International community and India which mistakenly viewed the Tamil national struggle as terrorism, now see it in the right perspective. The recent response of India and the international community makes us believe so.

The international community has made it clear that the excuses given by the Sri Lankan government regarding the attacks on the refugees are not acceptable. America has expressed grave concern over the attack on the refugees in Vaharai. The European Union including India has expressed great shock and condemned the attack. The UN has condemned this attack. The facilitator Norway is disturbed over these deaths. In India there have been waves of protest. In India all political parties have to respond to these shock waves in India.

Kalaignar Karunanithy has assumed power as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after an interval of five years. Earlier, on two occasions his supposed involvement in the Sri Lankan Tamil problem cost him his position as Chief Minister. His recent stand-off was understandable. But, since the atrocities of the Sinhala government have triggered off waves of shock and sympathy among the people in Tamil Nadu, he is compelled to act.

He has stated that India could not watch the Tamil problem patiently any more and that the time has come for India to act. The situation in Sri Lanka has so worsened that Karunanithy himself had to raise the matter with the central government.

Due to the escalation of atrocities against the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, he has gone to the extent of persuading India to voice against the Lankan government.

Time has come to the Tamil community all over the world to pose the same question to Karunanithy himself. Tamils rightfully make this demand since he is not merely the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu but an acknowledged leader of the Tamils all over the world.

The minority government in the centre depends on the support of regional political parties like the DMK and leaders like Karunanithy for continuing in power. He is, therefore, in an unenviable position to exert pressure on the centre for right and fair action.

We feel that such a remark alone from Karunanithy is adequate enough to persuade the central government to act. He should have made a stronger plea to New Delhi.

It is by engaging earnestly and associating himself with the righteousness in the cause of the Lankan Tamils that Karunanithy can prove his mettle as the accredited leader of the International Tamil community.

We appeal to Kalaignar Karunanithy in all earnestness to rise with greater determination, greater will and with the dignity of the Tamil nation in mind and act swiftly in making meaningful contribution in salvaging the Eelam Tamils from the present quagmire.

An English translation of the Editorial in Uthayan, a Tamil daily, based in Jaffna

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