Jayalalithaa urges PM to take ‘strong stance’ on Lanka issue

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday urged the Centre to take a ‘strong, historic and courageous stance’ by not just supporting the US-sponsored draft resolution on Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka in the UNHRC session, but strengthen it further through suitable amendments that would make it unambiguous in intent and effective in implementation.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which was released to the media, Jayalalithaa expressed her disappointment that Centre had maintained a ‘deafening silence’ on the Lankan issue. ‘Clearly the present government in Sri Lanka is not keen on genuine reconciliation or even to allow the Sri Lankan Tamils to be rehabilitated, let alone start life as equal citizens in that country, which is reflected in the lack of adequate action even on a relatively mild UNHRC Resolution,’ she said. Seeking a point-by-point amendment to the US resolution, Jayalalithaa said there should be an unequivocal call for a credible, independent, international mechanism to prosecute genocide, war crimes and war criminals and the accused should stand trial before an International Court.