The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has stated categorically that it considers both the People's Alliance (PA) and the United National Party (UNP) as forces of Sinhala hegemony and would not be supporting any political party at the forthcoming general elections.

"EPDP has placed before the people its policy on the political issue - Power Speaking to The Sunday Leader at his office in Kokaddichcholai in the LTTE-controlled areas, Karikalan, LTTE's officer-in-charge for Batticaloa and Amparai said, "The Tigers consider both parties as protagonists of Sinhala chauvinism and the suffering of the Tamils would not be alleviated whichever party came to power on December 5." This follows the assassination of Thambirajah Jeayakumar, the Batticaloa district's UNP candidate for the general elections on November 17. It is widely believed that the Tigers were instrumental in his assassination.

Karikalan, speaking to journalists some months ago, expressed the LTTE's displeasure towards Tamils contesting in the ranks of the national parties at elections, since both the PA and the UNP were not interested in resolving the problem1s of the Tamils.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Karikalan said that the Tigers did not support any political party contesting elections because it did not recognise the legitimacy of the parliament of Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a notice under the hand of the Rajasinghan Padai Privu (regiment) widely believed to be a front of the LTTE, was issued to the press which stated, "The death knell will sound on our soil for Tamil candidates who support the parties propagating Sinhala hegemony."

The leaflet accused the speakers and candidates of racist Sinhala political parties contesting elections of exploiting the LTTE to capture seats in parliament. It said the word 'LTTE' was pronounced as a charm not only in Sri Lanka but in Tamil Nadu too, to capture power and office.

The notice went on to elaborate on the theme that all Sinhala parties being snakes in the grass and that "if the ruling party was a viper, Ranil's party was a poisonous snake."

"All the racist parties speak about the problems of the Tamil people and attempts at resolving them only in the time of elections," the notice charged.

Karikalan, referring to the violent incident in Tandavanveli, in Batticaloa last Sunday said that violent incidents inspired by the armed forces showed the military's drive at suppressing the aspirations of the Tamils had not abated.