![](https://i1.wp.com/www.colombotelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jayalalitha21.jpg?fit=400%2C300&ssl=1)
By THE HINDU –
The AIADMK will not join a 15-member parliamentary delegation scheduled to leave for Sri Lanka on April 16, arguing that the visit may prove an eyewash, its general secretary and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said here on Wednesday.
In a statement, Ms. Jayalalithaa said that she had decided to depute Rajya Sabha MP William Rabi Bernard at the request of the Centre, which is sending the delegation to inspect developmental activities taken up there with Indian assistance for resettling and rehabilitating the Tamils displaced by the prolonged strife.
She had agreed to depute a party representative hoping that the visit would help the delegation understand the real situation in Sri Lanka and provide some solace for the Tamils if it were to interact with them.
She was under the impression that the team would be able to identify the flaws in the resettlement and rehabilitation efforts of the Sri Lankan government. However, the itinerary prepared by the External Affairs Ministry provided no opportunity for the team members to interact with the Tamils.
“On the contrary, priority has been accorded only for meetings and banquets with top Sri Lankan leaders, including President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The itinerary looks as if the tour itself is a formality and that the agenda has been chalked out by the Sri Lankan government to create a favourable impression for it in India. This view is strengthened by the absence of journalists, human rights activists and independent observers in the delegation,” she said.
“I think the visit of this delegation will prove an eyewash, as was the case with the 2009 visit of a parliamentary delegation, in which Kanimozhi, daughter of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi, was also a member, and which enjoyed a banquet with Mr. Rajapaksa and received gifts,” she said.
Ms. Jayalalithaa alleged that Mr. Rajapaksa had not accepted even the “soft resolution” passed by the UNHRC, had failed to stop attacks on Tamil fishermen by his navy and had plans to represent before the International Atomic Energy Agency against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project.
As his government continued to indulge in anti-Tamil activities, evinced no change in attitude towards Tamils, and the delegation had not been given an opportunity to discuss the “realities” with Mr. Rajapaksa, the AIADMK had decided to withdraw its representative from the delegation.
Recalling that the Assembly had passed a resolution urging the Centre to press the U.N. to declare those involved in genocide in Sri Lanka as war criminals, Ms. Jayalalithaa said that the House had also called sought economic embargo on Sri Lanka until all those displaced returned to their native place to lead a life of dignity. The Centre did not act on this resolution.
It was because of her tough stand that it shed its ambivalence and voted in favour of the US-sponsored resolution condemning Sri Lanka for human rights violations at the UN Human Rights Council, but that too was done only after diluting its tenor. “I thanked the Centre then because it will be the first step towards Tamils gaining their rights,” she said.
gamini / April 12, 2012
Looks like Jayalalitha means business, after being taken for a ride by the Centre with the game plan of the Americans who promised to elicit devolution to the NE from MR after conceding a war victory to consolidate MR. MR as usual after gaining his side of the bargain, has started to play hard to get and will learn a lesson in his life time this time around.
/
Max Silva / April 12, 2012
Gamini,
Why have you given up hopes of the Americans not fulfilling your dreams?So now you expect Laitha to do it for you.Now that both you and Laitha think and feel the same way,why don’t you make a visit to her palace?I am sure that she will have a lot of discussing to do with you.You could even help her with her wardrobe.But watch out,your Mrs. Knowing your past record,she might give you the broom treatment.Anyway your names Gamini/Lalitha rhymes nicely.Anyway Gamini,all the best!
/
Mini / April 12, 2012
Max Silva,
What are you trying to say?
Your comments elsewhere in the blog identify you as a blind supporter of this regime.
Lalitha is a powerful leader who will not give up in fighting this
family regime.
Wait and see.
/
Max Silva / April 13, 2012
Mini,
I will make you happy.Yes i am a Rajapakse henchman.But others like yourself are moderate honest guys.Happy?
/
suz / April 13, 2012
madam actress JAYALALITHA first provde human needs better than GOSL to 60mn populated thamilnadu tamils.GOSL do care of 1.5mn spread tamils in the island.the best way to check the own smell of your big rectum with the middle finger,before you check MR rectum with your tamil finger.any way srilankan tamils are better now.
/