Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding Sri Lankan Airforce Bombing On Innocent Tamilian School Children In ... on 18 August, 2006
an> Title : Regarding Sri Lankan Airforce bombing on innocent Tamilian School Children in Sri Lanka on 14 August, 2006.
DR. C. KRISHNAN (POLLACHI): Sir, I am speaking on behalf of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam headed by Shri Vaiko, the beloved leader of Tamilians.
The subject about which I am speaking is the Sri Lankan Air Force bombing on innocent Tamilian school children in Sri Lanka on 14th August, 2006. The Sri Lankan Air Force bombed on school buildings in Mullai Theevu area where innocent school children were undergoing a two-day course in first aid. Due to the bombing on this school, about 61 students, girls and boys, in the age group of 15 to 18 years were killed and about 150 persons were injured. This is based on reports available through the media and the press, namely, The Hindu dated the 16th August, 2006. This inhumanitarian violent activity of the Sri Lankan Government has been condemned by the UNICEF and also by the Sri Lankan Government Monitoring Mission which has rejected the statement of the Sri Lankan Government. It stated that military facilities were present and military training was being given in the school campus[bru93] .
This has been denied by the UNICEF as well as by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission. The UNICEF Executive Director says that these children are the innocent victims of violence.
MR. CHAIRMAN : What is your demand?
DR. C. KRISHNAN : On behalf of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, I would request that our Government should take the initiative to press the Sri Lankan Government to respect humanitarian law and to protect the children in places where they play, live and study.
I would request the Government of India to take all necessary steps to protect the Tamilians in Sri Lanka and prevent the genocide killing. They kill our people indiscriminately and do not allow the Tamilians to live there peacefully. Thousands of Tamilians are coming back to India as refugees.
Any sort of help, in the form of (i) going for escort duty for their warships; and (ii) giving training for their military personnel in India as it happened in Coimbatore ten days ago should be stropped forthwith. … (Interruptions) These are against the interests of Tamilians at large. Thank you very much.