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India shifts stand on Sri Lanka
India has mended its stand on Sri Lanka, insisting no longer that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) lay down weapons as a pre-condition for talks with Colombo for a political settlement.Instead of asking LTTE to lay down weapons, India now wants the group to at least agree in principle to lay down its weapons as this can pave the way for negotiations with the Sri Lankan government. The subtle change in India's stand was reflected in Indian President Pratibha Patil's address to parliament on Thursday when she said the two sides could return to the negotiation table if "the Government of Sri Lanka suspends its military operations and the LTTE declares its willingness to lay down arms simultaneously". The main Tamil Nadu party -- Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam -- and other parties have been protesting at what they see as the Indian government taking the side of the Sri Lankan government in asking LTTE to first lay down arms before any negotiations can be held. Notwithstanding the government changing this stand, two Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) MPs -- Krishnan and Ravindran -- interrupted the president's address to protest India's not pressurising the neighbouring government to stop the massacre of the Tamils in the island nation. Eight MPs from Tamil Nadu, including top Communist Party of India leader D Raja, turned up in black shirts and white lungi to register their protest at the government for not having a clear policy on the Sri Lankan conflict. The Tamil Nadu parties have been demanding the Indian government intervene to put in a check on the Sri Lankan government's killing of "innocent" Tamils. They advocate that India should even intervene militarily if the killing of Tamils does not stop. Posted by: Fred 2009-02-13 |
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