New Delhi: Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna, a former Tamil Tiger commander who became an MP this week, has welcomed India's expression of concern for Tamil civilians caught in the war.

"We appreciate India's concern for the Tamil civilians. We are also making the same request to the (Sri Lankan) government," Karuna said in a telephonic interview.

Karuna was commenting on New Delhi's decision to summon a top Sri Lankan diplomat to tell him about India's worries over civilian casualties in the military offensive against the Tamil Tigers.

"India understands the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) very well. India should know that a political solution can emerge in Sri Lanka only when the LTTE is militarily weakened," said Karuna, whose TMVP party is made of ex-LTTE fighters and is now a government ally.

"Today, some forces are trying to use Tamil Nadu to save the LTTE," he said in an obvious reference to protests in the Indian state against the war in Sri Lanka. "It will help India if the LTTE is marginalised."

Karuna was the LTTE's eastern regional commander when he revolted in March 2004 along with thousands of cadres. The TMVP faces accusations of human rights violations, including recruitment of child soldiers.

 

Source : IANS