External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s statement in Parliament today that the LTTE had killed fleeing Tamil civilians and “has done much damage to the Tamil community” led to an uproar, with the MPs from the PMK, a UPA ally, and the MDMK accusing the government of supporting Sri Lanka and ignoring the plight of Tamils caught in the cross-fire in northern Sri Lanka.
Speaking earlier, Mukherjee had said the LTTE could serve the interests of Tamils by laying down arms and releasing civilians. “Strong concerns for the safety, security and welfare of civilians caught in the conflict have led us to stay actively engaged to prevent a further deterioration of humanitarian conditions,” he said.
The MPs’ protests led to two adjournments. Finally, they staged a walkout. Their demand is that India must intervene and put an end to the conflict to protect the lives of Tamils caught in the conflict zone.
India’s primary concern is the safety of the 70,000-odd internally displaced persons (IDPs). Nearly 35,000 civilians have fled the LTTE-held areas in the past two weeks, Mukherjee said.
Later, Mukherjee said he was ready to make “corrections” in his statement if there were any “discrepancies”, but added that the “...Government of India has no instrumentality under which it can force a sovereign government to take a particular action. This is not simply possible”.
However, India would facilitate the evacuation of civilians by collaborating with Sri Lanka and the Red Cross, he added.
Giving details of his trip to Colombo last month, he said Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa had assured that his government was seeking a political solution to the conflict. Sri Lanka must fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and going beyond the provisions of this Amendment – concerning devolution of powers to the various regions, especially the Tamil-dominated eastern and northern areas —would be “significant”, he said.
Sir,The LTTE believe democracy and peace so they were submited one proposal (http://www.ltteps.org/list.ltte?folder=6)to solve ethnic problem in CFA period.Why don't encourage India?Now India abet to Singhala Sri Lanka to genocide the Tamils.The tamils are not terrorist their rightous freedom struggle is not terrorism.The proposal was submited to Tamils safty .
SINCE MR.PRANAB MUKHERJEE IS NOT THE SPOKES PERSON OF TAMILS LIVING IN SRI LANKA HIS STATEMENTS SHOULD BE IGNORED.
Posted by: Dawnplay
February 22 , 2009, 08:52 IST
TAMILS ARE NOT TERRORIST;THEY ARE FREEDOM FRIGHTERS.Tamils are united by Tamils and LTTE
Posted by: mathi
February 21 , 2009, 02:35 IST
Thanks GOTHANDARAMAN.The India have to accept self-determination of tamils living in Celon.
Posted by: Aravinda
February 21 , 2009, 01:20 IST
Tamils kill Tamils. Mr Prabakaran take small little children as solders while in the school.but his children having good education in UK. most of LTTE fighters never seen a sinhala person . LTTE brainwashed the people by not allowing them to access information. Tell me wht LTTE want to achieve ? if 80% tamils are live with sinhalese in south.
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