Kanimozhi and other Indian
parliamentarians who visited Vavuniya and the Menik Farm IDP Shelter in October
2009 were aggressive and not willing to even talk to the government officials
when they arrived, according to Vavuniya Government Agent Mrs. P.S.M. Charles.
However, the
team was full of praise at the end of the two-hour visit. According to Charles
Kanimozhi said, “You are doing a wonderful job. We had a very wrong picture,
sorry for that. We will tell our Chief Minister (M. Karunanidhi) as well as the
Indian Prime Minister.”
The comments
were made during an interview with this writer in April 2011.
The sentiments
and change of heart of the Indian Parliamentary Delegation as described by the
Vavuniya GA assume greater significance in the light of the pressure applied by
the DMK – a constituent of India’s Congress led government – which prompted
Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to tell the Indian Parliament Tuesday,
that India was inclined to vote in favour of the proposed US-led resolution on
Sri Lanka despite not knowing the final text.
“While they
were landing they were very angry. When they were departing they were very happy,
very polite, and they appreciated,” Mrs. Charles added.
 |
| GA Vavuniya, Mrs. P.M. Charles in the company of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during the latter's visit to the Menik Farm IDP Camp in Vavuniya. (Photo: www.asiantribune.com) |
The US
sponsored resolution is due to be tabled on or before Friday at the Nineteenth
Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
(The interview was conducted
as part of a documentation process and has not been published before. The
decision to publish extracts was made in fairness to the large number of people
who value the new found freedom in Sri Lanka and yet are helpless in the face
of the heavy international media barrage.)
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