TNS Corner
CPI urges to stop arms supply to Sri Lanka

Mar 27, 2008, 18:47

The Communist Party of India (CPI), a prominent ally of the ruling Congress party in the centre, has urged its Government to "immediately stop supplying arms to Sri Lanka that was mindlessly killing Tamil people." A resolution to this effect was passed Wednesday in the party's four-day 20th National Congress at Hyderabad. D. Pandian, State Secretary, Tamil Nadu moved this resolution which sought New Delhi to interfere in the war-torn island's ethnic problem towards finding a political solution.

According to CPI sources, Mr. Pandian noted that it was shocking to learn that the Sri Lanka Army has unleashed all kinds of attacks on its own citizens. "The brutal atrocities and human rights violations by the SLA keep increasing by the day. India is affected because of this strife in Sri Lanka. The Government of Sri Lanka unilaterally withdrew from the peace talks. A majority of the Sri Lankan Parliamentarians who were elected to represent the Tamil people have been pressurizing the Government of Sri Lanka to come forward to hold talks in order to find a peaceful political solution" he further said.

The CPI, in its resolution, also urged the Indian Government to direct the Sri Lankan Government to remove the sea mines that it had planted in the historic waters since it posed a grave threat to the lives of Indian fishermen. It sought New Delhi to work towards retrieving the fishing rights for Indian fishermen in the Kachchatheevu waters.

The party also expressed its complete support and solidarity to all the people who were fighting for human rights, democratic rights and political rights in Sri Lanka and hoped for an early political solution to the ethnic strife in the island.

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of India (CPI) held in Hyderabad from Sunday, the four-day event see over 1,000 delegates, including guests from 30 countries.

Earlier Director-Actor Vijaya T Rajender resigned as Tamil Nadu Small Savings Corporation Vice-President to fight for the Sri Lankan Tamils. Talking to newspersons, he said he was stepping down as he has decided to take up the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils, who were being subjected to attacks by the island country's armed forces.

Stating that he would address meetings in Madurai on March 29 and in the city on April five, in support of the Sri Lankan Tamils, the actor politician said he has decided to resign, as the Government post should not come in the way of his fight for the Lankan Tamils.

Tamil Nadu BJP has opposed also providing military equipment and training to Sri Lankan military saying that such a move will affect the island Tamils. State president Mr L Ganesan, told reporters that the Katchatheevu, an island near Tamil Nadu, given to Sri Lanka as per an agreement in 1974, should be retrieved.

He said the Sri Lankan government had violated the Katchatheevu agreement, which provided rights to Tamil Nadu fishermen to dry their nets in the island. Now, the Sri Lankan navy had set up sea mines near the island, denying even the fishing rights for Tamil Nadu fishermen, he said.

In a related development, Tamil nationalist leader Mr Nedumaran, who held a protest demonstration against the Centre's military aid to the island courted arrest along with his supporters, Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, which split from the Dravidar Kazhagam, has announced public meetings throughout the state, condemning Centre's help to Sri Lanka government.