Date:15/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/15/stories/2008101554000100.htm

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“All-party meeting called to speak with one voice”

Special Correspondent

Centre asked to take help of Red Cross to distribute assistance
Meeting condemns attacks on Tamil fishermen

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi on Tuesday said the purpose of the all-party meeting was to speak with one voice against the killing of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Recalling the agitations and public meetings organised independently by various political parties in support of the Sri Lankan Tamils and to condemn the Indian government’s assistance to the Sri Lankan Navy, the Chief Minister in his introductory remarks said there was nothing wrong in such independent actions by political parties.

He said the all-party meeting had been convened to show the combined strength of the political parties, because the Tamils here were pained by the treatment meted out to Sri Lankan Tamils. The meeting, he said, would help channelise the views of all political parties and find lasting solutions. He called upon leaders of the political parties to give their views “to liberate the Tamils from the marauding Sinhalese officials and the Army.”

Resolution

A resolution adopted at the meeting urged the Indian government to take the services of organisations such as Red Cross Society to ensure that humanitarian assistance of various organisations reached the Tamils without being diverted to other places. Another resolution condemned the “brutal attacks and kidnapping and torture of Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.”

“The Central government should devise and implement a plan that will put an end to the uncivilised and human rights violations of the Sri Lankan Navy,” it said.

Apart from the Chief Minister, the DMK was represented by Ministers K. Anbazhagan, M.K. Stalin, Durai Murugan, K. Ponmudi, Veerapandi Arumugam and K.P.P.Samy.

K.V. Thangkabalu and D.Sudarssanam (Congress), N. Varadarajan and P. Sampath (CPI (M)), G.K. Mani (Pattali Makkal Katchi), D. Pandian, R. Nallakannu (CPI), K. Veeramani (DK), Thol. Thirumavalavan and D. Ravikumar (Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi), K.M. Khader Mohideen (IUML), M.H. Jawaharullah (TMMK), Sarathkumar (Samuthuva Makkal Katchi) and RM. Veerappan (MGR Kazhagam), participated.