CHENNAI, February 5, 2013 | The Hindu
Announces black-shirt
demonstration in Chennai during his visit
DMK president M.
Karunanidhi on Monday urged the Union government not to encourage Sri Lankan
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to the country and announced a black-shirt
demonstration in Chennai during his visit on February 8.
Explaining a resolution
adopted in the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) meeting, Mr.
Karunanidhi alleged that Mr. Rajapaksa had led the massacre of Tamils and was
seen as an enemy of humanity after being accused of war crimes and violation of
human rights.
“He takes advantage of
our friendly attitude and traditional hospitality. But he is a symbol of
Sinhalese majoritarianism. India should not encourage his visit, as Tamils will
not tolerate it,” the resolution said.
Reiterating that Tamil
Eelam alone would be the solution to the problems of Sri Lankan Tamils, Mr.
Karunanidhi wanted the Central government to take steps to facilitate a
resolution calling for a referendum during the general council meeting of the
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) next month.
Asked whether TESO was
still in favour of creation of Tamil Eelam, Mr Karunanidhi said, “Yes, yes,
yes.”
Asked why the TESO was
not able to retain the vigour of the 1980s when it was able to force the Centre
to cancel the extradition of Sri Lankan militants, Mr. Karunanidhi said there
would be a series of agitations if its demands were not taken seriously by the
Centre.
He also said TESO would
hold a seminar in Delhi to bring to the notice of all political parties the
sufferings of Tamils.
“Vajpayee attended the
TESO meeting in 1986 in Madurai,” he said while answering to a question whether
the BJP would be invited for the seminar.
Recalling the US Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State James Moore’s assertion that a new resolution
would be moved in the UN against Sri Lanka, he said India should strongly
support the resolution. Another resolution adopted in the TESO meeting urged
the Sri Lankan government to disclose information about LTTE leaders, including
Baby Subramanian, Balakumar, Yogi, Puduvai Rathinadurai, Ilamparithi, who were
arrested after the war.
“India also should put
pressure on Sri Lanka in connection with the issue,” the resolution said.
The TESO meeting also
decided to hold a demonstration in Rameswaram and Nagapattinam on February 18
and 19 respectively to urge the Centre to set up a Naval base near Manadapam to
prevent the killing of Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.
TESO also has
constituted seven teams comprising DMK MPs and Thol Thirumavalavan to hold
talks with Ambassadors of various countries to muster support for the Sri
Lankan Tamils cause.
