Protect Tamils, Indian PM tells Mahinda Rajapaksha

by Vinodhini

(October 19, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) With the DMK mounting pressure on the UPA to act on the Sri Lankan issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday that the Tamil community in Sri Lanka should not get enmeshed in the on-going hostilities against the LTTE and that the rights and safety of Tamils there are upheld.

The Sri Lankan President called Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday morning to discuss the situation on the island. Expressing deep concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the north of Sri Lanka, especially as civilians were caught up in hostilities, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requested the Sri Lankan government to ensure uninterrupted relief supplies to internally displaced persons.

"Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa assured the Prime Minister that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety and well-being of the community in Sri Lanka," a PMO statement said.

Dr Singh also reiterated there was no military solution to the conflict and urged the President to start a political process for a peacefully negotiated political settlement within the framework of a united Sri Lanka.

"The Prime Minister asked President Rajapaksa to instruct the Sri Lankan Navy to desist from firing on Indian fishermen and reiterated that killing of fishermen is unacceptable," the PMO added.

Meanwhile, minister of state for defence M.M. Pallam Raju told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar that the Prime Minister and the government were making their "best efforts" to reduce the conflict in Sri Lanka and negotiate a proper settlement for Tamils living there. Mr Raju said arms were being supplied to the country purely for "self-defence". "The government and the country are very clear about the manner in which we should be involved in Sri Lanka," he said.

Tamil Nadu Congress Pradesh Committee president and Lok Sabha MP K.V. Thankgabalu on Saturday met external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee and urged him to ensure humanitarian aid was available to Tamils there. "The Centre is taking all steps to ensure the well-being of Tamils there," Mr Thankgabalu told reporters.

On whether all Congress MPs would resign if the situation did not improve in Sri Lanka, Mr Thankgabalu said the AICC would decide on the issue. However, the Congress leader said that as an individual he was ready to "sacrifice" his post anytime for the cause of Sri Lanka’s Tamils.-Oct 18 - Sri Lanka Guardian