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British Speaker Says LTTE Demo a Hijacking of Parliament

THE SPEAKER of the British House of Commons Michael Martin charged that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) demonstration on Monday hijacked the British Parliament obstructing duties of elected members.

In an obvious reference made to filthy unsanitary conditions created by the week long demonstration by the Tigers in the Parliamentary Square, the Speaker said to hijack an important part of this city with hunger strikers, tents and food stalls, but no toilet facilities, is not the proper way to conduct a demonstration.

Charging the LTTE demonstration violated the democratic rights of the others, Speaker Martin said: “Many of us were involved in demonstrations before we came into the House, because demonstrating is part of a democracy, but we would have those demonstrations and then leave. No one has ever expected a demonstration to hijack Parliament Square and the roads, and thereby stop others performing their democratic duties”.

Many members of the House of Commons were reportedly outraged by the Tiger demonstration that turned into a mob. Sir Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire) Conservative Party member even suggested stricter methods against the demonstrators.

Simon Hughes, Liberal Democratic Member (North Southwark and Bermondsey) argued the demonstration was lawful. He said; “Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker, I do not condone people going on to the streets, but I wish to place it on record that I know for a certain fact that the demonstration in the square was applied for lawfully and granted permission for at least the last four weeks, and it will be able to continue lawfully for some weeks to come”.

But the Speaker did not agree.” I know that I might be in a bit of a bad mood today, but let me say that when authorisation is given for 50 people to demonstrate, it means 50 people. But most members of the Commons were complaining. Conservative Party Member for Macclesfield Sir Nicholas Winterton said: “Mr. Speaker. May I seek your advice, because I was personally involved in Parliament square this morning? I was coming in by car and I was almost at Chancellor Gate when the Tamil demonstrators burst out of Parliament square and occupied the road. I was delayed in attending a meeting in the House. Indeed, I was held up for an hour and 10 minutes, until the police were able to sort out the traffic.

Is it not the case that Members of Parliament and those associated with the House should have unimpeded access, and the police and the authorities should seek to guarantee that?”
(Courtesy: Daily News)