Persuade Lanka to allow unloading of aid ship 'Vanankaman': Karunanidhi

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi Friday asked Indian external affairs minister SM Krishna to prevail upon Sri Lanka to allow the unloading of mercy mission ship 'Vanankaman' carrying humanitarian aid sent by Tamil diaspora for the displaced people in the camps.

The vessel, the MV Captain Ali, which set sail from Britain on April 20, is currently anchored outside Chennai port after it was turned away by the Lankan Navy on June 9, after it was detained for several days. According to the Lankan Navy, the ship was turned away on the ground that it violated internationally accepted formalities
followed by merchant ships seeking to enter Lankan waters, and that it did not conform to the International Ships Port Facility Security code.

In a letter to Krishna, Karunanidhi said the ship carrying humanitarian aid collected by Tamils in Europe for displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka was turned away by the island nation's Navy. It is carrying about 884 tonnes of food, medicine and other relief material. "I consider it appropriate and timely as well as critical for the government of India to intervene at this juncture and persuade the government of Sri Lanka to allow unloading of the relief materials sent through the vessel," the Tamil Nadu chief minister said.

Karunanidhi said he was deputing state minister for Higher Education, K Ponmudi, to meet Krishna and take up the matter with him, adding that the Sri Lankan government might be requested to consider unloading and distributing the relief material under the supervision of international agencies like the International Committee of the Red Cross.

"I am confident that this intervention on purely humanitarian ground and based on several international precedents will go a long way in helping the internally
displaced Tamils now housed in makeshift camps," Karunanidhi said in a letter released to the media in Chennai.

Comments (7)

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India is not doing anything for the Srilnkan tamil's why?

We all need to know why India a democratic country, doing nothing for the Srilankan tamil people. Is it true India do not care about Tamil Nadu and its 60Million tamils? Without Tamil nadu's MPs support,the previous Central government would have failed to prove its majority during the no confidence motion in parliment. But in return the tamil people were crushed by force for their request to save their brothern in Vanni's safezone who were dieing in thousands daily. If you do no good that means you support the evil.When India supposed to act in the greater interest of tamilnadu people, the central government under Manmohan singh's leadership simply did the opposite!! Manmohan singh did not have any greivances with tamil people of Srilanka but by supporting Rajapakshe's war crimes the Prime minister had earned a share of Innocent tamil's blood spilled in the Mullivaikkal sands.These innocent children's blood cries to Allah to avenge the murderers and their supporters. No good done by this heartless and selfish prime minister Manmohan singh till today. If Cheif minister Karunanaithi can acheive the rights for his tamils in Srilanka he will been seen as a real "Tamil leader" which the whole world is waiting to see and welcome with heartfelt gratitude!! We all support his efforts to get freedom of the imprisioned civilians in Srilanka's many barbed wire camps code named as welfare villages??? We are praying to Allah for help. Allah ho Akbar.. God is the only Great Warrior.

Mousa , June 20, 2009 | url

Another drama

Another drama by this old man. He doesn't care about Tamils or anyone. Only his family. All his wives and kids.

Tangilish , June 20, 2009

Never Trust India

India is the big betrayer of the Tamils. World Tamils should never trust India again. We should not allow India to use us again for their selfish geo politics. Instead Tamils should be smart to use India for our purpose.

Dr Ratnam , June 20, 2009

World Tamils should fight the Terrorirst Srilankan state...

Srilanka is a terror state that is terrorising all tamils living in many parts of the world. Sinhalese think they are weak and cowards! Otherwise why they bombed civilians tents and killed unarmed women and children? No matter LTTE is militarilly defeated, the tamils morals are inflammed by the death of more than 53,000 precious lives recently in Mullai theevu coast. Tamils are very brave and determined to acheive their legitemate right to live as free citizens in their own Vanni and Jaffna regions which is thier Nation TamilEelam..Whether seperated or under federal system the Tamileelam is still existing in the hearts and minds all tamils of Srilanka.The future of all Eelam tamils are bright. It is the birth right of all the Eelam tamils.No power can deny this right for self determination and freedom, the basics of all humans on this earth.

jonathan , June 20, 2009 | url

Tamil National Please Keep this Criminal photo out of your Publication.

The Photo of this man on this article is the biggest criminal and the person responsible to the genocide of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. He is a game player with poor and voiceless people. Mr M.K why dont you use your power and get the Ship Ali into on of your Ports in Tamil Nadu and cash it in the black market and put it in your family Coffins. do not worry about the Eelam Tamils. You know wery well every time you cry foul for Eelam Tamils Your friends In the Srl Lankan Government Kill Many more Tamils.

Thanking you for all the sins in your life.

Shiva , June 20, 2009

get on a plane

Semi retired Cheif minister should get on a plane and meet mahinda and tell him how he feel , Not just to play around with his letter wrtting campain BS

palani , June 20, 2009

Traitor of the Worst Kind. May He and His Families perish in Hell, unless he makes retribution asap

We can never trust such Indian Slumdog politicians, who allowed the SriLankan govt and its military to kill tens of thousands of innocent children, women, elderyly and men.

And who did NOT object to Sonia (formerly a bar waitress and never went to Uni,and who is implicated in the BOFORS arms Scandal) and the Congress Party's support of the genocide in Sri Lanka - as India provided its soldiers, arms, military intelligence; naval blockade,etc..to help Sri Lanka.

India will be the biggest loser. According to my Sinhalese friends, some of whom know the Sri Lankan HighCommission officials, India is being made used of for the Sri Lankan's own political agenda to destroy theTamils. Once their objectives have been achieved, they will ask India to GET OUT, as what
former President Premadasa did in the late 1990s.

Robert , June 22, 2009

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