Centre urged to move United Nations on Sri Lanka issue

The sub-committee of the Sri Lankan Tamils Welfare and Rights Forum on Saturday urged the Centre to move the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council to ensure immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka, restore peace and stop the genocide of Tamils.

Welcoming President Pratibha Patil’s call for a negotiated political settlement to the Sri Lankan ethnic crisis, the second meeting of the committee adopted a resolution calling upon the Centre to take speedy steps to implement the proposal.

To meet President, Sonia Gandhi

Talking to reporters, PWD Minister Durai Murugan, who is the organiser of the committee, said the committee members would soon meet the President, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to explain the need to approach the United Nations under 11 (2) of the Charter of UN. The committee had prepared the memorandum.

He said India could also appeal for deploying International Peace Keeping Forces under article 24 (1) to maintain peace and security in Sri Lanka and secure civil and political rights for the Tamils under article 41 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Besides, the Central government should appeal to the SAARC nations to call upon the Sri Lankan government to give equal rights to the Tamils.

Mr. Durai Murugan said the committee had also decided to meet ambassadors of various countries in India in an effort to internationalise the Sri Lankan Tamils problem.

Dravidar Kazhagam leader K. Veeramani, who is one of the secretaries of the committee, said the Sri Lankan government would be amenable if the world puts pressure on it.

Union Minister for Communications A. Raja and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, who are also secretaries of the committee, and other members, including S. Mohan, P.R. Gokulakrishnan, A.K. Rajan, and Samidurai, attended the meeting.