PM tells Rajapaksa to ensure welfare of Tamils

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday to ensure the safety and welfare of ethnic Tamils as he met the Sri Lankan leader for the first time since the recent uproar over their condition in the island nation.
    
Rajapaksa, while apprising Singh about the steps being taken to protect the interests of Tamils, made it clear that the military offensive against the LTTE will not stop as his government was determined to "eliminate" terrorism before initiating the political process of settlement.
    
During their meeting on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit here, Singh and Rajapaksa discussed the situation in Sri Lanka, including the LTTE-held North where a military offensive is underway against the Tamil tigers, sources said.
    
The Prime Minister talked about the "humanitarian" aspect of the conflict and asked Rajapaksa to ensure protection and welfare of innocent Tamils caught in the war, the sources said.
    
Singh emphasised that the interests of innocent civilians should be protected even while dealing with terrorism, they said.
    
The two leaders also discussed the problem of firing by Sri Lankan Navy on Indian fishermen and Rajapaksa assured Singh that his forces would exercise restraint.

This was the first meeting between Singh and Rajapaksa since political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the UPA ally DMK, raised an uproar over the Sri Lankan military offensive and pressed New Delhi to intervene to stop it.
    
Amid threats of en masse resignations by Tamil MPs, Singh had a telephonic talk with Rajapaksa last month during which the matter was discussed.
    
After the meeting, a visibly satisfied Rajapaksa said he had assured the Prime Minister that his government would ensure welfare of Tamils.
    
"We will assure you. We assure not only the PM but the whole world that we will look after Tamils. Nothing will happen to Tamils. We are looking after our people, it is my duty," the Sri Lankan President said.
    
To a question on permanent solution to the ethnic conflict, Rajapaksa said, "we must eradicate terrorism first then give political solution. We can't pass this on to the next generation... This is the practical solution."
    
He ruled out any compromise on fight against terrorism as also the ceasefire against LTTE till the Tamil tigers lay down their arms.
    
"For over two decades, Sri Lanka has been facing a tremendous challenge to our democratic way of life through barbaric actions of a terrorist group, the LTTE," the President said.
    
"There is no doubt that such groups have to be dealt with militarily," he said.
    
On the LTTE's offer for ceasefire, Rajapaksa said it could be possible if the Tamil outfit lays down its arms.

"Ceasefire has been there for so many years.. 20 years.. there have been agreements. (But) every time we have ceasefire, they got themselves strengthened, got firepower and hit back," Rajapaksa said.
    
"We are ready for a negotiated settlement. But we are clear, they have to lay down arms," he said.
    
On his reported remark that LTTE was using Indian fishermen to carry arms, the Sri Lankan President said he had made a mention about it to the Prime Minister as it is a "national security issue". The matter would be discussed at minister-level, he said.
    
He said Sri Lanka believes that any underlying causes, exploited by terrorists in an attempt to seek legitimacy for their operations, should be dealt with politically.
    
Terror groups are able to sustain themselves by illegal fundraising, narcotics and people trafficking, money laundering, and arms and ammunition smuggling, including through the sea routes in the Bay of Bengal, he said.
    
He said the seven-nation BIMSTEC should consider setting up of a mechanism to "effectively police the Bay of Bengal, to deny these terrorists mobility and connectivity."
    
Insisting that his government was keen to empower the Tamils, he referred to Eastern Sri Lanka and said a former 'child soldier' of LTTE was now the Chief Minister there.
    
"We have also recruited 1200 Tamil policemen. Some of them are trained here in India," he said, adding "Whatever possible we can do, we have done."
    
With regard to the relief material sent by India for the people caught in the conflict, the Lankan President said it will be sent to the "last point", through the Red Cross.
    
On the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution that will give Tamils more powers, he said it has not been implemented for long and "now we are implementing."