Date:05/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/05/stories/2009010555651000.htm

National

CPI wants Colombo to end military action

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India on Sunday said Sri Lanka should stop the military offensive against innocent Tamil population there and begin political discussions to resolve the decades-long ethnic problem.

Party’s national secretary and MP D. Raja said Colombo’s intensified military action caused the death of and injuries to thousands of innocent people, resulting in untold misery to women and children. People were suffering from shortage of food and medicines. The international community should raise its voice to provide humanitarian assistance to the affected people.

The Rajapaksa government should not assume that war is the solution to the ethnic problem. “It is time to stop the war and come forward for political negotiations as only discussions can resolve the issue,” Mr. Raja said.

Criticising the United Progressive Alliance government for “remaining silent,” he said the Government of India should tell the Sri Lankan government to stop the hostilities and start political discussions.

Mr. Raja said that even the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam should own responsibility for, it is part of the UPA. “Otherwise the DMK will be accused of betraying the cause of the Sri Lankan Tamils.”

The CPI leader sought to know the status of the Centre’s promise to an all-party delegation from Tamil Nadu that India would send External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Sri Lanka.