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Monday, Oct 20, 2008
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

On Sri Lanka

This refers to the editorial “Sri Lanka: what needs to be done” (Oct. 18). It takes courage to reiterate the principled stand on the Sri Lanka Tamils’ issue despite the vandalism targeting The Hindu. I endorse the view that the LTTE does not speak for all Tamils. It has assassinated many Tamil leaders who tried to espouse the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils. It is a ruthless organisation that is cynically using the political parties in Tamil Nadu to survive the current army onslaught.

M. Rasheed,

Chennai

* * *

The editorial elucidated the need of the hour. But one wonders whether the Tamil Nadu MPs, bent on securing a ceasefire to rescue the LTTE from a near-defeat at the hands of the Sri Lankan army, are convinced.

Whatever the outcome of their ultimatum, the Centre should shed coalition compulsions and take a decision that sets a healthy precedent in foreign relations.

M.A. Hakeem,

Hyderabad

* * *

It is true that any attempt to stall the ongoing military action against the LTTE will amount to a political bailout for the most dreaded terrorist organisation of the world. The Government of India should view the humanitarian crisis in the conflict zone as a separate issue and extend all possible assistance to the Sri Lankan government. The demand by the political parties of Tamil Nadu that the Centre ensure a ceasefire in the island nation within two weeks is aimed at short-term political gains.

S. Bijuram,

Palakkad

* * *

Just as we have a right to fight insurgency in Kashmir, Sri Lanka has a right to wipe out terrorism from its soil. New Delhi is aware of its limitations and cannot openly ask Colombo to stop the war on the LTTE. Neither the proposed resignation of the Tamil Nadu MPs nor that of the MLAs, as demanded by AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa, will solve the ethnic strife. The political parties should appeal to the LTTE to abjure violence and return to the peace process.

R. Thirumalai Muthu,

Kallidaikurichi

* * *

As the editorial points out, the relief measures meant for the benefit of displaced Sri Lankan Tamils should be undertaken without any loss of time. With the concurrence of the Centre, the leaders of Tamil Nadu can visit the conflict zone in Sri Lanka to display their concern for their brethren. Their decision to resign from Parliament, while landing the Centre in trouble will do nothing to mitigate the woes of the Sri Lankan Tamils.

R. Sreenivasa Raghvan,

Chennai

* * *

All terrorist organisations initially masquerade as champions of legitimate causes but soon amass enough power and recognition to brandish the double-edged sword of robbing the credibility and identity of the people they claim to represent leading to their complete subjugation and inordinate suffering. As pointed out in the editorial, the first step should be to separate the chaff from the grain — disassociate the crisis in the LTTE from the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Thehseen Zakir,

Kochi

* * *

Is it possible to guarantee the safety of Sri Lankan Tamils after the LTTE is militarily defeated? Can anyone say for sure that Colombo will sincerely sort out the problems politically thereafter? The Sri Lankan problem was not started by the LTTE; nor will it be resolved once the LTTE is crushed.

R. Raja,

Hyderabad

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