CPI against military offensive in Lanka

The National Council of the Communist Party of India (CPI) today said military offensive could not be a solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka and urged all those concerned in the island to strive for a political solution through negotiations.

Expressing its deep concern at the situation in Sri Lanka, the National Council, which met here, passed a resolution to this effect on the opening day of the three-day session.

''The National Council of the CPI is of the view that a military offensive cannot be a solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka. The Tamils in Sri Lanka are striving for peaceful co-existence with equal rights. The legitimate aspirations of Tamils in the neighbouring country with all democratic and human rights must be safeguarded through a proper mechanism for devolution of powers on the basis of federal principles within Sri Lanka,'' the resolution said.

The Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2002 and declared mutual ceasefire under international guidance.

However, the Lankan Government had terminated the ceasefire unilaterally, it added.

The Council pointed out that the armed conflict had claimed over 65,000 lives since 1983, an official statement said.

In another resolution, the National Council congratulated National Executive Committee member R Nallakannu on his receiving the prestigious Dr Ambedkar award. ''It is a fitting tribute to his six decades of struggle and dedicated service to the cause of the downtrodden,'' it said.

Party General Secretary A B Bardhan placed the main draft of political resolution and the National Council started deliberation on it. The resolution would be further discussed by the 20th Congress of the CPI, to be held in Hyderabad from March 23 to 27.

The meeting was presided over by Mr Amarjeet Kaur (Delhi), Mr Manju Kumar Majumdar (West Bengal) and Mr Christopha Foriseka (Goa).

Source: deepikaglobal.com