Date:17/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/17/stories/2008101754880500.htm

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Eelam only solution : PMK

Special Correspondent

Sri Lankan urged to hold talks with LTTE
Executive endorses resolutions passed at all-party meeting

TINDIVANAM: The consensus among the Eelam Tamils is that only a separate Eelam will provide a permanent solution to the Sri Lankan ethnic crisis, and it is also the view of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, says a resolution adopted by the party’s State executive at Thailapuram, near here, on Wednesday.

The resolution called upon the Sri Lankan government to disclose the kind of political settlement it was aiming at. Besides announcing an immediate ceasefire, it should begin talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which the party said is the sole representative of the Tamils.

It said the Sri Lankan government, which was bent upon eliminating the Tamils from the island, was trying to cheat the international community by claiming to favour a political solution without tabling any concrete proposal.

The executive endorsed the resolutions passed at the all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in Chennai on Tuesday. If the Centre did not act upon the demands—withdrawing military support to the Sri Lankan army and supplying food and medicine to the Tamils on the island through international organisations—the PMK MPs would be the first to resign.

The meeting was chaired by president G.K. Mani. Founder S. Ramadoss, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, Minister of State for Railways R. Velu, MPs and MLAs participated.

Power shortage

Through another resolution, the party held the State government, especially the Electricity Minister, responsible for the power crisis in the State. It sought a probe into the allegation that the under-utilisation of the capacity by the four thermal power stations was due to the use of sub-standard coal.

The party urged the government to ensure that all households received 24-hour power supply and the farms at least eight hours.

The meeting also demanded total prohibition in the State and monthly financial assistance to families that had lost their breadwinners to liquor addiction and educational aid to their wards.

The meeting placed on record the good works done by Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss and Mr. Velu.