Political parties in Tamil Nadu, including ones in the India’s coalition central government, have said that military aid to neighboring Sri Lanka should be stopped.
The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), constituents of the Dravidar Munnetra Kazhagam -led DPA in Tamil Nadu, on March 13 accused the Central government India of functioning in contravention to Tamils' expectations on the Sri Lankan issue.
"Tamils in India wanted an amicable solution to the ethnic crisis in the island nation. But the Union Government's activities are contrary to their expectations," PMK founder S Ramadoss and VCK general secretary Thol. Tirumavalavan said in a joint statement after holding a meeting to discuss the issue.
They alleged that the Sri Lankan Government was attempting to resolve the problem through military means, by launching a 'brutal attack' on the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Calling for a change in the Central Government’s approach to the issue, they said India should stop providing assistance and training to the Sri Lankan Army.
Ramadoss said both the PMK and the VCK would raise the Lankan issue in the coming budget session of the state Assembly.
"We are prepared for any sacrifice on the issue," he added.
Further commenting on the issue, G.K. Mani, president of PMK, which has five members in the lower house of Parliament, said an offensive by the Sri Lanka Army in the north is a matter of ‘grave concern’ as ethnic Tamils are the main target and civilians are being killed.
“All the people who are being massacred in Sri Lanka are Tamils. They are our brethren,” he said.
“They have already killed a lot of Tamil people. India should stop this.”
India must stop “training officers of the Sri Lankan army and should not supply weapons,” Mani said.
“India has a lot of members belonging to the Tamil community. People who are being killed in Sri Lanka are Tamils. People living in Tamil Nadu feel the pain. They feel as if their own people are being killed.”
TamilNadu, the mainly Tamil state is India's sixth-most populous with 62 million people, according to the 2001 census.
India “should ask the Sri Lankan government to find a political solution and end its military offensive,” Mani said.
“If Norway can step in and try to solve the crisis then India should not shy away. India is Sri Lanka's neighbour.”
In the interview, Thol Thirumavalavan, the founder of VCK, said: “India is giving moral and military support, it must stop at once.”
“It even gave a warm welcome to the Sri Lankan military chief. This is not appropriate from our viewpoint,” he said.
India's ban on the LTTE should be removed by holding a referendum in Tamil Nadu, Thirumavalavan said.
“Some bureaucrats took the decision without consulting the people.”
The Communist Party of India (CPI) also took up the issue Indian military assistance to Sri Lanka during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Indian Parliament).
The National General Secretary of the CPI, D. Raja, launched a no-holds-barred attack on the Central Government during deploring the Indian Government for “not uttering a word against the deployment of sea-mines by the Sri Lankan Government” in the Palk Straits and for giving training to the Sri Lankan army in a "clandestine" manner.
"What is the policy of the Government of India, and why is the Government of India keeping quiet on the question of sea-mines? Why the Government of India is extending all kinds of military support to the Sri Lankan Government?" he asked.
He sought to know why New Delhi was keen on helping a rogue nation that was "violating various international conventions" relating to land and sea mines, and asked the Indian Government to declare its policy.
He noted that "the military offensive in Sri Lanka has been gradually turning to be a war against the Tamils" and "all sorts of human rights violations are taking place" in the war-torn island.
Tamil National Movement leader Pala Nedumaran, along with two hundred members of the Tamil Eelam Supporters Co-ordination Committee (TESCC) staged a demonstration Saturday March 22, to condemn the Indian Government's military aid to the genocidal Sri Lankan Government.
Nedumaran condemned the Indian Government for secretly imparting training to Sri Lankan Army personnel who were carrying out a genocide against Tamil people. He pointed out that any military support to Sri Lanka would be used only against innocent Tamils.
Slogans condemning the Indian Government, and the Tamil Nadu Government were raised.
Several leaders of various political and non-political organizations took part in the agitation: Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam Presidium Committee Member Anoor Jagdeesan, Devendra Kula Vellalar Kootamaippu President Pasupathi Pandian, Tamil Desa Podhuvudamai Kadchi President Maniarasan and Tamil Desa Viduthalai Iyakkam Secretary Thiaygu.
Dravidar Kazhagam also registered its protest against Indian military assistance to the Rajapakse regime and passed a resolution demanding a change in Indian Government policy. The organisation also announced plans to stage state wide protests on March 28 to express their solidarity with Tamils in Northeast of Sri Lanka.
The resolution further said the 80 million strong Tamil community in TamilNadu and around the world are disappointed and condemn India’s military support to Sri Lanka which contradicts with its stated policy of negotiated settlement for the island’s long dragging ethnic conflict.
No military solution
The central government of India, which provided $500 million aid to Sri Lanka in additional military assistance including training, repeated its customary call for negotiated political solution.
“The way forward lies in a peacefully negotiated settlement within the framework of a united Sri Lanka acceptable to all communities, including Tamils,” Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a letter to a Marumalarchi Dravidar Munnetra Kazhagam, General Secretary Viako.
In the letter dated March 5, 2008, the Indian premier further said the interests of the Tamils in Sri Lanka was of particular significance to India in the country's dealings with the island nation.
In his letter, Mr. Singh also endorsed Sri Lanka’s move to implement the 13th amendment and refused to take action against the Sri Lankan Navy for routinely killing Indian fisherman in Palk Straits.
Responding to the Indian premier’s letter Viako condemned Indian naval officers for endorsing "atrocious, false statements" of the Sri Lanka Navy.
"Our naval, army and air-force officers are working hands in glove with the Sri Lanka military officers. Because of this factor, our navy officials deliberately do suppress the real facts and make false statements furnishing wrong information to the government, which is glaringly exposed in your letter," he said in a letter.
Vaiko questioned why the Indian Government had failed in its duty to "give stern warning" to the Sri Lankan Government to stop attacking Indian fisherment. He charged that by failing to protect the lives of the Tamil Nadu fishermen from the SLN, India had betrayed the Tamils.
Responding to Manmohan Singh's endorsement of the 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution, the MDMK leader pointed out that New Delhi had been easily hoodwinked by the Government of Sri Lanka.
India should have raised serious objections when the Sri Lankan government moved Supreme Court for a demerger, he said and added that the Tamils had long ago rejected the 13th amendment.
He pointed out that the Sri Lankan government had "sabotaged" the Norway-initiated peace talks, and was presently perpetrating a "genocidal murderous attack" on the Tamils by acquiring arms from various countries.
On the other hand, the Tamils in Sri Lanka were dying of hunger, starvation and lack of medical aid, and yet, India had refused to give clearance to send food and medicines to the suffering Tamils.
Vaiko also noted that it was a "matter of sorrow and shame" that the Indian Government had not condemned the murder of four Tamil Members of Parliament by the GoSL forces whereas its strategic help to Sri Lanka, through the supply of radars and military hardware, only enabled the GoSL to pursue military attacks. He labeled the red-carpet welcome to Sri Lankan Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka by the Indian Government as a black day for the Tamils.
However according to a leading Indian academic, India's government isn't going to change its policy on Sri Lanka because of demands from Tamil political parties.
India is providing ‘non-lethal’ weapons and trains Sri Lankan military officers, N. Manoharan, senior research fellow at the New Delhi-based Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies said.
“This government is at the last lap of its mandate,” Manoharan said, referring to general elections due to be held next year.
“I do not think the government will take any serious steps based on the statements made by these parties. They are going to stick to the stated policy.”
The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), constituents of the Dravidar Munnetra Kazhagam -led DPA in Tamil Nadu, on March 13 accused the Central government India of functioning in contravention to Tamils' expectations on the Sri Lankan issue.
"Tamils in India wanted an amicable solution to the ethnic crisis in the island nation. But the Union Government's activities are contrary to their expectations," PMK founder S Ramadoss and VCK general secretary Thol. Tirumavalavan said in a joint statement after holding a meeting to discuss the issue.
They alleged that the Sri Lankan Government was attempting to resolve the problem through military means, by launching a 'brutal attack' on the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Calling for a change in the Central Government’s approach to the issue, they said India should stop providing assistance and training to the Sri Lankan Army.
Ramadoss said both the PMK and the VCK would raise the Lankan issue in the coming budget session of the state Assembly.
"We are prepared for any sacrifice on the issue," he added.
Further commenting on the issue, G.K. Mani, president of PMK, which has five members in the lower house of Parliament, said an offensive by the Sri Lanka Army in the north is a matter of ‘grave concern’ as ethnic Tamils are the main target and civilians are being killed.
“All the people who are being massacred in Sri Lanka are Tamils. They are our brethren,” he said.
“They have already killed a lot of Tamil people. India should stop this.”
India must stop “training officers of the Sri Lankan army and should not supply weapons,” Mani said.
“India has a lot of members belonging to the Tamil community. People who are being killed in Sri Lanka are Tamils. People living in Tamil Nadu feel the pain. They feel as if their own people are being killed.”
TamilNadu, the mainly Tamil state is India's sixth-most populous with 62 million people, according to the 2001 census.
India “should ask the Sri Lankan government to find a political solution and end its military offensive,” Mani said.
“If Norway can step in and try to solve the crisis then India should not shy away. India is Sri Lanka's neighbour.”
In the interview, Thol Thirumavalavan, the founder of VCK, said: “India is giving moral and military support, it must stop at once.”
“It even gave a warm welcome to the Sri Lankan military chief. This is not appropriate from our viewpoint,” he said.
India's ban on the LTTE should be removed by holding a referendum in Tamil Nadu, Thirumavalavan said.
“Some bureaucrats took the decision without consulting the people.”
The Communist Party of India (CPI) also took up the issue Indian military assistance to Sri Lanka during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Indian Parliament).
The National General Secretary of the CPI, D. Raja, launched a no-holds-barred attack on the Central Government during deploring the Indian Government for “not uttering a word against the deployment of sea-mines by the Sri Lankan Government” in the Palk Straits and for giving training to the Sri Lankan army in a "clandestine" manner.
"What is the policy of the Government of India, and why is the Government of India keeping quiet on the question of sea-mines? Why the Government of India is extending all kinds of military support to the Sri Lankan Government?" he asked.
He sought to know why New Delhi was keen on helping a rogue nation that was "violating various international conventions" relating to land and sea mines, and asked the Indian Government to declare its policy.
He noted that "the military offensive in Sri Lanka has been gradually turning to be a war against the Tamils" and "all sorts of human rights violations are taking place" in the war-torn island.
Tamil National Movement leader Pala Nedumaran, along with two hundred members of the Tamil Eelam Supporters Co-ordination Committee (TESCC) staged a demonstration Saturday March 22, to condemn the Indian Government's military aid to the genocidal Sri Lankan Government.
Nedumaran condemned the Indian Government for secretly imparting training to Sri Lankan Army personnel who were carrying out a genocide against Tamil people. He pointed out that any military support to Sri Lanka would be used only against innocent Tamils.
Slogans condemning the Indian Government, and the Tamil Nadu Government were raised.
Several leaders of various political and non-political organizations took part in the agitation: Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam Presidium Committee Member Anoor Jagdeesan, Devendra Kula Vellalar Kootamaippu President Pasupathi Pandian, Tamil Desa Podhuvudamai Kadchi President Maniarasan and Tamil Desa Viduthalai Iyakkam Secretary Thiaygu.
Dravidar Kazhagam also registered its protest against Indian military assistance to the Rajapakse regime and passed a resolution demanding a change in Indian Government policy. The organisation also announced plans to stage state wide protests on March 28 to express their solidarity with Tamils in Northeast of Sri Lanka.
The resolution further said the 80 million strong Tamil community in TamilNadu and around the world are disappointed and condemn India’s military support to Sri Lanka which contradicts with its stated policy of negotiated settlement for the island’s long dragging ethnic conflict.
No military solution
The central government of India, which provided $500 million aid to Sri Lanka in additional military assistance including training, repeated its customary call for negotiated political solution.
“The way forward lies in a peacefully negotiated settlement within the framework of a united Sri Lanka acceptable to all communities, including Tamils,” Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a letter to a Marumalarchi Dravidar Munnetra Kazhagam, General Secretary Viako.
In the letter dated March 5, 2008, the Indian premier further said the interests of the Tamils in Sri Lanka was of particular significance to India in the country's dealings with the island nation.
In his letter, Mr. Singh also endorsed Sri Lanka’s move to implement the 13th amendment and refused to take action against the Sri Lankan Navy for routinely killing Indian fisherman in Palk Straits.
Responding to the Indian premier’s letter Viako condemned Indian naval officers for endorsing "atrocious, false statements" of the Sri Lanka Navy.
"Our naval, army and air-force officers are working hands in glove with the Sri Lanka military officers. Because of this factor, our navy officials deliberately do suppress the real facts and make false statements furnishing wrong information to the government, which is glaringly exposed in your letter," he said in a letter.
Vaiko questioned why the Indian Government had failed in its duty to "give stern warning" to the Sri Lankan Government to stop attacking Indian fisherment. He charged that by failing to protect the lives of the Tamil Nadu fishermen from the SLN, India had betrayed the Tamils.
Responding to Manmohan Singh's endorsement of the 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution, the MDMK leader pointed out that New Delhi had been easily hoodwinked by the Government of Sri Lanka.
India should have raised serious objections when the Sri Lankan government moved Supreme Court for a demerger, he said and added that the Tamils had long ago rejected the 13th amendment.
He pointed out that the Sri Lankan government had "sabotaged" the Norway-initiated peace talks, and was presently perpetrating a "genocidal murderous attack" on the Tamils by acquiring arms from various countries.
On the other hand, the Tamils in Sri Lanka were dying of hunger, starvation and lack of medical aid, and yet, India had refused to give clearance to send food and medicines to the suffering Tamils.
Vaiko also noted that it was a "matter of sorrow and shame" that the Indian Government had not condemned the murder of four Tamil Members of Parliament by the GoSL forces whereas its strategic help to Sri Lanka, through the supply of radars and military hardware, only enabled the GoSL to pursue military attacks. He labeled the red-carpet welcome to Sri Lankan Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka by the Indian Government as a black day for the Tamils.
However according to a leading Indian academic, India's government isn't going to change its policy on Sri Lanka because of demands from Tamil political parties.
India is providing ‘non-lethal’ weapons and trains Sri Lankan military officers, N. Manoharan, senior research fellow at the New Delhi-based Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies said.
“This government is at the last lap of its mandate,” Manoharan said, referring to general elections due to be held next year.
“I do not think the government will take any serious steps based on the statements made by these parties. They are going to stick to the stated policy.”
