CHENNAI: DMK president and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Tuesday downplayed the continued attacks by the Lankan Army against the Tamils on April 27-28, even after reports announced that the war had come to an end in Lanka.
When mediapersons questioned reports from Lanka that the army was continuing its attacks and that 272 Tamils were killed on April 27, Karunanidhi said: “The rain is over… but the drizzle is still continuing.”The DMK chief also reiterated that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse should keep his promise that innocent Tamils would not be attacked.
When asked about the charge of the opposition that the Lankan government had only stopped combat operations with heavy weapons and not the war, Karunanidhi said: “Opposition parties are bound to speak that way. Otherwise they cannot justify their status as opposition parties.” In this connection, he referred to the reply given by Rajapakse to a mediaperson, where Rajapakse had said: “When you say that you are not using heavy weapons and you are using air attacks, then what is it? It is almost like a ceasefire only.”
Referring to the criticisms that Karunanidhi could have saved the lives of many hundred people had he observed the fast a couple of months ago, the DMK chief quipped: “When Thirumavalavan, Dr Ramadoss and K Veeramani held discussions with me two months ago, I suggested observing a fast . But they rejected the move.”
On AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa’s remark that a separate Tamil Eelam would be the only way out in Sri Lanka, Karunanidhi said those who have been criticizing the move to form a Tamil Eelam for many years, had suddenly become a supporter of the demand. This was only because elections were round the corner, he said. Contrary to this, the DMK had been consistent on the issue for about five decades, he pointed out.
Asked whether the peace talks could be held in Lanka without the involvement of the Tigers, as they were on the verge of a collapse, Karunanidhi indicated that a solution to the ethnic crisis was not possible without the LTTE. “Even if you remove the vegetation from a land, it will blossom again by virtue of the fertility of the soil. This is evident from many freedom struggles.”
Answering a query as to what steps would be taken to bring back peace in Lanka, Karunanidhi said that this would depend upon the actions of the Lankan government. Asked whether he would ask the LTTE to give up its armed struggle and return to parliamentary democracy, Karunanidhi said: “In this connection, I concur with the views of the CPM, which has been saying that there should be equal autonomy for the Tamils and the Sinhalas’’.
TN extends Rs 25 crore aid to Lankan Tamils
The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday announced an assistance of Rs 25 crore to help the Tamils affected by the war in Sri Lanka. The State government has allocated the amount from the Lankan Tamils Relief Fund set up last October. The State government’s contribution will be added to Rs 100 crore, that has already been allocated by the Centre.
People from all walks of life contributed to the tune over Rs 48 crore towards the Lankan Tamils Relief Fund set up in October 2008. The government had sent essential commodities worth Rs 17.06 crore to 1.20 lakh Tamil families in two phases. The third consignment of essential commodities worth Rs 7 crore would be sent to Lanka for distribution among the 50,000 displaced Tamil families.
This time, along with essential commodities, pediatric nutrition items weighing 10,000 kg and drinking water purification tablets would also be sent to the Lankan Tamils, an official release said. It added that these items would be distributed through the International Committee of Red Cross.
