Date:16/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/16/stories/2006121601351300.htm

National

No arms to Sri Lanka for use against civilians

Special Correspondent

Sonia Gandhi's assurance to Karunanidhi

"Welfare of Tamils of Sri Lanka remains a matter of utmost concern"

Arms consignment meant for "sea blasting and dredging"

CHENNAI: The Congress president and chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), Sonia Gandhi, has told Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi that the Central authorities had promised that the policy of the Government of India was not to provide the Sri Lankan authorities with arms or materials that could be used against the civilian population.

Replying to Mr. Karunanidhi's letters of December 8 and 11, Ms. Gandhi said on Thursday that it had been the Congress stand that nothing should be done that would affect the lives and well-being of the Tamils of Sri Lanka, "whose welfare remains a matter of utmost concern."

Referring to Mr. Karunanidhi's letter of December 11 regarding the interception of a vehicle carrying explosives, she said that it had been informed that the shipping agent concerned was claiming that the consignment was meant for distribution to private sellers through the Sri Lankan Navy for use in "sea blasting, dredging and blasting of rocks."

"[The] Central authorities are trying to confirm this. The circumstances under which and the authorities under whom the detonators and explosives were sent would, I am assured, be properly enquired into," she said.

Responding to Mr. Karunanidhi's letter dated December 8 and the Assembly resolution on the situation in Sri Lanka enclosed with it, Ms. Gandhi said in a separate letter that the incidents of violence in the island in which many innocent lives, mainly Tamils, including women and children had been lost were a matter of utmost concern and sorrow. "We have consistently pointed out that there is no justification for such violence and that the killing of innocent people, especially women and children, is not acceptable," she said, adding that the UPA Government had been taking up the issue with the Sri Lankan Government.

It had been reiterated to the island Government that there was an urgent need to find a political solution through negotiations that would secure the rights of the country's Tamil citizens and to take all steps to avoid loss of lives. "The Congress Party strongly believes that the rights and privileges of the Tamil citizens of Sri Lanka must be fully respected. I am sure that this subject will continue to receive the highest attention," she added.