India urged to adopt positive stance towards Sri Lankan Tamils

[TamilNet, Monday, 08 December 2003, 17:40 GMT]
The International Students' Association of Thamileelam (ISAT) in a press release issued Monday appealed to the Indian government to adopt a positive stance that would help the Tamils of the country to arrive at a fair and just political solution meeting their legitimate aspirations.

The ISAT has expressed its dissatisfaction over the statements made by two Indian officials in Colombo and New Delhi that could seriously affect the current peace process. “These statements had caused dismay and surprise among Sri Lankan Tamils at a time the current peace process has been moving forward," the ISAT said.

The ISAT statement has brought to the notice of the Indian government that "at no stage had the Tamil freedom struggle targeted against India's geo-political interest, its economic and political stability or even its sovereignty."

The statement further said that Sri Lankan Tamils have suspicions that India might be behind the current constitutional crisis in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Tamils are also holding the view that India has been attempting to promote a new Tamil leadership comprising Tamil groups, which earlier worked under the Indian army and later had been working with the Sri Lankan Army, the ISAT statement said.

"However, Tamils in Sri Lanka have a right to decide on their future. We want to promote a healthy relationship with India. We need India's support at this critical juncture," said the press release.