Centre should insist Lanka to solve ethnic crisis: CPI

Chennai, June 14 (UNI) The Communist Party of India (CPI) today said the Centre should insist Sri Lanka to come out with a proposal to solve the ethnic Tamils issue in the strife-torn island nation.

Strongly condemning the forcible evacuation of Tamils from Colombo, CPI State Secretary D Pandian told newspersons here that the political and demcoratic rights of the Tamils should be protected.

The Lankan government should come forward with a proposal in this regard. ''If it (Lanka) failed to do so, the Centre should insist Sri Lanka to come out with a proposal, based on which negotiations could begin,'' he added.

Mr Pandian described the forcible eviction of Tamils as an ''uncivilised act and violation of all international laws and human rights.'' ''Mere apology from the Lankan Prime Minister was not enough'', he said and added that they (Tamils) are the citizens of Lanka.

They should get their political and demcoratic rights.'' Observing that India's Foreign Exchange Reserves stood at 203 billion US dollars as against the foreign debt component of 131 Billion dollar, he said the surplus of 72 billion dollars could be used to control price rise.

''But the previous government had invested in bonds raised by the US for attacking Iraq. It's morally wrong and a political blunder. The present government, which assumed office in 2003, had failed to withdraw the bonds and use them for the development of the country. India cannot support the US war on Iraq'', he added.

UNI