By IANS,
New Delhi : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Friday urged Sri Lanka to end its military offensive in order to save civilian lives and called upon the Tamil Tigers to give up “its futile resistance”.
The CPI-M politburo expressed “deep concern” over the plight of thousands of Tamil civilians trapped in the war zone in northern Sri Lanka. More than 100,000 ailing and wounded Tamils have already escaped to government held areas.
“The Sri Lankan government should heed the call of the UN Security Council and take urgent measures, including cessation of hostilities, to rescue civilians who are being forcibly held by the LTTE,” it said.
“The Sri Lankan government should allow relief agencies, including the Red Cross, to access the war zone. The CPI-M considers the saving of the lives of the civilian population as of paramount concern. The LTTE should stop its futile resistance.”
It urged the Indian government to impress upon Colombo “that it cannot carry on military hostilities in a situation where the lives of thousands of people are at stake”.