The Hindu : Front Page : Pranab asks Colombo to accept LTTE’s offer

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Sunday, Mar 01, 2009
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Front Page

Pranab asks Colombo to accept LTTE’s offer

Staff Reporter

‘Work for safe passage of trapped civilians to secure locations’

— Photo: AFP

MORE REVERSES: An LTTE communications centre claimed to have been captured by security forces in the small town of Puthukkudiyiruppu in northern Sri Lanka.

TUTICORIN: Expressing grave concern over the humanitarian crisis building up in Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday urged Colombo to make use of the ceasefire offer made by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to ensure safe passage of civilians from conflict zones.

“It is reported that the LTTE has offered a ceasefire. While this may fall short of a declaration of willingness to lay down arms, it is our view that the Government of Sri Lanka should seize the opportunity presented by the offer to bring about a pause in the hostilities. The government of India would, therefore, appeal to the Sri Lankan government to immediately work for the safe passage of the trapped civilians to secure locations. This would require the cooperation of the LTTE,” he said.

Medical aid

He wanted the pause in hostilities to be utilised for moving the civilians to locations, where proper rehabilitation was possible and international aid organisations had free access for providing medical and other humanitarian aid.

“The Indian government is making arrangements for sending an emergency medical unit and medicines for internally displaced persons in Northern Sri Lanka,” he said.

Mr. Mukherjee, who was here to lay the foundation stone for a coal-based thermal power plant, said over 70,000 civilians were trapped in the conflict zone and there was acute shortage of food, water and medicines.

He said a ceasefire should be followed up by proper devolution of powers to the provinces with equal rights to all citizens, particularly the Tamil people, within the constitutional framework of Sri Lanka.

“I sincerely hope that the Sri Lankan government and all others will respond to this sincere appeal that is made in the interest of all sections of the people of Sri Lanka,” he said.

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