 cadres correct”, he said. “Being a non existent group, it obviously cannot be linked to the Palestinian Liberation Organization as claimed by the government.”
The East was being terrorized by armed Tamil groups supportive of the Rajapaksa administration. It is their members, who would be used to create a fear psychosis and also rig the Presidential Poll Hakeem alleged.
“At the last Eastern Provincial Council Election, pro government armed Tamil groups stuffed the ballot boxes in the Ampara District”, he alleged. “In certain voting centers a turnout of between 95 to 98 per cent had been recorded. Such high percentages are simply not possible.”
Hakeem said that the UNF has requested the Elections Commissioner to ensure the conduct of a free and fair Presidential poll.
The Island -News
