The Hindu : National : Vaiko opposes assistance to Sri Lanka

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 05, 2005

National

National

Vaiko opposes assistance to Sri Lanka

J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko on Saturday appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to give any defence assistance to Sri Lanka in the interests of the Tamils in the island.

Mr. Vaiko met Dr. Singh on Saturday and expressed serious reservations over the defence agreement between India and Sri Lanka proposed during the current visit of the Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, as also on other agreements signed between the two countries.

"Against the Tamils"

Giving his views in a letter to Dr. Singh, Mr. Vaiko said that "whatever the reasons given, [the defence agreement] will be construed as a direct Indian assistance to Sri Lankan military operations against the Tamils of the Island."

Talking to The Hindu, Mr. Vaiko said: "I am terribly concerned about the reference to ceasefire violations and the illegal acquisition of air capability in the joint statement issued by India and Sri Lanka," and "I conveyed this to the Prime Minister."

In his letter, Mr. Vaiko said: "It is ridiculous to say that some small aircraft allegedly possessed by Tamil militants will pose a threat to the security of mighty India. Our United Progressive Alliance Government has committed itself in the Common Minimum Programme that India will take steps to help the peace process of the Island."

He said that "if India gives any military aid or defence assistance either directly or indirectly to Sri Lanka, it will be a total deviation from the fundamentals of the foreign policy enunciated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and would be construed as if India is interfering in the internal affairs of another country."

Sethusamudram project

On the Sri Lankan Government's opposition to the implementation of the Sethusamudram project, he said that this was done in the guise of environmental impact. He urged the Prime Minister to brush aside Sri Lanka's views. However, Mr. Vaiko welcomed the move for a joint mechanism for undertaking tsunami relief operations in Tamil areas in the Island.

Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy has condemned what he calls "the capitulation of the UPA Government" by endorsing the participation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the distribution of tsunami relief funds in Sri Lanka. He described it as "a sell-out of India's national interest."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National