Indian delegation should talk to Tamils without mediator:SL MP

Madurai, Apr 12: A Sri Lankan MP has demanded that an Indian MPs' delegation, scheduled to visit the island nation for a week from Apr 16 to assess the resettlement and political process in war-torn areas, meet and talk to Tamils without any mediators.

Speaking at a meeting convened by Madurai Bar Association here yesterday, S Shritharan (Tamil National Alliance), wanted the delegation also to inspect places like Mullivaikal, where final phase of the war against LTTE took place.

Though India had given assistance to construct 50,000 houses for Tamils, only 1000 had been built, he alleged. "Nearly 40,000 Tamils in the island nation were still living in refugee camps without basic amenities, including water and food", he said.

A refugee camp at Chettikulam was still fenced and refugees at Mullivaikkal had not yet been rehabilitated in their land, he alleged. "The government was moving Sinhalas into the Tamil areas to change the ethnic ratio in the Tamil region", he alleged and wondered whether the Sri Lankan Government would implement the UNHRC resolution seeking to demilitarise Tamil area, formulating a lasting political solution to the Tamils issue and an inquiry into the crimes committed during the final phase of the war.

PTI