No military solution to ethnic conflict in Lanka: Indian PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said there was no military solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.

"The way forward lies in a peacefully negotiated political settlement within the framework of a united Sri Lanka acceptable to all communities, including Tamils," he said in reply to a letter from MDMK Chief Vaiko.

The interests of the Tamils in Sri Lanka was of particular significance to India in the country's dealings with the island nation, he said.

"It is with this in mind we have welcomed as a first step, the intention of Sri Lankan Government to fully implement the '13th amendment' to its Constitution to give some powers to Tamils," he wrote.

On the Sri Lankan Navy's arrest of Indian fishermen, he said: "the welfare and safety of the country's fishermen has been the nation's persistent goal. Whenever necessary, the government has taken this up on a priority basis with Sri Lanka. We have impressed on the Sri Lankan Navy to act with restraint and treat Indian fishermen in a humane manner."

However, most of the incidents of firing have taken place in Sri Lankan waters, close to their shores. The Sri Lankan government had declared these waters as a high security zone and no fishing zone, Singh said.

"We will continue work to ensure, to the extent possible, that our fishermen do not enter Sri Lankan waters where there is potential for them to be caught in cross-fire."

Vaiko had written to the Prime Minister urging him to take steps to stop the arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. The MDMK had made available a copy of the Prime Minister's reply to the press.

Source: hindu.com