ID :
59837
Sat, 05/09/2009 - 23:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/59837
The shortlink copeid
PM ignores demands for Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka
Chennai, May 9 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Saturday ruled out sending army to Sri Lanka and favoured
solution to the problem of Tamils within a united and federal
set up, ignoring demands voiced by parties in Tamil Nadu,
including ally DMK, for a separate Tamil Eelam.
On a short visit to the city, he looked up Chief Minister
M Karunanidhi in the hospital and made it clear that DMK
(Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam) is Congress' ally in the
elections and the alliance would be maintained.
"What is possible and what is not possible, I think it is
a matter of speculation. But quite frankly we are dealing with
a sovereign state Sri Lanka, a sovereign country. It is not so
easy to march armies to a sovereign state," he told a press
conference here in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
He was replying to a question on AIADMK (All India Anna
Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam) chief's Jayalalithaa's remarks
that if a government of her choice comes to power after the
elections, it would send army to Sri Lanka for creation of a
separate Tamil Eelam state.
With AIADMK and its allies PMK (Pattali Makkal Katchi)
and MDMK (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam) raising the
stakes on the Eelam issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M
Karunanidhi also joined the bandwagon for a separate homeland
for Tamils in Sri Lanka.
"There is such thing as international law and all those
constraints I think are known to all those who are making tall
promises," he said in an apparent reference to Jayalalithaa's
recent election speeches.
"DMK has been our ally in Tamil Nadu for the past five
years and had stood the test of the time. We are fighting the
elections together," the Prime Minister said, when asked to
comment about reports that Congress was moving towards AIADMK
against the backdrop of Rahul Gandhi's comments that the
Jayalalithaa-led party was like-minded.
"We will maintain this alliance and form the government,"
Singh said.
The Prime Minister appeared to suggest that any action by
India on Sri Lanka should not also make Colombo go for other
options.
Singh told the southern neighbour that there could be no
military solution but only a negotiated political settlement.
"Right now our top most concern is to provide relief and
succour to the internally dispalced persons and see that the
war comes to an end. These (Tamil Eelam) are longer term
issues. Tamils there should get a place of honour, dignity and
self respect within unified Sri Lanka," he said.
"Legitimate aspirations of Sri Lankan Tamils must be
fullfilled within the framework of united and federal Sri
Lanka, through a negotiated and peaceful settlement," he said.
He said the people and government of Sri Lanka should be
made to see that military conflict is no solution but only a
political settlement, which would give equality to the Tamils.
"India would certainly help the common people in Sri
Lanka to get a place of dignity as equal citizens there and
they can live with honour and self respect," Singh said.
"We are living in very uncertain times. Whatever we do
vis-a-vis our neighbours, we have to recognise that they are
sovereign countries.
"In dealing with sovereign countries who have options
other than dealing with India, sometimes we can hurt the wider
national interests by taking a narrow shortsighted view," the
Prime Minister said when asked why India can't snap ties with
Sri Lanka.
Underlining India's commitment towards rehabilitation
works in Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister announced establishing
an Indian hospital near Vavuniya shortly to cater to the IDPs.
"Another 50,000 family packs from Chennai would be
despatched in a few days. We will soon send shelter material
to set up more than 5000 family dwellings. Recognising the
desire of these IDPs to return to their homes, we are sending
demining teams to clear their homes and cities of mines to
facilitate their return," he said.
Singh said India was ready to provide additional
assistance in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of
war-ravaged areas to ensure the revival of the political
process and to enable the Tamils to, once again, lead a life
of peace, dignity and honour in Sri Lanka.
To a question, the Prime Minister admitted that the Sri
Lankan army was receiving training and some equipment "only
for defensive purposes" with a condition that it would not be
used for offensive purposes. PTI
Saturday ruled out sending army to Sri Lanka and favoured
solution to the problem of Tamils within a united and federal
set up, ignoring demands voiced by parties in Tamil Nadu,
including ally DMK, for a separate Tamil Eelam.
On a short visit to the city, he looked up Chief Minister
M Karunanidhi in the hospital and made it clear that DMK
(Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam) is Congress' ally in the
elections and the alliance would be maintained.
"What is possible and what is not possible, I think it is
a matter of speculation. But quite frankly we are dealing with
a sovereign state Sri Lanka, a sovereign country. It is not so
easy to march armies to a sovereign state," he told a press
conference here in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
He was replying to a question on AIADMK (All India Anna
Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam) chief's Jayalalithaa's remarks
that if a government of her choice comes to power after the
elections, it would send army to Sri Lanka for creation of a
separate Tamil Eelam state.
With AIADMK and its allies PMK (Pattali Makkal Katchi)
and MDMK (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam) raising the
stakes on the Eelam issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M
Karunanidhi also joined the bandwagon for a separate homeland
for Tamils in Sri Lanka.
"There is such thing as international law and all those
constraints I think are known to all those who are making tall
promises," he said in an apparent reference to Jayalalithaa's
recent election speeches.
"DMK has been our ally in Tamil Nadu for the past five
years and had stood the test of the time. We are fighting the
elections together," the Prime Minister said, when asked to
comment about reports that Congress was moving towards AIADMK
against the backdrop of Rahul Gandhi's comments that the
Jayalalithaa-led party was like-minded.
"We will maintain this alliance and form the government,"
Singh said.
The Prime Minister appeared to suggest that any action by
India on Sri Lanka should not also make Colombo go for other
options.
Singh told the southern neighbour that there could be no
military solution but only a negotiated political settlement.
"Right now our top most concern is to provide relief and
succour to the internally dispalced persons and see that the
war comes to an end. These (Tamil Eelam) are longer term
issues. Tamils there should get a place of honour, dignity and
self respect within unified Sri Lanka," he said.
"Legitimate aspirations of Sri Lankan Tamils must be
fullfilled within the framework of united and federal Sri
Lanka, through a negotiated and peaceful settlement," he said.
He said the people and government of Sri Lanka should be
made to see that military conflict is no solution but only a
political settlement, which would give equality to the Tamils.
"India would certainly help the common people in Sri
Lanka to get a place of dignity as equal citizens there and
they can live with honour and self respect," Singh said.
"We are living in very uncertain times. Whatever we do
vis-a-vis our neighbours, we have to recognise that they are
sovereign countries.
"In dealing with sovereign countries who have options
other than dealing with India, sometimes we can hurt the wider
national interests by taking a narrow shortsighted view," the
Prime Minister said when asked why India can't snap ties with
Sri Lanka.
Underlining India's commitment towards rehabilitation
works in Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister announced establishing
an Indian hospital near Vavuniya shortly to cater to the IDPs.
"Another 50,000 family packs from Chennai would be
despatched in a few days. We will soon send shelter material
to set up more than 5000 family dwellings. Recognising the
desire of these IDPs to return to their homes, we are sending
demining teams to clear their homes and cities of mines to
facilitate their return," he said.
Singh said India was ready to provide additional
assistance in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of
war-ravaged areas to ensure the revival of the political
process and to enable the Tamils to, once again, lead a life
of peace, dignity and honour in Sri Lanka.
To a question, the Prime Minister admitted that the Sri
Lankan army was receiving training and some equipment "only
for defensive purposes" with a condition that it would not be
used for offensive purposes. PTI
