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Won’t press for merger of North, East: India

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21 February 2017 03:34 pm - 13     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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India will not be pressing Sri Lanka to merge the Northern and Eastern Provinces to form a single Tamil-majority, as envisaged by the India-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987, the visiting Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar has told the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on Monday.

According to the Indian Express, the Foreign Secretary was reacting to a demand made by the leader of the Eelam Peoples’ Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) Suresh Premachandran, that India should honor its promise to keep the North and East united.

It had even said that it would not allow a referendum to be held on the issue.

Jaishankar has told Premachandran that much water has flown down the bridge since 1987 and as the situation has changed it will be better for all concerned to make use of the various windows of opportunity which have opened up recently with the change of regime and secure the rights of the Tamils.

He argued that it would not be wise to hold every other matter hostage to one issue - the merger of the North and East.

However, he added that India would not mind if the Tamils kept the issue alive and kept it on the table for talks with the Sri Lankan government.

Premachandran had highlighted the issue of the merger of the North and East partly because it had been the main theme of the Ezhuga Tamil rally held recently in the Eastern town of Batticaloa.

He pointed out that India has a moral responsibility to ask the Sri Lankan government to re-merge the North and East as it is part of the India-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987. If the Accord is still valid, every part of it should be deemed to be equally valid and implemented, he argued.

He recalled that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had solemnly promised that the merger would remain and that the proposed referendum would not be held.

He also recalled that the EPRLF had fully cooperated with India on the implementation of the Accord, and like the Indian Peace Keeping Force, had lost many men in the fight against the LTTE which opposed the Accord.

India has a moral responsibility to keep its promise and persuade the Sri Lankan government to re-merge the North and East, Premachandran has said.


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  Comments - 13

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  • Claude Peries Tuesday, 21 February 2017 03:44 PM

    Dixit's Brother . Back to the era where the Indians was our boss . Better to merge with TN and be another state .

    rosebud Tuesday, 21 February 2017 03:43 PM

    India has a moral responsibility to interfere in the internal matters of this country my foot via DM Android App

    aja Tuesday, 21 February 2017 03:55 PM

    Yahanpalana Slaves of India

    Ganesh Tuesday, 21 February 2017 04:04 PM

    Then why did India merge N and East in 1987 to satisfy Waring factions and forced LTTE to accept the peace pact now why renages from the original position ?This was what Prabakaran renaged the agreement saying useless and refused to trust India 's underwriting

    TJ Tuesday, 21 February 2017 04:32 PM

    Many Srilankans consider your advise as interference in internal affairs. You better stop advising and take it up in Geneva and reach a solution as per the accepted international laws.

    Ahmed Tuesday, 21 February 2017 04:37 PM

    what can we do when our leaders are stupid enough to sign accords without think about the after effects. its clear that our leaders dont care about the sovereignty of our country

    Shei Tuesday, 21 February 2017 05:10 PM

    This is diaspora talk! Get lost, man!

    Selvyn Tuesday, 21 February 2017 05:59 PM

    The northern tamil politicians have lost their upstairs. What rights do these fools have to merge. Do they have 100% tamils to merge. via DM Android App

    Don Juan Tuesday, 21 February 2017 07:37 PM

    This is the difference between India and China. China has never interfered our internal matters.

    public Tuesday, 21 February 2017 08:42 PM

    The public policy calling India our relative and china as a strategic economic partner is blatant racism. China is the major power in this region and will be for the next 50 years, our defence policy must align us with them. India can barely protect it's own borders let alone help others.

    Jikka Tuesday, 21 February 2017 11:27 PM

    Did you even read the article?

    S B Lokuge Wednesday, 22 February 2017 07:49 AM

    Now that the political slut the crooked Hilary is gone for good, the Indian bullies are waiting to see how President Trump is reacting to Tamil diaspora.

    raj Wednesday, 22 February 2017 07:58 AM

    Tamils do not care whether India assisted Sri Lanka go commit war crimes because it is obvious that India is a collaborator with Sri Lanka in war crimes against Tamils and covering it up.


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