Sri Lanka should seize LTTE's ceasefire offer: India

New Delhi, Feb 28 (PTI) Noting with grave concern the
deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka, India Saturday
asked Colombo to seize the opportunity provided by LTTE's
ceasefire offer to bring about a pause in hostilities and work
for safe passage for trapped civilians.

India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said
India is making arrangements to send an emergency medical unit
and medicines to render assistance to internally-displaced
persons in northern Sri Lanka.

"The government of India views with grave concern the
humanitarian concern that is building up with every passing
day in Sri Lanka," Mukherjee said in a statement here.

Citing reports which suggest that over 70,000 civilians
are trapped in the conflict zone in Sri Lanka, he said there
is acute shortage of food, water and medicines and many
innocent lives have been lost in the conflict zone.

"It is reported that the LTTE has offered a ceasefire.
While this may fall short of a declaration of willingness to
lay down arms, it is our view that the government of Sri Lanka
should seize the opportunity presented by the offer to bring
about a pause in the hostilities," Mukherjee said.

"The government of India would, therefore, appeal to the
government of Sri Lanka to immediately work out safe passage
for trapped civilians to secure locations," he said, adding
this would require the cooperation of LTTE.

"I sincerely hope that the government of Sri Lanka and
all others will respond to this sincere appeal that is made in
the interest of all sections of the people of Sri Lanka," the
External Affairs Minister said.

He said the pause in hostilities must be utilised to
facilitate the movement of Tamil population out of the
war-affected areas to secure locations.

At the secure locations, there should be proper
rehabilitation and international aid organisations as also
the International Red Cross should have free access and scope
to provide medical and other forms of humanitarian aid to the
displaced people, Mukherjee said.

These steps need to be further followed up by effecting
a proper devolution of powers to the provinces, with
assurances of equality and equal rights to all citizens,
particularly Tamil people, within the constitutional
framework of Sri Lanka maintaining its territorial integrity,
he said. PTI AKK
SAK
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