Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi president Thol. Thirumavalavan on Wednesday urged the Union government to change its foreign policy on Sri Lanka.
The government should recognise the establishment of Tamil Eelam, which alone would be the durable solution to the ethnic question, the leaders argued.
They were addressing a meeting organised here by Tamizh Padaippaligal Periyakkam (Movement of Tamil Creative Artists).
Dr. Ramadoss recalled various initiatives taken by him to resolve the problem and said that even when a delegation of leaders from the State led by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he had presented some proposals. Regretting that nothing had fructified, he said there were valid reasons for taking the problem to the United Nations, towards which his organisation would work.
Mr.Thirumavalavan said the Union government had all along been against the idea of Tamil Eelam.
V. Suresh, president of the People’s Union of Civil Liberties (Tamil Nadu and Puducherry), said even human rights organisations in Sri Lanka had held their government responsible for carrying out attacks on civilians, enforced disappearance and forcible transfer of population.
He suggested that a team of international observers be sent to Sri Lanka, including areas under the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, to assess the situation with regard to violation of human rights.
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