Review decision on supplies to Lankan Army, PMK to Centre

Chennai, Nov 29 (UNI) Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder-leader S Ramadoss, whose party is a key constituent of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre, today urged the Union Government to reconsider its decision to supply ''non-lethal logistical items to the Sri Lankan Army.'' In a letter to Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Dr Ramadoss said, ''any supply, whether non-lethal or lethal, will be used against innocent Tamils in the war.'' Moreover, any military assistance will only encourage the Lankan Government deviate from the peace talks. So, we request the Indian Government to reconsider the decision to supply ''non-lethal logistical items to the Lankan military.'' Pointing out to Mr Mukherjee's parleys with Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse, the PMK leader said it was a matter of great relief that India had rejected Mr Rajapakse's request for joint patrolling by the Navies of both the countries through the Indo-Sri Lankan borders.

''But we would like to express our concern over the Indian Government's decision to supply ''non-lethal'' logistical items to the Sri Lankan Military,'' Dr Ramadoss added.

He said India had been advocating a solution to the ethnic crisis through peaceful negotiations. ''On the one hand, the island government talks about peace and on the other, it makes preparations for an all-out war against the Tamils in Sri Lanka,'' he said.

''It (Sri Lanka) uses peace talks only to hoodwink the international community which is exerting pressue on it to go to the negotiation table,'' Dr Ramadoss charged.

UNI WS GM PB BD1829