Three Tamil parties seek Indian assistance

By Ananth Palakidnar

The Tamil United Liberation Front leader V. Anandasangaree, People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) leader D. Sitharthan and the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (Naba) leader T. Sritharan will engage in fresh attempts to obtain Indian assistance in addressing the Tamil question in the island.

The PLOTE leader Sitharthan told the Sunday Observer that the TULF,PLOTE and the EPRLF(Naba) leaders would travel to New Delhi in order to meet the key Indian political figures in exploring the possibilities of India's effective involvement in working towards the problem.

"It is important to note that without Indian help the peace efforts could not succeed. Therefore the three Tamil parties feel that India must play a greater role in creating peace in the island with the dawn of the New Year.

We have been insisting that a settlement for the Tamil crisis in the country should be based on an Indian model," he said.

Sitharthan also said that following the meetings in New Delhi, they will also travel to South India.

Meanwhile the Tamil Nadu police has strengthened the security around the Lankan refugee camps in the State following reports that the LTTE is using displaced persons in the camps to smuggle things to the island.

Last week an attempt to take a boat was thwarted in Tamil Nadu by the Tamil Nadu Coast Guard, sources said.