Karuna fumes over Lanka minister’s ‘massacre’ remark
June 22nd, 2012

A file photo of Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan aka 'Col' Karuna Amman

DMK president M Karunanidhi on Wednesday strongly objected to the reported remarks of Sri Lankan minister Champika Ranawaka, who allegedly warned of another “massacre” of Tamils in the island nation. Karunadidhi, in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urged him to take up the issue with the Sri Lankan government and the United Nations.

“It has come to our notice that Sri Lankan cabinet minister Champika Ranawaka has warned of hundred more massacres. He said that one Mullivaikal (where thousands of Tamil civilians were allegedly killed in the final battle against the LTTE in 2009) was enough and that no one should try to get hundred more,” Karunanidhi said.

“The remarks of the minister are highly provocative and therefore condemnable,” he said, adding that the Tamils all over the world were perturbed. “I therefore request you to kindly use your good offices to take up this matter with the Sri Lankan government with an advice to adopt a course of restraint and humanitarianism,” he said.

Karunanidhi said the UN may also be apprised of such harsh stance of the Sri Lankan government. PMK leader S Ramadoss too has urged the Centre to approach International Court of Justice on the remarks made by the minister.

“The Sri Lankan minister himself admits that there were ethnic killings in his nation. His remarks are a proof of that. Therefore, based on his statement, the Indian government should take steps to approach the International Court of Justice,” he said.

The Lankan power and energy minister Ramawala reportedly made the remarks while cautioning the island’s Tamil population to avoid following the politics of the main Tamil parliamentary group. Ranawaka gave the warning during a news conference on June 8 in Colombo. According to reports, Ranawaka remarked, “One Mullivaikkal is enough. Don’t try to get 100 more”