CHENNAI: While urging the Indian government to impress upon Colombo “to pursue a political solution of the Tamil question so that full autonomy for the Tamil speaking area is provided within a united Sri Lanka,” CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat on Saturday said his party would not support the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in any manner.
“We make a distinction between the LTTE, whose record we know very well and who have not been playing any positive role in getting a solution, and the overall issue of the Tamil people and their just cause,” he told journalists here.
The Centre should also take immediate measures to see that the lives of civilians and their properties were protected and that essential commodities reached them.
Asked whether he was demanding a ceasefire, Mr. Karat said he would like military hostilities to cease. “But it could not be effected by us [India]. We are not a party to the conflict. Neither are we the mediating force now. But definitely the Government of India can use its diplomatic and political channels and impress upon the Sri Lankan government that priority should be given for a political settlement. And according to our view there is no military solution to the problem.”
To a question on the possibilities of achieving a political solution without the LTTE, he pointed to the earlier efforts made without its participation.
“Already there is an all-party mechanism. Many proposals have already been put up before it. I am sure if there is a reasonable basis of providing for a framework of devolution of power and autonomy, many sections of the Tamil people will rally behind that. So I am saying tackle the LTTE not just militarily. Tackle it politically also,” he stressed.
“I am sure there are forces within Sri Lanka which can work towards a meaningful solution by providing for autonomy. All sorts of proposals are there. But what we are saying is that if the Government of Sri Lanka pushes for it seriously, something can come out of it.”
Mr. Karat said some progress could be made if the Centre took effective measures to achieve what his party advocated.
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