Date:27/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/27/stories/2008122760850900.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Tamil Eelam only solution: VCK

Special Correspondent

Appeals to Centre to recognise ‘Tamil Eelam’ as nation

— Photo: K. Pichumani

Thol.Thirumavalavan president, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi waving to the crowd at the conference in Chennai.

CHENNAI: The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) has appealed to the Centre to recognise “Tamil Eelam” as an independent nation.

Addressing a conference on “Tamil Eelam” organised here by the party on Friday, its president Thol.Thirumavalavan said Tamils in Sri Lanka had no other alternative but to demand a separate nation as all their attempts to arrive at a negotiated solution to the ethnic issue did not materialise. All agreements, including the Indo-Sri Lanka pact, initiated by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi were not implemented by the Sri Lanka Government. As the Sri Lanka Government was not ready to give even a federal status, Tamils in the island raised the separate nation demand. India was their only hope and their hope should not be belied, he added. Earlier, the conference adopted a resolution demanding recognition of “Tamil Eelam” as an independent nation. The youth wing of the party was also launched. Speakers at the meeting avoided expressing open support to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.