Take up Lankan issue: MK writes to Krishna

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Wednesday requested External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna to discuss a political solution for the Sri Lankan Tamils and their quick rehabilit
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CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Wednesday requested External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna to discuss a political solution for the Sri Lankan Tamils and their quick rehabilitation during his visit to the island nation.

Krishna will leave for Sri Lanka Thursday on a four-day visit. He will co-chair India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission along with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris.

The Indian foreign minister will also open two new consulates - one each in Jaffna and Hambantota.

In his letter to Krishna, copy of which was issued to the media, Karunanidhi said: "The political solution and devolution of powers, which have been talked about for a very long time, are yet to be given the preliminary shape."

"One of the main issues which has been causing serious concern to me and to the people of Tamil Nadu, is the presence of about 30,000 people in the camps, as seen by the foreign secretary (Nirupama Rao) at the time of her visit to Sri Lanka," he noted.

"Though this issue was taken up with the Sri Lankan government a number of times in the past, it is really painful to note that this problem is yet to be satisfactorily resolved," he added.

Referring to the issue of resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced Tamils, Karunanidhi said the issue has not been addressed by the Sri Lankan government inspite of dialogues undertaken by the Indian government at various levels.

"Out of about 300,000 Tamils kept in the camps run by the Sri Lankan government, majority of them have been allowed to return to their places of origin," the letter said.

"But, I understand, they are still facing untold miseries and innumerable hardships to make a decent and respectable livelihood. A peaceful and dignified living has to be ensured to all the internally displaced persons," it added.

Karunanidhi suggested that the programme of the Indian government to build 50,000 houses for the displaced may be pushed through and completed in a time-bound framework, so that they are allotted to the Sri Lankan Tamils expeditiously.

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