Vaiko urges Centre to allow UN panel to hold probe in India

CHENNAI: BJP ally MDMK today urged the Centre to allow a UN panel probing alleged war crimes by Sri Lankan Army hold its inquiry in India and opposed the scheduled address of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the UN General Assembly later this month.

"If Rajapaksa is allowed to address the UNGA, it will be an injustice (to Tamils) and demean the status of the UN," MDMK founder Vaiko told reporters at a demonstration by the party here stressing for various demands.

Political parties in Tamil Nadu, including MDMK, have accused Rajapaksa for being responsible for Tamil civilians casualties in armed conflict between Lankan army and rebel LTTE in 2009.

The Sri Lankan President is scheduled to address UNGA on September 25.

Vaiko said that Centre, in the name of ensuring cordial relations with Colombo, should not 'compromise' on the rights of the ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka.

He also urged the Centre to allow a UN panel probing the alleged war crimes to hold its probe in India.

Holding that a Tamil Ealam (separate homeland) alone was the solution for the ethnic issue involving Sinhalas and minority Tamils, Vaiko insisted that a referendum should be held for this purpose among Tamils in Lanka and the displaced ones living in other countries.

On the issue of attacks on Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy, he said that 600 of them have been killed so far and questioned if there was a government at the Centre or a navy to protect them.