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Indian ‘No’ to TNA Team, ‘Yes’ to Others |
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Affirming its policy of separating the rights of the Sri Lankan Tamils from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), India refused to entertain members of the Sri Lankan Tamil National Alliance (TNA) but has invited other parties for consultations. |
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Affirming its policy of separating the rights of the Sri Lankan Tamils from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), India refused to entertain members of the Sri Lankan Tamil National Alliance (TNA) but has invited other parties for consultations. The TNA team, which was a front for the LTTE, was to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh which apparently did not “materialize.”
The TNA was created to give a political face to the group and to promote broken-down relations with India at a time when the LTTE was facing intense domestic and international pressure.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi wrote to Singh suggesting “a perpetual lease of Kachithivu” island with Sri Lanka for to facilitate “fishing, drying of nets and pilgrimage within the purview of the existing agreement.” A controversial maritime treaty, which did not take into consideration opinion from Tamil Nadu, conceded the island to Sri Lanka . Tamil Nadu fishermen face constant “attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy.” Karunanidhi claims that the “Sri Lankan Navy” is now “preventing fishermen from Tamil Nadu from fishing" in India 's territorial waters.” Karunanishi says that despite several unanimous resolutions in the Tamil Nadu Assembly repeatedly drew attention of the Federal Government to the harassment of the fishermen nothing has been initiated by the Foreign Office.
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