India urges Lanka to stop killing Tamils

Chennai, Dec 15: India today clearly told Sri Lanka to stop the killings of innocent Tamils in the island nation and find a political solution through negotations to end the ethnic conflict.

Replying to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's December 8 letter, forwarding a copy of the resolution passed in the State Legislative Assembly expressing concern over the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka, AICC President Sonia Gandhi said India had reiterated to Sri Lanka that there was an urgent need to find a negotiated political solution that would secure the legitimate rights of the Tamils.

In the letter, a copy of which was released to the press here today, Ms Gandhi also said the Sri Lankan Government was asked to take all necessary steps to avoid loss of lives.

Stating that the UPA Government has been taking up the issue with the Lankan Government at all appropriate levels, she said the incidents of violence, in which several innocent lives, mainly Tamils, including women and children have been lost, were a matter of utmost concern.

''We have consistently pointed out that there is no justification for such violence and that the killing of innocent people is not acceptable'', she said and added that the Congress party strongly believed that the rights and privileges of the Tamils should be fully respected.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly had passed a resolution expressing concern over the killing of innocent Tamils and urged the Centre to take necessary steps to prevent it.

To another letter written by Mr Karunanidhi regarding transhipment of explosives from Nagpur to Colombo via Tuticorin Port for use by the Lankan navy, Ms Gandhi said the Centre's policy was not to provide any arms or materials assistance to Lanka that could be used against the civilians, especially the Tamils there.

She said the Shipping Agent was claiming that the explosives were meant to be distributed to private explosive sellers through the Lankan Navy for use in sea blasting, dredging and blasting of rocks.

''The Central authorities are trying to confirm this'', she said and added that the circumstances under which the authority under whom the detonators and explosives were sent, were being properly inquired into.

It may be recalled that Mr Karunanidhi took up the issue with AICC president during his recent visit to New Delhi and also brought it to the notice of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A K Antony, who had promised to look into the issue.

Police had stumbled upon the consignment of explosives at Melur near Madurai when they intercepted the container at a checkpost and found explosive materials, including detonating caps, worth more than Rs four lakh. The consignment was cleared after verfications.

Reacting to this, Dr Ramadoss and Tamil Nationalist Movement Leader P Nedumaran had raised hackles and said transhipment of explosives ran counter to the Centre's assurance that India would not provide any military or arms assistance to Sri Lanka and feared that it would be used against the Tamils.

UNI