Tamil Nadu parties voice support for Eelam Tamils

Putting aside political differences, Tamil Nadu political parties joined hands in voicing support for Eelam Tamils at a State-wide protest fast organized by the Communist Party of India (CPI) demanding New Delhi to withdraw military assistance to neighbouring Sri Lanka.

Marunalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhgam (DMDK) Tamil Desiya Iyakkam, Puthiya Tamilagam and Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK) participated in the fasting campaign held on Thursday October 2, Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, in Chennai and district capitals across the state of Tamil Nadu was attended by thousands of people.

A wide range of Tamil leaders were present at the stage at Seappaakkam demanding the Central Government of India to stop not to provide military assistance to the Sri Lankan government, to exert pressure on Colombo to stop the military offensive and to resume peace talks to find a political solution.

Tamil Nadu CPI Joint Secretary C. Mahendran, Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary N. Varadarajan, Chairman of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam led by Actor Vijayakanth, Panruti S.Ramachandran, MDMK General-Secretary Vaiko, Tamil National Movement Leader Pala Nedumaran, Viduthalai Chiruththaikal Kadchi (VCK, Liberation Panthers Party) President Thol. Thirumavalavan, Puthiya Thamizhakam Leader Dr. Krishnasamy, World Tamils Organization President, Ira. Janarthanan, former Congress leader Thindivanam Ramamoorthy and Latchiya Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (LDMK) Leader Vijaya T Rajendhar were among the political figures of Tamil Nadu who took part in the hunger strike at the stage and also addressed the audience.

Several artists and poets from Tamil Nadu and three Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarians, Maavai Senathirajah MP, Sivajilingam MP, Suresh Premachandran MP and V.I.S Jayapalan, a Tamil poet from Eelam were also among the participants at the stage.

CPI National Secretary D. Raja, in his address, charged that New Delhi was clandestinely assisting Sri Lanka in its war against Tamils and questioned what the Indian personnel who came under attack in the North of Sri Lanka were doing there.

"This struggle which expresses the sentiments of the entire Tamils has to continue and we will unite in the struggle continually," D. Raja told the participants.

"This issue cannot be brushed aside as an internal affair of Sri Lanka. The offensive against the Eelam Tamils will affect India too."

"This is not a demonstration in support of a particular organization or a leader but one that is held in sympathy of the Tamil people and the CPI has no other inner motive in this struggle," he declared

Raja, labelling the Rajapakse led Sri Lankan Government as a ‘tyrant state’ for its continued military action against the Tamils on the island nation, said that the Rajapakse government had always talked about military solutions to the ethnic problem, unmindful of its consequences. This had only made Rajapakse turn into a dictator, he charged.

He also blamed the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Government for not raising its voice against the killing of Tamils.

“There is a need to protect the Tamils in Lanka. The refugee problem still persists. Thousands are living in camps in Tamil Nadu. The Tamils in Lanka should get their social, economic and political rights,” he said.

“The situation demands that the Indian government explain its position. There are reports that three Indian soldiers were injured in the war between the Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE. The Indian government has not reacted so far. It must make it clear whether it is clandestinely helping the Sri Lankan Army. We will not allow any assistance to the Sri Lankan Army from Indian side,” said Raja.

“India remains silent on the strategic agreement between Sri Lanka and the US. Neither did it protest against the attacks on Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.”

"The lost rights of the Indian fishermen in the Kachchatheevu agreement should be restored," Raja declared and said: "We wish to point out to the leader of DMK that we are fighting against the Indian State not only for its Nuclear deal; we are also opposing it for the role it plays in Sri Lanka."

D. Pandian, the Tamil Nadu State Secretary of the CPI said the hunger-strike and the support by CPI to Eelam Tamils was not a political maneuver for forming an election alliance in Tamil Nadu. "It is a shame to think about forming political alliance on the death of Eelam Tamils," he said and urged all parties to exert pressure on New Delhi.

Pandian further said that his party would organise an International Conference of Tamils by December to discuss the problems of Tamils in Sri Lanka. He accused the Centre and the DMK state government of remaining indifferent to the plight of fishermen, who were being attacked regularly by the Sri Lankan Navy.

CPI (M) central committee member W.R.Varadha Rajan said that India, through diplomatic channels, must pressure the Sri Lankan government against launching an offensive against innocent Tamils in the name of waging a war with the LTTE. “Let India tell the Sri Lankan government to find a political solution to the ethnic crisis.”

Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan suggested a general strike in support of the Sri Lankan Tamils.

Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) presidium chairman Panruti S. Ramachandran, who was actively engaged in the Sri Lankan process under the late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) in the mid-80's, said the Indian government should send food and medicines to the Tamils through international agencies such as the United Nations. “India must intervene on humanitarian grounds,” he added.

MDMK general secretary Vaiko said Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi should ensure that India did not give any military assistance to Sri Lanka. Alleging that the killings of Tamils was going on unchecked for nearly 25 years.

Senior CPI leader R. Nallakannu said in Madurai that the Indian Navy, that was supposed to protect the rights of Indian fishermen, was “unfortunately supporting the Sri Lankan Navy.”

Tamil Nationalist Movement leader Pazh Nedumaran, Sri Lankan MP Sivajilingam and senior CPI leader C. Mahendram were among those who participated in the agitation.