Mukherjee rushes to Lanka, says no sympathy for LTTE

New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) As the Sri Lankan military was on
the verge of vanquishing Tamil tigers, India's External
Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday rushed to Colombo
with an assertion that India has no sympathy for LTTE but
wanted to see that civilian Tamils do not become victims of
conflict.

He will hold talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa on
the latest situation in Sri Lanka's north, where the military
has claimed to have captured Mullaithivu, the last bastion of
LTTE, and said that its offensive was 95 per cent complete.

Ahead of his departure, Mukherjee said, "We are for fight
against terrorists and all sorts of terrorism. Therefore, we
have no sympathy for any terrorist activity indulged in by any
organisation, particularly LTTE (which) is a banned
organisation in India."

At the same time, he said India is concerned over the
plight of civilians and "we shall have to see how civilians
can be protected and they do not become hapless victims of the
situation."

He is expected to impress upon the Rajapaksa government
the need for looking for a political settlement to the ethnic
problem to ensure aspirations of all communities, including
ethnic Tamils, are taken care of within a united Sri Lanka.

India believes that military victory is no solution to
the problems afflicting Sri Lanka.

Mukherjee is also expected to press for early
implementation of the devolution package which is aimed at
ensuring equal rights and privileges to all sections of the
society.

The visit comes in the backdrop of repeated demands by
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and other political
leaders that Mukherjee should be sent to Sri Lanka to ensure
end to military offensive against LTTE. PTI AKK
RKM
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