Persuade Rajapaksa to stop the war: Pandian urges Manmohan Singh

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 November 2008, 19:58 GMT]
The State Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), D. Pandian, on Monday wrote a letter urging the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to act swiftly to end the war in Sri Lanka. Noting that the LTTE has responded positively for the public call from the CPI to spell out their stand in unambiguous terms to the call for ceasefire, Mr. Pandian said urged Manmohan Singh to use his good offices to impress upon Mr. Rajapaksa to stop the war and agree for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, reports in Colombo said Mr. Rajapaksa has left Colombo to attend the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit, to be held in New Delhi.

Mr. Pandian cautioned New Delhi that "delaying and dodging to resolve the ethnic conflict in SriLanka, will lead to fissiparous tendencies to grow in various parts of India."

"As Indians, we feel, that the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict should he resolved amicably or else, the negative impact on India will have long term repercussions."

Full text of the letter from the CPI State Secretary D. Pandian follows:

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA
TAMILNADU STATE COUNCIL

D.Pandian M.A., B.L., (Ex. M.P)
State Secretary


Dr.Manmohan Singh
Hon’ble Prime - Minister
New Delhi

Date: Nov, 10 2008

Respected Prime Minister,

I am writing this letter to draw your attention to the latest developments in Sri Lanka.

All the political Parties in TamilNadu, demand in one voice to stop the war against the civilians in Sri Lanka, which is causing great concern in TamilNadu.

You are aware that the Ceasefire arrived at the initiative of the Norwegian govt’s representatives in 2002 had been unilaterally abrogated by the Sri Lankan govt in 2008, Feb. Many countries disapproved of this unilateral decision and requested the Sri Lankan govt to pursue the path of negotiation to arrive at a political settlement.

But the Sri Lankan govt. aggravated the situation by resorting to aerial bombing and also allround attack by the artillery. Lakhs of innocent people had been uprooted from their habitats and rendered homeless. Many innocent people were killed.

As their misery rose and their cries of sorrows also increased, the TamilNadu people of their own accord and instinctively reacted to the human tragedy and hence demanded an end to the war.

Any war however bitter it might be, should end one day as the first and second world wars have ended.

Hence, on behalf of the State Council of the CPI, I request you to use your good offices to impress upon the Sri Lankan President to stop the war and agree for a ceasefire.

One pertinent question was raised about the attitude of the LTTE, which is spearheading the Tamils movement, regarding such ceasefire efforts.

Hence, our party issued a public statement, requesting the fighting Tamil leadership in Sri Lanka, to spell out their stand, to ceasefire attempts, in unambiguous terms.

They have responded immediately in a positive manner. I am enclosing the statement of the LTTE’s Political advisor B.Nateson’s message.

Hence, as the assurance for ceasefire has been obtained from the LTTE, the Sri Lankan govt. must be persuaded to reciprocate positively for ending the war.

Delaying and dodging to resolve the ethnic conflict in SriLanka, will lead to fissiparous tendencies to grow in various parts of India.

As Indians, we feel, that the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict should he resolved amicably or else, the negative impact on India will have long term repercussions.

Hence, our party appeals to you, to treat it as important and act swiftly to end the war in SriLanka.

Yours sincerely,
D. Pandian

Chronology: