Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding Need To Bring Peace And To Protect The Interests Of Tamils In Sri Lanka. on 13 February, 2009
> Title: Regarding need to bring peace and to protect the interests of tamils in sri lanka.
SHRI RUPCHAND PAL (HOOGHLY): Sir, what about my notice? … (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The House shall now take up matters of urgent public importance.
श्री संतोष गंगवार (बरेली): उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, मैं आज जो विषय उठाना चाहता हूं, उससे पूरे देश का संबंध है क्योंकि हमारे तमिलनाडु के जो भाई हैं, वे काफी दुविधा में हैं। उनके सामने बहुत सी समस्याएं आ रही हैं। सब जानते हैं कि श्रीलंका में एक बहुत बड़ी तादाद में तमिल मूल के लोग रहते हैं जिनका सीधा वास्ता तमिलनाडु से है। 15वीं शताब्दी से उनका वहां आना-जाना आदि सारी बातें एक दूसरे से जुड़ी हुई हैं। मैं यहां पर इंगित करना चाहूंगा कि हमारा किसी का भी लिट्टे के साथ कोई संबंध नहीं है। लिट्टे हमारे देश के अंदर आतंकवादी संगठन घोषित है और प्रतिबंधित है। परन्तु जैसा कि सब जानते हैं कि जिस ढंग का व्यवहार श्रीलंका में तमिल मूल के निवासियों के साथ हो रहा है, वह बहुत ही दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण और खेदजनक है।
मान्यवर, मैं आपके संज्ञान में लाना चाहूंगा कि अभी कल महामहिम राष्ट्रपति महोदया ने तमिलवंशियों के ऊपर जो कुछ हो रहा है, उसके ऊपर चिंता व्यक्त की और उसके लिए उपयुक्त समाधान की बात भी की। मैं आपके संज्ञान में यह भी लाना चाहूंगा कि पिछले करीब दो वर्षों में 25 हजार तमिल परिवार श्रीलंका से भागकर शरणार्थी के रूप में तमिलनाडु के हिस्से में आ चुके हैं। यह बात सही है कि श्रीलंका एक दूसरा देश है, परन्तु तमिलनाडु में जो करोड़ों तमिलवासी रहते हैं, उनके लिए बहुत ही गंभीर चिंता और दुविधा का विषय है क्योंकि उनके परिवार के लोग वहां पर हैं और उन्हें कोई सुरक्षा नहीं मिल पा रही है। अब ऐसी स्थिति आ गयी है कि वहां पर स्कूल और अस्पतालों पर भी हमले हो रहे हैं। ...( व्यवधान) हम आपके माध्यम से कहना चाहेंगे कि सरकार इस ओर विशेष ध्यान दें और जो भी उपयुक्त कदम उठाये जा सकते हैं, वे उठायें जिससे उन सबको गरिमापूर्वक रहने की सुविधा मिल सके। हम चाहेंगे कि सरकार इस ओर ध्यान दे और ऐसा भाव उत्पन्न हो जिससे लगे कि तमिल के लोग श्रीलंका में प्रसन्न हैं, खुश हैं और सही ढंग से रह रहे हैं। अगर ऐसा नहीं हो पाता है, तो हमारे तमिलनाडु और देश के अन्य हिस्सों में रहने वाले तमिल भाई-बहनों को बहुत अधिक असुविधा होगी। आज इसलिए जंतर-मंतर पर और लोक सदन के सामने बाहर महात्मा गांधी की मूर्ति के पास मुख्य द्वार पर सैंकड़ों की तादाद में हमारे क्षेत्र के सांसदों और हजारों की तादाद में निवासियों ने धरना और प्रदर्शन किया। इस बात को आगाह कराते हुए कि सरकार इस ओर ध्यान दें और उनको सुरक्षा प्रदान कराये कि कैसे हम इन तमिल भाई-बहनों को सही ढंग से श्रीलंका में रहने और जीने का अवसर प्रदान कर सकें।[MSOffice8] PROF. M. RAMADASS (PONDICHERRY): On behalf of Pattali Makkal Katchi, and its Founder President, Maruthuvar Ayya, I wish to register our anger, agony, disillusionment against the continued genocide of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka. What is happening in Sri Lanka today is a classic case of annihilation of a human race, and something unprecedented in the annals of human history. It is a war not between two groups of people but it is a war against democracy; it is a war against the human rights of the people. This suppression of human rights has been in the Sri Lankan history for over two decades, and today, the repression has started in the form of bombing the people and massacring the people.
From 1956 down today, this House must know that there were 29 massacres of Tamilians in which more than one lakh people have been killed, and today, 2.5 to three lakhs of people are kept in a kind of hostility situation. Therefore, we request the Government of India to intervene effectively. The Government of India has every responsibility because the Tamilians issue in Sri Lanka is nothing but an Indian issue because the Tamilians who are suffering there were once the sons and daughters of this soil. Former Prime Ministers of this country also evinced interest.
In the Common Minimum Programme, which has become the essence of the functioning, the UPA Government has also mentioned that the Government would be able to bring about an amicable solution to the ethnic issue in Sri Lanka. We only urge the Government of India that the foreign policy that we are following today must be kept in a proper way, and we should not be silent by saying that it is an internal matter of some other country. If you say that it is an internal matter, we are given to understand that a large amount of assistance is going from the Government to Sri Lankan Army. This Parliament has every right to know as to what kind of assistance we are providing to the Sri Lankan Government to annihilate the innocent Tamil people there.
Also, we must realize that Sri Lanka is today moving more towards China and Pakistan. China is providing all kinds of ammunitions and arms to the Sri Lankan Government, and it is establishing its naval presence in Trincomale and Pakistan also is making increasing contribution to Sri Lanka. So, in the event of an international conflict, Pakistan and China would be taken by Sri Lanka against India. Whereas, the Tamils who are there, they will always be depending upon our Indian Government. Therefore, an alarming aspect is going on. Today, a holocaust type of situation prevails in Sri Lanka. There has been continual bombarding of hospitals and safety camps in the Vavunnia area by Sri Lankan armed forces. Thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils have lost their lives. More are really to be killed by the Sri Lankan army.
Therefore, in this situation, the Government of India should do the following - call upon the Sri Lankan Government to unilaterally halt all hostilities, and to initiate negotiated settlement. We are very happy that Her Excellency, the President of India has made a mention to bring about a ceasefire in Sri Lanka, and it should be followed by effective steps by the Government to actually stop the war there, and initiate the peace process. I think, only India can do that. We request the Government of India to do that.
Safety of citizens should take priority over the military objectives. In the event of Sri Lankan Government failing to respond to India’s suggestion of immediate ceasefire, India should immediately withdraw the 250-plus technical persons who are presently located in Sri Lanka, and forthwith stop all satellite-based strategy support and other technical aids. Then, send immediate food, medicines and essential items in Northern Sri Lanka, and insist that these be distributed immediately, and under the supervision of UN and ICRA officials. We demand that Sri Lanka permit the entry of international observers from UN and other expert bodies to assess the actual situation in Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka, including the entry of Tamil. Then, ensure the security and safety of Tamil population in Colombo which is currently getting ghettoized to a small area around Babblithia and Valvatti areas. When the international community is concerned about the problem of Tamils, it is surprising that we are not acting very promptly. [r9] For your information, the Canadian Parliament had discussed this issue for more than five hours; the Commonwealth Parliament had discussed this issue for four hours. We have greater and closer collaboration with Tamils. Even during the Jain Commission investigations, the former Prime Minister, Shri Narasimha Rao tendered evidence by saying that the Sri Lankan Tamils had links with India for more than 3000 years. When we are brothers and when our brothers are dying there, it is but natural that we go to the rescue of those people and save them from complete eradication of Tamil race. They would be grateful to you, and the seven crore Tamilians all over India are waiting for the action of the Government of India in this regard. Every minute that passes is going with the lives of more than 100 people in Sri Lanka.
A Gandhian land like India, a land which is upholding the principles of dignity, honour and peace should not allow the situation to deteriorate further. Whatever has happened has happened; whatever is bygone, let it be bygone; let us open a new chapter and we are getting confidence from the Address of the President who said that this Government would take all efforts to end hostilities there.
I would only request the hon. External Affairs Minister to do this. The UPA Government has done a lot in domestic issues; in the case of the Common Minimum Programme, more than 88 per cent of the commitments given by this UPA Government have been fulfilled. This is one element in CMP, that is, restoring the normal relations and peace in Sri Lanka that is left. We now request the Government to act in the next one month and bring about complete peace in Sri Lanka so that the honour of the Tamils will be saved, the security of the Tamils can be ensured and the Tamils all over the world would be able to be live peacefully. I request this from the Government of India. Thank you very much.
SHRI KINJARAPU YERRANNAIDU (SRIKAKULAM): Sir, I am associating myself on this issue.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Okay, definitely. His name should be associated.
SHRI E. PONNUSWAMY (CHIDAMBARAM): I associate myself with what has been said by Prof. Ramadoss. I request that immediately the 250 technicians should be withdrawn. I also request that the hon. External Affairs Minister who is present in this House, to respond to this immediately.
SHRI RUPCHAND PAL : I fully associate with the concerns expressed by different sections of the House. On behalf of our Party, we have categorically stated that the peaceful and democratic solution to the Sri Lankan problem, the Tamils problem, is urgently required; and the Government of India is intervening in that; our respected Minister of External Affairs has already taken up the issue; he had gone there; he would be going there very soon too; I believe that the Government of India would take more urgent steps to find a solution to the problem being faced by the Tamils in Sri Lanka. Thank you.
SHRI PRABODH PANDA (MIDNAPORE): Sir, I associate myself with this.
SHRI A. KRISHNASWAMY (SRIPERUMBUDUR): In Sri Lanka, three lakh Tamils have been displaced due to genocide by Sri Lankan army. Our ethnic Tamils, our brothers and sisters are being killed continuously for the past 40 years. Now, the attack is very serious. The Sri Lankan army is using the cluster bombs now against the Tamils who live there. Our External Affairs Minister has come forward in this House and given a promise that peace will be maintained and ceasefire would be brought in. He also went there and discussed this issue with the President of Sri Lanka, but nothing has happened till today. The war had not stopped till.
The DMK Party and its allies show our deep concern by democratic way by having a human chain, by having agitations, by having processions, etc. in Tamil Nadu. Our Chief Minister had passed two resolutions on the floor of the State Assembly, which are unanimous resolutions to stop war in Sri Lanka. The Chief Minister has also written a letter to the hon. Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister to maintain peace in Sri Lanka. Thanks to the President; in the President’s Address yesterday, our hon. President had shown her deep concern saying that the situation would improve in Sri Lanka. [p10] We believe in the words of the Government of India. We have faith in our hon. External Affairs Minister. I would, therefore, urge upon the Government of India to take steps to ensure that the Sri Lankan Tamils get the right to live in that country, to stop war and create peace and to find a solution to the problem of Sri Lankan Tamils through democratic means.
Further, the Government of India should take immediate action so that the Tamils living in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka get full devolution of power and autonomy by a permanent political solution within a specified time limit in the first phase. To protect the Tamils there should be a cease fire in Sri Lanka. I once again urge upon the Government to take immediate action and intervene in the matter seriously because we have blood relation with them. Thank you.
श्री शैलेन्द्र कुमार : माननीय उपाध्यक्ष जी, आपको पता होगा कि पूरे हिंदुस्तान की मार्किट में चीनी खिलौनों की भरमार है और उन पर पाबंदी लगाई गयी है।
उपाध्यक्ष महोदय : अगर आप श्रीलंका की समस्या पर बोलना चाहते हैं तो बोल सकते हैं वरना आपको बाद में टाइम देंगे।
श्री शैलेन्द्र कुमार : सर, दो मिनट बोलना चाहता हूं।
उपाध्यक्ष महोदय : नहीं, आप बैठ जाइये।
SHRI M. APPADURAI (TENKASI): Sir, I would like to speak in Tamil उपाध्यक्ष महोदय : अगर आप तमिल में बोलना चाहते हैं तो थोड़ी देर ठहर जाएं। You will have to wait for the interpretation service.
DR. C. KRISHNAN (POLLACHI): Thank you very much Sir, I am speaking on behalf of Thiru Vaiko, Leader of the world Tamils. The Sri Lankan Government is indiscriminately killing the Tamilians living there for the past about 30 years. The Central Government instead of protecting the Tamils of Indian origin is helping the Sinhalese Government by giving Arms and ammunitions and also by sending experts in the field of war front to kill the Tamilians living there. Our Government has given about Rs.2000 crore of soft loan with which the Sinhalese Government is buying Arms from Pakistan, China as well as from India to kill the Tamilians at large. The Tamilians there are being deprived of medicine, food and shelter. The Red Cross people who were helping them have been asked to vacate the place. The injured people are also being deprived of the hospital facility. The international Press, which was giving the actual incidents happening in that place, has also been asked to vacate that place. The Tamilians living there do not have any food or shelter. Bombing is taking place not only in the schools, hospitals but also at the civilian residence of Tamilians.[R11] This has to be stopped. In protest against the fighting against the Tamilians, five persons in Tamil Nadu have burnt themselves alive. The Tamil people all over the world would like to bring this fact to the notice of the Central Government because the present Government in Tamil Nadu is a partner of the Ruling Coalition at the Centre and the Government of Tamil Nadu has not raised its voice in favour of the Tamil people living there. They have not come forward in their support either in the form of any help, or has made any attempt to protect them. They have only mentioned in the Assembly saying that the war should be stopped, but nothing has been stopped by the Sri Lankan Government.
We, on behalf of the MDMK, would like to request that there should be peace prevailing in that country. War should be stopped. The Red Cross and the international Press should be brought there so that the killings of the Tamilians living there could be known to others and also first aid could be provided to them. It is very sad to note that every part where the Tamilians are living is being scrutinised by Radars given by our Government and those areas are being bombed. The Central Government helped them to renovate the Palai airports and thus the Indian Government has helped them to bomb the Indian Tamilians living there.
Sir, we, the Tamilians all over the world, wish to put forward our feelings that war in Sri Lanka should come to an end. Political settlement should be made fulfilling the aspirations of the Tamilians and I request the Government to intervene in the matter immediately and take early steps.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Before I request the next hon. Member to take part in this discussion I would like to make a request that now we have taken up for discussion the matter relating to Sri Lanka and those hon. Members who want to speak on this issue may only take part in this.
SHRI N.S.V. CHITTHAN (DINDIGUL): Sir, I want to present my views in short. Firstly, in Sri Lanka the cease fire should be implemented without any further delay and secondly the Eelam Tamils should get equal rights with other communities in Sri Lanka. .
* SHRI S.K. KHARVENTHAN (PALANI): Hon. Deputy Speaker Sir, Sri Lanka won its freedom in 1948. The then Sri Lankan Government announced Sinhalese language as the official language. They failed to accord Tamil the official language status. Their Tamil leader Selvanayakam led an agitation for their legitimate rights. The then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru also supported. Therefore the official language Act 33 / 1956 came in to force and Tamil also become official language in 1956. Clash between Sinhalese and Tamils became a continuous struggle thereafter. On 23.7.1983, thirteen Sri Lankan Army men were killed in Colombo. Wrongly presuming that Tamils were behind it, Sinhalase let loose violence and riots broke out. 5000 Tamils lost their lives and property. More than 1.20 lakhs of Tamils fled to Tamil Nadu as refugees. They were sheltered by Government of India and Tamil Nadu. The then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi interested positively to convene an all party meeting in Sri Lanka and she had sent senior G.Parthasarathy as her envoy to Sri Lanka. The talks for a negotiated settlement made during his five visits did not yield fruit. Tamils were attacked continuously. The then External Affairs Minister Shri Narasimha Rao had talks with Shri Jayawardane. There was an end to attack on Tamils but the attack took its ugly head again and again. Then Shri Rajiv Gandhi as our Prime Minister took steps to bring together all the rival militant factions. He arranged for a dialogue with the Sri Lankan authorities in Thimpu. The talks failed again. On 1987, Jayawardane’s regime brought about an economic blockade on Tamils and attacked Tamils in Vadamarachi. Shri Rajiv Gandhi took steps to ensure food supplies to the Tamils. In 3.6.1987, from Rameswaram port * English translation of the Speech originally delivered in Tamil.
food materials were sent in 19 boats. Sri Lankan Government did not permit it. Thereafter, 24 tonnes of food and relief materials were air dropped through our 5 Air Force planes sent from Bangalore. On 29.7.1987, an accord was signed between Rajiv Gandhi and Jayawardane to find a lasting solution. According to that agreement, Tamils that form on third of the Sri Lankan population were to get a Tamil homeland. On 30.8.1987, all the Tamils languishing in prisons got general amnesty. As per agreement on 28.9.1987, an interim administration with 6 LTTE men was to be established. But, Shri Prabhakaran went back on his words and there was a set back to implement this accord. The efforts of Smt. Gandhi from 1983 and Shri Rajiv Gandhi from 1984 helped LTTE and other militants in a big way. Prabhakaran was trained in Assam and several training camps were organized in Tamil Nadu. Both the Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu have extended all possible assistance to the Tamil militants to protect the Tamils of Sri Lanka. Indo-Sri Lankan accord of 29.7.1987 was found to be against the interests of the Sinhalese. Hence there was an attempt on Shri. Rajiv Gandhi by a Sri Lankan Navy man. Though the Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu extended all possible help to form a separate Tamil homeland under the leadership of Prabhakaran, the LTTE militants have resorted to fratricidal killing and finished off 56 Tamil leaders. On 21.5.1991, Shri Rajiv Gandhi who did a lot to help the Tamils of Sri Lanka was brutally assassinated. LTTE acted as a mercenary to kill Shri Rajiv Gandhi. Hence, 33 countries including India banned LTTE as a terrorist organization. In the last 3 years, Sri Lankan Government has let loose military attacks on Tamils in the northern province of Sri Lanka. Even schools and worship places and hospitals are not spared in their bombarding shells. Innocent Tamils have been living in bunkers and forests. Sri Lankan Army has violated international convention and attacks on civilian areas by shelling. In Mullaitivu, at a place called Pudhukkudiyiruppu, a hospital having 150 beds that accommodated ailing inmates was attacked by the Sinhalese Army. Eleven doctors from among the 20 doctors there are no more there. Without medical aid, Tamils have been stranded. About a lakh and a quarter of innocent Tamils are used as human shield by the LTTE. When a Christian nun wanted to flee to the safer zone, she was shot dead.
At the instance of the Government of India, a 48-hour cessation of hostilities was announced by Sri Lanka. But civilians were prevented from moving to safer zones. About 1 ½ lakh Sri Lankan Tamils languish as refugees in India. The Tamils world over are anxious that normalcy returns there. US, Norway and India have urged the Sri Lankan Government to announce ceasefire. But the Sri Lankan Government has rejected it. The Government of Tamil Nadu led by Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi and the Union Government of the UPA led by Madame Sonia Gandhi have put pressure on Sri Lanka.
Hence, I urge upon the Government of India to ensure ceasefire there taking up with the United Nations. Both the Sri Lankan Tamils and the Indian Tamils are of the same stock. In 1832, when the British Government evolved the Railway Plan, it included the then Ceylon too. If the Government of India willed it, Sri Lanka can be prevailed upon within an hour. Therefore, I urge upon the Union Government to take viable effective steps at the earliest.
Indian National Congress is the only organization that has sacrificed more. We have lost Mahatma Gandhi due to communalism, lost Shrimati Indira Gandhi due to Sikh extremism and Shri Rajiv Gandhi due to militant LTTE. Congress is all out to end terrorism. LTTE must lay down arms and must come to the negotiating table. Our Congress and Shrimati Sonia Gandhi are steadfast in protecting Tamils and their interest. Our mother figure Sonia has pardoned even the murder convict Nalini who was involved in her husband’s death just because of her daughter. On behalf of Congress and on behalf of our leader Sonia ji, I urge upon the Government to ensure protection of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
*SHRI M. APPADURAI (TENKASI) : Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, the House is now expressing its dismay over the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils who are being attacked by their own Government’s armed forces. It is a genocidal attack on the innocent Tamils by their own Government which is waging a war against its own citizens. The Sri Lankan Government which is perpetrating this armed attack on the innocent civilians has violated all international conventions and ethics in this regard.
The shelling by the Sri Lankan Army has not spared even the hospitals, educational institutions and the places of worship like churches and temples. The Sri Lankan Tamils having rendered as refugees in their own homeland. Tamils have been denied of their constitutional rights and hence this conflict that continues for long. In a free country, both the majority and the minority among the population must have equal rights. But the Sinhalese wield more power over the Tamils and Tamils are denied equal rights. Over the years, the Tamil population has been systematically reduced if only to promote the Sinhalese supremacy in that island where Tamils have contributed a lot to their agriculture and economy in a big way by making their land fertile and cultivable raising a vast stretch of tea plantations.
The Tamils there must have equal rights as that of the Sinhalese population. I would like to point out that the genocidal Government there has been systematically reducing the size of the Tamil population even in their homeland provinces. It must be ensured that Sri Lankan Tamils enjoy their rights and right to property. I would like to point out that as of now all the Tamils in Sri Lanka stand united.
* English translation of the Speech originally delivered in Tamil.
Even after receiving several requests from many world Governments, the Sri Lankan Government has not yielded and continue with its war against its own citizens. The Government of Sri Lanka has rejected the requests on humanitarian considerations. Now the responsibility to restore normalcy is entirely vested with the Sri Lankan Government.
At this point of time, I would like to impress upon the Government of India that the racial Government in Sri Lanka must not be helped in any way, in any form, in any kind. It must be recalled that the then External Affairs Minister of the Government of India Shri Narasimha Rao, on his visit to Sri Lanka, saw for himself the attack let loose on Tamils. Immediately, Shri Narasimha Rao warned Jayawardane that they must stop the attack or India may have to intervene to stop it. Immediately, the Sri Lankan Government stopped the attack on the Tamils within an hour. I must point out that the Rajapakse Government in Sri Lanka is all out to wipe out the Tamil race from that island nation.
Hence, I urge upon the Government of India to make an all-out effort effectively to put an end to the war there where innocent people are killed in hundreds everyday. The Government of India must strive to impress upon the Sri Lankan Government to go in for a political settlement so that the Tamils will have protection and peace.
SHRI B. MAHTAB (CUTTACK): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, thank you. At the outset I draw the attention of this House to the fact that this Sri Lankan Tamil issue is not a recent phenomenon. It is more than three decades old. Many lives have been lost. A lot of bloodshed has occurred. Even today the war is being fought. Every Indian stands for certain ideals and certain beliefs. India, in the comity of nations, recognizes the human rights, recognizes the liberty and also expects everyone to respect human dignity of each and every individual. What has happened during the last three decades in Sri Lanka is something which belied those beliefs. India had a Treaty with Sri Lanka to restore peace and tranquillity and to bring back the dignity of every Tamilian as citizens. An Agreement was also made by Sri Lanka to bring and establish peace with Norwegian Government. These are the two major countries which tried to restore peace and tranquillity in Sri Lanka. But both Treaties have failed. They have failed because they have not been recognised by both the warring factions.[MSOffice12] I would also remind this House that LTTE is not the sole proprietor or the sole voice of Tamilians of Sri Lanka. There were many other Tamil organisations in Sri Lanka, but systematically many have been silenced physically and also by force. So, today, when somebody is talking to protect the interests of Tamilians, he should not be portrayed that he is protecting or he is vouchsafing for LTTE. LTTE is a banned organisation in this country and LTTE is also responsible for the death of our former Prime Minister. LTTE is also responsible for death of a Head of the Government of Sri Lanka. The activities of such organisations should be condemned by one and all and all attempts should be made to restrict their activities and to disband and to disarm. But my concern here in this House today, when this topic is being discussed, is how our Government should respond to that problem. Our concern should be to restore the confidence of Tamilians of Sri Lanka because during the last three decades the manner in which people have suffered – Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka have not only taken shelter in Tamil Nadu alone, refugees from Sri Lanka have taken shelter in Orissa also. In the Dandakaranya area refugees’ camps were settled where at one point of time, the East Pakistan or Bangladeshi settlements were made. So, we are aware of the problems the refugees from Sri Lanka are facing. Every day, bloodshed is there.
Therefore, I would request to restore normalcy in Sri Lanka and all possible steps should be taken by the Government of India. At the same time, how to restore the confidence of the people of Sri Lanka in that area, in the Eastern coast and in the Northern peninsula of Sri Lanka Island; how to bring normalcy and how to open the educational institutions, how to give them gainful employment and how to resettle them in their lives, all these steps need to be taken up in a better way because India is affected not only because of refugees; this is not a problem of our SAARC countries, terrorism, as such, is affecting the whole Indian rim ocean countries. In that respect, I would urge upon this Government to rise to the occasion and show that much of responsibility to help restore normalcy in Sri Lanka.
*SHRI A.K.S. VIJAYAN (NAGAPATTINAM): Hon. Deputy Speaker Sir, with deep anguish I have to draw the attention of this August House to the plight of innocent Tamils in the island Nation of Sri Lanka. The Tamils there are the sons of the soil there and also blood relations to the Tamils in the Tamil Main land in India. On a daily basis hundreds of Tamils are being killed there. To save the lives of thousands of Tamils there must be an end to the genocidal attack on them. Various political parties have raised this issue here from there respective point of view. All of us want peace return there. We have been taking up with the Prime Minister and the UPA Chairperson madame Sonia Gandhi and our External Affairs Minster too. Our DMK led by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi has taken up with the Union Government to find a solution in a peaceful way to ensure peace and normalcy there. Even when he was hospitalized our leader consulted all the political leaders to take up with the Government of India impressing upon it to evolve ways and means to urge the Sri Lankan Government to restore peace there through negotiated settlement ending hostilities immediately. The violent and armed attacks on Tamils must come to an end. Our party has organized peaceful rallies all over Tamil Nadu. The campaigning for the need to take up with the centre saw a huge human chain agitation that went of peacefully with the participation of almost all the political parties and general public in Tamil Nadu. Relief materials including medicine and * English translation of the Speech originally delivered in Tamil.
food and dress materials worth about Rs.49 crores was sent by the Government of Tamil Nadu as contributed by the people of Tamil Nadu cutting across party lines. It could not be sent directly to the Tamils in the crisis area. It had to be routed through Colombo and International Red Cross for distribution among the Sri Lankan Tamils who have been rendered homeless in their own homeland.
Not only that innocent Tamils are being killed by Sri Lankan army day in day out in the name of their war against their own country men, even Indian fishermen living in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu especially from my Nagapattinam constituency get killed at the hands of Sri Lankan armed forces. So far about 700 fishermen have been killed by the Sri Lankan Navy in the Palk strait near our coasts. Even the innocent fishermen staying in the international waters are brutally shot down by the Sri Lankan Army in the strait waters in the mid-sea.
When we have been taking up issues pertaining to Pakistan and Bangladesh, we fail to understand as to why Tamils issue alone in the neighbourhood is ignored by our Government at the centre. Hundreds of Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka have taken refuge in Tamil Nadu and they are staying in the refugee camps in Orissa also. Orphaned Tamils are living in exile as refugees in many parts of the world. Restoring normalcy in Sri Lanka is a must and India alone can play a definite role to do that. Rajiv-Jayavardane Accord aimed at settling the issue in 1987 was signed by our former Prime Minister. But still the peace is eluding us. I urge upon the Union Government to take immediate steps to end the war waged by the state there against its own citizens thereby killing thousands of Tamils. On behalf of DMK, I would like to urge upon the Union Government to save the lives of innocent Tamils in their homeland in that Island Nation.