Stop Indian military aid to Sri Lanka: PMK

The PMK, an ally of Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK, Thursday demanded a halt to all Indian military aid to Sri Lanka following the “genocide” of Tamil people in the island nation. “India should ensure this genocide stops, and halt all military aid to the Sinhalese chauvinist regime in Sri Lanka which has directed its entire strength in a barbaric manner against the Tamil race in the island,” Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S. Ramadoss said here at a meeting to express solidarity with the minority in the neighbouring country.

“The Lankan navy is mercilessly mowing down innocent Indian Tamil fishermen in the Palk Strait. To effectively combat this, our central government must reclaim the Kachchatheevu atoll without any delay,” Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan said at the meeting.

The islet situated in the narrow expanse of water between India and Sri Lanka was ceded to Sri Lanka in the mid-1970s.

Addressing another function, Tamil Nadu’s Director General of Police P. Rajendiran said: “Everybody is talking about the increased activity of the (Liberation) Tigers (of Tamil Eelam) in Tamil Nadu. Anyone pointing them out to me would be welcome.”

“Everyone knows how many smuggling craft have been seized at sea by our Coast Guard. Further, our vigil on the shoreline has been considerably increased,” he added.

The LTTE has been fighting for a separate Tamil homeland since the late 1970s in northern Sri Lanka. Over 70,000 people have perished in the civil war so far. A ceasefire agreement with the LTTE in January 2002 was abrogated by the Sri Lankan regime in January this year.

Source: thaindian.com