No change in our stand on LTTE: Thangkabalu

TNCC president K.V. Thangkabalu on Friday asked the Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE to make use of the 48-hour deadline given by the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and provide a safe passage to innocent Tamils caught in the war. Talking to reporters at Sathyamurthy Bhavan, he said Mr. Rajapaksa had agreed for the ceasefire because of the tough stand of the Indian government.

“There is no change in our stand on the LTTE. We have persuaded the Sri Lankan government to give time for the safe exit of the innocent Tamils. The outcome will tell who is the enemy of the Tamils,” he said.

When told that 48 hours was inconsequential since the demand was for a permanent ceasefire, Mr. Thangkabalu said it was a first step towards achieving a peaceful solution.

“The Congress party is for ceasefire and securing rights of Tamils on a par with the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka,” he added.

Reacting to the allegations that the Sri Lankan Army was targeting the civilians in the areas under its control, Mr. Thangkabalu said the LTTE was also holding the Tamils at gun point.

“We are not supporting anyone. We should not forget the innocent Tamils, who have been trapped.”

Mr. Thangkabalu said when he met Congress president Sonia Gandhi on January 22, he requested her to fulfil the expectation of the Tamil people who had been demanding a ceasefire.