The 21st Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday noted that six years after the end of the civil war, the problems of Sri Lankan Tamils have not been resolved in any meaningful manner, The New Indian Express said.

CPM also called for the withdrawal of wartime deployment armed forces from Tamil provinces.

“The Sri Lankan government should conduct a credible enquiry into the human rights violations in the final stages of the armed conflict in May 2009. This should be undertaken by an independent and credible panel of persons. The recommendations of the panel of experts appointed by the UN Secretary General and those of the LLRC (Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission) should be implemented,” a resolution at the conference said.

The resettlement and rehabilitation of Tamil people, justice for the atrocities they suffered and provision of more powers to the Northern Province were still to take place.

“The new government under President Maithripala Sirisena promised and has taken certain steps in this regard, however, it is a matter of concern that the old situation continues by and large.”

The resolution also called for the implementation of the 13th Amendment with more powers for the Northern and Eastern Provinces, equal status for Tamil language. It said Tamils should have the same rights as the Sinhalese citizens and Tamils who were displaced from their habitations should be resettled in the same areas. The lands seized from them should be restored to them. Steps should be taken for their economic and social uplift. In sum, the basic rights of Tamils and Muslims in Sri Lanka must be ensured, the resolution added.

The resolution further said, “the government of India must utilize the new political situation in Sri Lanka and undertake diplomatic measures to help achieve the above and to resolve the issue of fishermen of Tamil Nadu through speedy mutual talks.”
(With inputs from The New Indian Express)